Water! Water! Water!
If you’re drinking soft drinks, swapping them out for water is one easy way to make a positive change and get rid of empty calories. Even if you’re drinking sugar free substitutes, nothing beats plain water. No additives, chemicals or calories.
Like all the other little changes you’re making to your lifestyle, drinking water will become the norm. You’ll even enjoy it!
Just make sure you don’t get fooled into thinking flavoured mineral waters, fruit flavoured waters or energy drinks are ok. Some of them contain more sugar than the mainstream soft drinks!
Evidence shows that even sugar-free substitutes can make you prefer and seek sweet foods and drinks.
If you want to add some zing to that water you can always add a slice of fresh orange, lemon or lime. A couple of strawberries and fresh mint go with any of these things, and tastes great. You can also have plain sparkling mineral water.
Our bodies are made up of approximately 60% water, while over 70% of our brain is water. As water is a major component of blood, it helps move glucose, nutrients and minerals through our bodies. There are so many vital functions that are reliant on our water intake. It regulates our body temperature, lubricates our joints, enables affective flow of waste products along the gastrointestinal tract which speeds up digestion. Our water intake helps the kidneys to work efficiently in ridding the body of toxins. It also reduces fatigue.
Even mild dehydration can cause a loss in concentration and the ability to control your moods. By the time we feel thirst we are already beginning to become dehydrated, and at just 2% dehydration we can be experiencing negative effects.
It’s so easy to confuse hunger for thirst. Getting into a habit of drinking water from when you get up in the morning, before meals, and always having a water bottle that you can sip on through the day, makes our goal of 2 litres a day attainable. Yes you will go to the toilet more at first, but your body will adapt.
You WILL feel better.