As a nutritionist, I always tell people that good old H2O is the most beneficial liquid for weight loss and wellness. Sugary beverages run rampant in our society so consuming zero-calorie, zero-sugar drinks is your best bet. You may not realize it but an orange juice in the morning, a Snapple iced tea at lunch, and one soda at dinner adds up to 90 grams of sugar! It is advised to consume no more than 25 grams of sugar per day for women, and no more than 37 grams per day for men. We always hear the general statement that water is important and the obvious reason is to avoid sugar, however, below you will find seven detailed reasons as to exactly why we need it.
-Critical for weight loss and digestion, water helps to move food through the digestive tract, and it helps us to feel full--sometimes when we think we are hungry, we are actually thirsty.
-Water helps to distribute essential vitamins and minerals to body, as well assisting with the removal of toxins.
-When we are exposed to colder temperatures, our blood (which is made mostly of water) helps to move heat from our extremities, to our organs. And vice versa, when we are hot, water helps to regulate internal body temperature.
-Cognitive function heavily depends on water consumption--research shows that H2O improves memory, concentration, and mood.
-Proper hydration dictates our energy levels as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a molecule that carries energy and the H2O molecule is the key component in the release of energy found in the ATP molecule.
-Research shows that hydration helps to prevent and reduce headaches as water is used by the central nervous system, brain and spinal cord as a shock absorber.
-Adequate water intake lubricates our joints as it assists with flushing toxins out of the body, which helps to keep the joints healthy by combatting inflammation.
Of course, I do realize that one of the hardest aspects of weight loss and wellness for my clients is to drink water regularly, and to consume enough of it. Yes, water can be boring to the taste buds, so try some flavored sparkling mineral water, or maybe make your own fruit-infused water by filling a pitcher of water and your favorite fruits to have on-hand in the fridge. Still not convinced? Check out our line of low-calorie, low-sugar drinks here which are made by adding water (yes, that counts as water points!)--cheers!
