Fuel Your Body

Water

Photo by gfrphoto via Flickr (cc)

Water, water everywhere … Just as Michael Pollan has changed the way people think about eating, with his “Eat plants, mostly leaves, not too much”, so I’d like to suggest that when it comes to personal hydration, we follow Leslie Beck’s recommendation, “Choose water first.”

Water has so many advantages over almost any other beverage out there: it’s (mostly) free, devoid of calories, sugar, sodium, colouring and preservatives. What’s not to like?

For those requiring some jazzing up of the glass, add some flavouring by adding a squeeze of lemon or lime juice, ice cubes and a straw. If you’re into bubbles, go for soda water, or carbonated mineral water. There are many different varieties available – some with lots of carbonation, while others have just a minimum.

Keeping a bottle of water with you at work, in the car, or in your bag will ensure you’re always drinking and it’s amazing just how much water you can consume when it’s always available. Sipping on a glass of water at mealtimes, you’ll find you’ll eat more slowly and obviously, increase your fluid intake. You may even find yourself eating less as you’ll feel full sooner.

This is not to say other beverages should be banned – that’s unrealistic, but try to limit the amount of soda - yes, even the “diet” varieties as the phosphoric acid they contain can deplete calcium from your bones if large amounts are consumed. Sweetened drinks, pretending to be “good-for-you” beverages - I’m looking at you, Vitamin Water - and highly caffineated drinks, should not be your go-to drink of choice.

Too much sugar and sodium, not to mention the cost, should be a clue as to why moderation is important. Sports drinks should also be on the limited list - unless you’re exercising for more than an hour, water is what you should be reaching for first, to slake your thirst. There are a slew of other beverages I’ve not put on the banned list: coffee, tea, juices, protein shakes, punch – there’s only so much “no” a person needs to hear in one post. But if you’re making the effort to choose water first, you’re beginning to steer in the right direction and make the choice that’s ultimately the best one for you.

By Joanna Gertler
(published November 18, 2010)