stay hydrated with WATER!!! which WATER is healthiest??

 

 

WATER.We all know we need it to be healthy; however, remembering to drink it isn't always easy. Sure, it's easy enough to sip water with meals, which is a great start, but hydrating throughout the day is important too, especially as the temperatures start to rise.

 

I used to have trouble remembering to drink water throughout the day because I would get so busy and focused on what I was doing and partly because I hated the taste of it. That's why I came up with these simple ways to ...

...remind myself to sip consistently all day.

Get a bigger bottle. I used to keep a little bottle of water on my desk, and I would drink it all, but then I would never get around to refilling it. Now, I keep a large 1 liter bottle on my study desk with a goal to drink all of it by the time the day is over. I like it because it's a little goal I can set each day and easily see my progress as the hours go by.

 

Drink a glass before each meal. If it's just not convenient for you to drink water throughout the day (maybe your day doesn't involve sitting at a desk), try setting a goal to drink at least one cup of water before each meal. Not only does this help you to stay hydrated, studies show that drinking a glass of water before a meal can help you feel full faster and eat less!

 

Track what you drink. A small glass here and there in your busy day may have you unsure about how much water you consumed at the end of the day. So try tracking your fluid intake just like you would when you record meals and snacks in a food journal.

Add some flavour to your water. I always add a slice of lemon to my water. So if you feel you cant drink it plain, add a slice of lemon or lime, a strawberry, some mint leaves or cucumbers, anything to motivate you to drink your water.

 I know this may be TMI , however, If you are not sure whether you are well hydrated or not, you can check the color of your urine. If it is pale in color, you are probably hydrated. If it is darker, you may need more fluids. And remember, if you are working out regularly, especially in the heat, you will need more fluids.

 

 

There are few things more refreshing than a glass of sparkling water with a splash of cranberry or a squeeze of fresh lime. But is there a big difference between the different types of carbonated water?

I got the answers from Marjorie Nolan Cohn, RD, spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, to help unravel the mysterious differences between those bubbles!!

First, a quick primer of the bubbly stuff:

• Sparkling water is a blanket
  term for water that contains carbon dioxide or hydrogen sulfide gas, whether naturally occurring, or injected on purpose to create an effervescent drink.

 

• Mineral water contains naturally dissolved minerals that come from a natural underground source.

 

 
 

• Seltzer is plain old water that has been artificially carbonated.

 

• Club soda is also water that has been artificially carbonated, but it also generally has a few ingredients mixed to add a slight salty/mineral-y flavor. For example, Schweppes Club Soda contains sodium bicarbonate (for "ze bubbles!"), as well as sodium chloride and potassium sulfate, for taste.

 

 

"The main difference between these fizzy waters is taste". They all have no calories, (unlike so many of those "enhanced" and flavored waters out there). "The subtle difference in mineral content, in relation to the big picture of your health and nutrition, is not impactful."

The good news is, they're all a nice break from the tap, and great ways to stay hydrated or jazz up your favorite drink recipes. Plus, sipping carbonated waters may aid in digestion and help settle upset stomachs, especially for people with sensitive digestive systems. And if you're worried about any of the beverages' sodium content, don't be ...it's "generally pretty minimal compared to other foods and beverages."

 

Your Bottom Line: Getting your daily dose of H2O is vital to your health--specifically for your energy levels, your bones, your waistline and even your heart--and Cohn says any sparkling water is fine to drink. To avoid bubble overload, however (and the possible bloating that could come with it), she recommends balancing your daily sparkles with regular water. Or, if you want to get fancy, "flat."

 

p.s. - for weight loss stay away from the sparkling waters etc, rather have your water flat. BUT sparkling water is MUCH better than a cool drink, so if you think you going to indulge with a fizzy drink, rather have a sparkling water.