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Sparkling Water vs. Plain Water

FitSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 05:50:41 -0700

If you've swapped out your daily soda for sparkling water, or like to drink the bubbly stuff because plain H2O can be boring, I bet you're wondering how healthy it is. Fizzy water is not only refreshing, but it also hydrates your body as well as regular ol' water.

You may have heard that the carbon dioxide added to water to make it bubbly can be acidic, and can cause erosion to your tooth enamel. Don't worry because the damage is minimal, and one would have to drink massive amounts of sparkling water in order to wear away enamel faster than it's renewed. Sodas, on the other hand, contain phosphoric acid, which definitely rots your teeth.

What about sparkling water affecting your bones? To find out the truth, read more.

You may have also heard that carbonated water can leach calcium out of your bones and lead to osteoporosis, but no studies have been found to back this up. Actually, drinking sparkling water may even keep calcium locked in your bones.

One thing you need to watch out for is flavored sparkling waters. Some varieties are enhanced with natural fruit juices, but others contain sugar or artificial sweeteners, so be a label reader to avoid unnecessary calories. Some fizzy mineral water or club soda can also contain high amounts of sodium, which can contribute to high blood pressure. Another downside to opting for the bubbly is that some people may experience bloating or gas from drinking it.

Which do you drink more often, sparkling or regular water?

Fact or Fiction: Health Myths

FitSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:50:39 -0700

Does an apple a day really keep the doctor away? And do you need all that water? With myths and old wives' tales sounding more like bona fide medical advice, knowing how to take care of yourself can be plain confusing. Do you know which of these accepted words of wisdom make real health sense? Take my quiz to find out.

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Reasons to Choose Tap Water Over Bottled

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:00:36 -0700

Sipping bottled water has become such a habit for people trying to live healthier - think Jennifer Aniston and her Smartwater ads. Choosing water over sugary sodas is great, but many people think bottled water is healthier than good ol' water from the tap. And cleaner too. But research has found that is not true. In fact, bottled water could contain more impurities than tap water - that's not smart at all. Here are seven reasons to skip the bottled water and opt for tap.

Tap water is highly regulated. It is regularly checked for traces of E. coli and fecal coliform bacteria. The FDA doesn't hold the same rules for bottled water.
Tap water must be tested for coliform bacteria 100 or more times a month. Bottled water companies are only required to test once a week.

Learn five more reasons.

How Many Glasses of Water Do You Drink Daily?

FitSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:00:56 -0700

The health benefits of drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water continue to fall under scrutiny. However, being dehydrated can slow down your metabolism. When it is hot and humid, and you're exercising regularly, it is important to stay hydrated by drinking water before, during, and after working out. With all this in mind, I want to know, on average . . .

Small Steps For Big Losses

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:00:00 -0700

If you think about your weight loss goals as a series of small changes, the prospect of adding healthy habits to your life doesn't seem so daunting. Losing weight the healthy way takes time and commitment, since you shouldn't lose more than two pounds a week. The more slowly you lose the weight, the more likely you are to keep it off, and to do so you need to lead a healthy lifestyle. Shape magazine has come up with five simple changes you can make to your life to help you drop pounds, keep them off, and live in the healthy zone. No need to tackle all these lifestyle tweaks at once. Pick one habit and focus on that one for a month, and at the end of four weeks it should be truly integrated into your life.

The first change is simple: drink more water. A wonderful zero-calorie beverage, water can make you feel full, allowing you to eat less. Signs of mild dehydration are often confused with hunger, leading people to eat when they should be sipping. Check out the other four changes in this article: Make One Change and Lose Weight.

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Do You Drink Tap Water?

FitSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Keep Track of Water Intake With Chocolate

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Drinking enough water is so important to our health. Not only is staying hydrated good for our skin, it also promotes regularity and weight loss by keeping cells fully functional to stoke your metabolism. Eight glasses of water isn't the standard anymore, so to find out how much water you need per day, depending on your age, height, weight, and activity level, check out Fit's Calculator. I need about 80 to 100 ounces a day, so I figured out a fun and tasty way to monitor my daily water intake.

I put eight to 10 dark chocolate-covered cranberries in a little dish on my desk. Every time I drink 10 ounces of agua, I treat myself to a chocolate morsel. It reminds me to consistently drink water throughout the day until the dish is empty. If chocolate doesn't inspire you, fill your dish with something else you enjoy like cashews, dried cherries, or yogurt-covered raisins.

Is There Such Thing as Drinking Too Much Water?

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:00:00 -0700

When exercising, you've got to watch out for dehydration caused by the combination of excessive sweating and not drinking enough water. To avoid the dizziness, headaches, and dry throat associated with this condition, you probably load up on water while working out, but you don't want to overdo it.

There is such a thing as drinking an excess of water. It's known as hyponatremia or water intoxication, and it's the opposite of dehydration. It basically means you have an abnormally low concentration of sodium in your blood. Guzzling a ton of water in a short amount of time can overload your kidneys and cause a drop in blood sodium levels. Sodium is important to your body because it's an electrolyte (just like potassium and chloride). Your cells need these minerals in order to pass electrical impulses to other cells for normal bodily functions. A drop in sodium levels in your blood can cause water to enter your brain, which will cause it to swell. Symptoms include fatigue, headache, disorientation, confusion, hallucinations, nausea, restlessness, seizures, and may result in a coma or death.

To hear about how to care for and prevent hyponatremia, read more.

If you're experiencing these symptoms, then your doctor may recommend you cut back on your fluid intake, and increase the level of sodium in your diet. If your symptoms are severe, you may need intravenous fluids to raise the sodium levels in your blood. Medication may be necessary to manage your nausea, headache, and dizziness.

To prevent water intoxication, don't consume more than 31 ounces of water per hour. When working out for extended periods of time, you may want to drink a sports drink that contains electrolytes. If you're wondering how much water you should be getting each day, check out Fit's Calculator.

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Fit Tip: Hydrate Before You Exercise

FitSugar — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:00:00 -0700

While the debate on the merits of eight daily glasses of water continues, we know one thing for sure, nearly every cell of the human body contains water. Without water, cells don't function properly and they certainly don't function to their full potential during exercise. This is why it is important to hydrate before exercise.

In a recent study, physiologist Dan Judelson, PhD, observed that dehydrated exercisers completed three to five fewer reps per set, during strength-training sessions. Dehydration lowers hormone levels necessary for strong muscles. One to two hours prior to your workout, Judelson recommends drinking an ounce of water for every 10 pounds of body weight. If you weigh 120 pounds, you should drink 12 ounces of water before hitting the gym. Don't forget to sip water during your workout and drink enough to replenish the fluids your body lost through sweat.

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Minutes to a Healthier You . . .

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:00:00 -0700

It is more than just your time at the gym that makes you healthy; it is the simple everyday acts that take mere minutes to complete that add up to healthy lifestyle.

Here is one simple thing that you can do to start your day off right: drink eight ounces of water before breakfast. After sleeping for seven to eight hours your body needs water as well as food - being slightly dehydrated can actually slow down your metabolism. Before downing your latte, green tea, or juice, have a glass of water because according to the journal Obesity well-hydrated cells not only work better, but they help you flush out fat.

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