Water’s so boring, what else counts towards my 2L a day?
My first nutritional New Year’s resolution was to drink more water, and I bet I’m not the only one struggling to down 2 litres a day!
While water really is the best choice for quenching thirst between meals – it’s calorie free and contains no sugars – there are plenty of other drinks that you can count towards your 2 litres.
Sparkling water with a slice of lemon or lime is the easy alternative if you don’t like the taste of plain water.
Fruit squash can also be used to flavour plain or sparking waters, just look for low or no added sugar options
Milk contains essential vitamins and minerals (such as calcium), but choose semi-skimmed or skimmed milk over full-fat versions.
Fruit juice and smoothies can also contain lots of vitamins, especially vitamin C. A 150ml glass of fruit juice also counts as one of your five a day, just be sure to check the amount of sugar and actual fruit juice content.
Tea and coffee contain polyphenols (important antioxidants) that have been shown to have benefits for your heart.
There are also a few tips and tricks for incorporating more fluid into your diet. If you’re drinking the bare minimum at the moment, just try one or two changes to start with. Make sure you choose from all the fluids that count towards your 2 litres for maximum variety.
- Have a glass of water as soon as you wake up
- Find time for regular drinks during the day, the perfect excuse for a tea break!
- Have a glass of water with every meal
- Up the amount fresh fruit and vegetables, some have a high water content (sneaky)
- Keep a bottle of water handy when out and about
- Don’t even think about exercising without a bottle nearby
Always bear in mind that alcohol dehydrates your body, so if you’re planning a night out then try to drink more before and after to combat the its effects. Your body will let you know if you need it later, via the symptoms of a hangover!
Now, where’s my cup of tea…
You said that people should choose “no added sugar” or “sugar free” squashes. They should be aware that aspertame, a cheap, modern sugar-substitute is a very dangerous chemical and will do NOTHING for your well-being. It can poison you, giving symptoms such as IBS, muscle pain, joint pain, and general “malaise”. If you get any of these symptoms, cut out aspartame and see if your condition improves – mine did!
There’s no denying aspartame is a controversial ingredient – so you’re right to suggest people should be wary of it in sugar-free products.
Many studies have been conducted on the safety of several artificial sweeteners, including saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, neotame, and cyclamate. Contrary to popular belief, there’s no clear evidence to date that artificial sweeteners are associated with cancer risk in humans.
But, there are inconsistencies in the findings and many people continue to report symptoms such as headaches, diarrhea, fatigue, vomiting and nausea after consuming products containing aspartame. The University of Hull (England) was recently been commissioned by The Food Standards Agency (FSA) to assess the alleged symptoms – so watch this space!
Jill