Water water everywhere, lets all have a drink

Ahh water, literally the best drink on the planet. However I remember the days where I would never have considered drinking water on it’s own. Sugar cordials or fizzy drinks were my main source of liquid but as we all know drinks like this contain bad and sometimes dangerous ingredients. We all want to be a bit healthier but how can we have water without it being…boring?

Firstly, there are a few options for drinks that do not need to be boring. Any switch from a heavily sugar based liquid to something healthier is a positive step. I choose to drink water on it’s own but my switch was not an instant one. Try these ideas to help you kick the junk and increase your hydration.

1. Plain water.

If you are trying to get into drinking water on it’s own but are finding that it’s just a bit… blah. The best time to start is during or after an intense workout. While sports drinks companies like to tell us that their product will improve our performance the truth is that there is no need for glucose based drinks within the first hour of exercise. All the energy your body needs for that workout is already stored in your muscles ready for use. Water is the best way to hydrate yourself during a workout and after an hour of intense exercise it will taste like the best thing in the world, ever.

2. Flavoured water.

No, not sugary laden flavoured water. Some of those beverages have more sugar than a can of lemonade! I’m talking about making your own. Fill a bottle with ice cold water and add slices of lemon, lime, cucumber, strawberries, raspberries, kiwi, anything you can think of really. This will give your water a bit of a taste without the sugar. Think of it as natural vitamin water.

3. Herbal tea.

All tea is good, can’t beat a good cup of Scottish blend in the morning! It’s the adding of the sugar and the accompanying biscuit that causes the problems. Herbal tea takes that association with sugar and biscuits away and leaves you with flavoured water that is healthy too. Green tea is especially well known for it’s health benefits including increasing fat burning and reducing your risk of cancer due to it’s antioxidants.

4. Hot lemon water.

This is in the flavoured water camp a bit but this involves lemons only. Juice half a lemon into a cup and add hot water. It is recommended by those who drink it to be enjoyed in the morning. It is said to have a range of health benefits including clearer skin, fresher breath, better digestion and increasing energy.

5. Cocoa.

When not using skimmed milk and drenched in sugar, cocoa can be quite healthy. It’s also a good little chocolatey boost to your day. If using dairy I recommend whole milk, the extra fat keeps you fuller for longer and is much healthier than the skimmed version. If using a plant based milk hazelnut is the best, it gives it a natural flavour without adding sugar. If it’s still a bit too bitter for you, try some honey.

6. Coconut water.

You can’t beat opening a coconut and drinking the water fresh from there, however we can’t be carrying coconuts around with us. Therefore the next best thing is to buy coconut water from the shop. If buying the unflavoured kinds they should be free from added sugars. Coconut water is full of electrolytes and is said to be as good as hydrating you when compared to water.

The health community on the internet love coconuts as much as youtube loves cats, but not all health claims made about them are true. Coconut water however is a sure thing, it’s tasty, it’s healthy and it keeps you hydrated. Get stuck in!

7. Coffee.

Yep, coffee. This one does come with a condition however. Studies came out earlier this year saying that coffee does not dehydrate you, infact it counts towards your intake of water each day. Rejoice! However as with all nutrition studies you can’t test everyone.

Conditions during tests are not the same as real world conditions and not all coffee is the same. If you personally have no trouble with coffee giving you the jitters or making you feel hungry or extra thirsty after drinking it, then in moderation coffee can count towards increasing your water intake. Moderation is 2-3 cups of home made coffee or 1-2 (depending on size) fresh coffees from a coffee house as these contain more caffeine.

If, however, coffee has a negative effect on you or you find you are dehydrated afterwards, stick to the other recommendations instead. This point refers to coffee made with water and some milk, no sugar or syrups added.

There you have it, 7 alternatives to fizzy juice that can increase your water consumption and get you on the road to a healthier life.

References:

http://authoritynutrition.com/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-green-tea/

http://tasty-yummies.com/2013/03/18/10-benefits-to-drinking-warm-lemon-water-every-morning/

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0084154