FitSugar

Smartwater Bottle Inspired by Healthy Kids and Jennifer Aniston

FitSugar — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:30:00 -0700

If you're a fan of Smartwater because it offers your body the lost electrolytes it needs after a long workout, the next time you pick up a bottle, you may notice something different.

The company has unveiled a colorful, limited-edition bottle. The design was inspired by a mural completed by Jennifer Aniston and a group of 20 kids from the Action For Healthy Kids program in LA this Fall. Every time you purchase one of these bottles, five cents goes directly to this nonprofit organization, with a goal of raising one million dollars. The money will help kids stay healthy by offering funding for after school programs across the country that get kids moving, eating well, staying hydrated, and educated on what it takes to live healthy lives. Well, that's certainly a worthy cause to drink to!

Getty

Celebrity Endorsements: Jennifer Aniston is Not the Only One That's Smart

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:45:00 -0700

Celebrities are doing their part do endorse their favorite health brands and it looks like Jennifer Aniston is no exception. As I pointed out before, we have been seeing Jen walking around with smartwater a lot recently. For a while I was just thinking the girl had a serious need to be hydrated, turns out, that was just half of it...

UsMagazine is reporting that Glaceau is closing a deal with the former friend for her to be the face of its next worldwide advertising campaign. I think smartwater, water that's the envy of all water, and Jen, a woman that's the envy of all women, are a match made in heaven.

Jen tops the list of celebrity endorsements, but let's recap some other notables:

Jenny McCarthy has been signed on to Weight Watchers.
Dan Marino, former footballer extraordinare, is the face of NutriSystem for Men.
Valerie Bertinelli will join Kirstie Alley doing Jenny Craig.
And my personal favorite, Whoopi Goldberg for LA Weight Loss.

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Smart to Drink smartwater?

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 10:49:40 -0800

Water to make you smarter? Could it be that Jennifer Aniston is auditioning for a new brainy role? Not quite.

Glacéau's (the folks who bring us VitaminWater and FruitWater) smartwater is vapor distilled electrolyte enhanced water or quite simply: Water with electrolytes. This means it feels like you are drinking regular bottled water but you're actually getting the added benefit of electrolytes (helps prevent dehydration), without getting the added intense flavors and calories of other sports drinks like Gatorade.

The only time I would not recommend this water is while running (unless you pour it into a different bottle) because the clean, smooth bottles are hard to get a good grip on (especially if your hands sweat excessively). However, it's great for the gym or during any other activity where you won't be clutching your water the entire time. I'd even recommend it if you had a big night out, and you're feeling a bit hung over. Buy it from Dr. Soda Company online for $1.29-$2.19 (depending on size).

Fit's Tip: Just so you know, it's really not necessary to replace lost electrolytes during normal exercise (say 30 mins of cardio) since it is unlikely that you may experience a significant depletion in those that your body normally stores, but it definitely won't hurt to ensure hydration. If you're training for a race of some sort (or just exercising a lot) then it's a great idea to consider drinks, like smartwater, with electrolytes.

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Sports Energy Products Explained: Drinks, Powders, and Tablets

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:47:52 -0700

In order to sustain your energy for long workouts, you need to refuel with some kind of sporty energy product. Sport nutrition products are manufactured in so many forms these days - sport drinks, powders, energy bars, goos, and chews - so how do you know which one is right for you? Hopefully I can ease your confusion starting with sport drinks, powders, and tablets.

Popular brands of sport drinks include Gatorade, Accelerade, and Powerade. These pre-made, often neon-colored drinks contain carbs that you need for quick energy, and sodium and water that you need for hydration. A proper sport drink contains about 15 grams of carbs and 110 mg of sodium per eight-ounce serving. You can also buy powders you mix with water to make sport drinks. You only really need these drinks if you are working out for an hour or longer or are sweating profusely during your workout. I wouldn't sip these while running on the treadmill for 30 minutes. The sugar isn't necessary for short workouts, and as long as you hydrate with water before and after exercising, you're good to go.

What about Smartwater? To find out read more.

There are also beverages that contain electrolytes and no sugars, such as Smartwater or Function Water. Or if you want a little flavor but not a ton of sugar, NUUN tablets can be dissolved in your water. Electrolyte-enhanced water will help prevent dehydration but help your energy levels by providing glucose (aka sugar, which is turned into fuel for your muscles).

So here's the bottom line. If your workout is under an hour, drink plain water before and after. If you're working out and sweating a lot, sip electrolyte-enhanced water every 10 to 15 minutes while working out. If you're working out for an extended period of time, and are also sweating out fluids, sip a sports drink every 10 to 15 minutes.

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.

You Asked: Long Runs and Headaches?

FitSugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:00:40 -0700

Dear Fit,
I have been running for two years, consistently 30-minute runs, three mornings a week. A friend of mine who's training for a half marathon convinced me to sign up too, and I'm really excited about my first race. It's in the Fall, but I've already started training, and have been increasing my runs to an hour. I feel great while running, but a few hours afterward, I get this pounding headache that lasts at least an hour. Any ideas as to what could be causing this or how to prevent it? I want to cure these headaches before making my runs even longer.

- Pounding Pavement and Pounding Headache

First of all, congrats on signing up for your first half marathon. It's an amazing goal to have, and since you're so excited about it, I can understand your frustration about having headaches. I have a few ideas as to why you're getting these headaches, so read more.

Dehydration can be one cause of headaches. You need to hydrate not only right before you work out, but also a few days before. You'll know your body is well-hydrated when you urinate pale yellow or clear urine at least six times a day. An hour before you head out for your run, drink 16 to 24 ounces of water. You also need food for fuel, so don't run on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. Eat something small that's low in fat, easily digestible, and contains 40 to 100 grams of carbs about 30 minutes before heading out. Yogurt and a banana is a great choice.

Since you're running longer than 30 minutes, you also need to hydrate during your run. A general rule is to take in six to eight ounces every 20 minutes. You also want to fill up on electrolytes. Drinking Smartwater or Gatorade or eating Luna Sport Moons will keep up your performance levels when you're sweating a lot or exercising for long periods.

After your run, drink 20 to 24 ounces of water or a sports drink for every pound of water you've lost. Continue sipping your beverage until your urine is light yellow or clear. Also be sure to eat something that contains 100 to 200 grams of carbs and some protein within 45 minutes of working out.

If you're drinking and eating enough, your headache might be caused by poor running posture. Make sure your shoulders and hands are relaxed and your torso is in line with your hips. Wearing lightweight sunglasses and a hat can keep sun out of your eyes, since squinting can also cause headaches. Or if you have allergies and sinus congestion is causing your headache, allergy medication could prevent your post-run headaches. If none of this helps, I'd see a doctor to make sure it's not a more serious problem.

What's the Deal With Electrolytes?

FitSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:00:00 -0700

I know Jennifer Aniston loves her Smartwater, and I do too. That's because it's enhanced with electrolytes, a scientific term for salts. If you look on the bottle, you'll see ingredients such as sodium chloride, potassium, and magnesium, which are basically mineral salts. Your cells need these minerals in order to pass electrical impulses to other cells for normal bodily functions. Your kidneys work hard to keep the electrolyte concentrations in your blood consistent, but when you exercise intensely and sweat, you also lose electrolytes. If you don't replace these essential minerals, your performance declines, and you can eventually suffer serious health issues.

If you're exercising for long periods of time or sweating excessively from a workout, it's a good idea to take advantage of electrolyte-enhanced products. Sport drinks like Gatorade contain these necessary electrolytes, and they also contain sugar for quick energy and flavor. If you don't want to carry around a heavy, fake-flavored sport drink while exercising, then Luna Sport Moons, Jelly Belly Sport Beans, or Gu are great alternatives. If you want to avoid the sugar altogether, then go for Smartwater or Function Water.

Fit's Tip: Refueling on lost electrolytes isn't necessary for a regular 30-minute cardio workout, but hydration is. So be sure to drink water often. If you're training for a marathon or doing a three-hour cardio-kick-boxing workshop, then opt for sport drinks with electrolytes, since they'll give you both the minerals and fluids you need.

Source

You Asked: Drinking Water While Running

FitSugar — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 05:36:41 -0700

A while back I wrote a post about the Nathan Speed 4 Water Holder. I thought this nifty gadget was great for long-distance runners, since it holds a total of 40 ounces of water. After reading the post, a user had a great comment.

How much/often should you drink while running?
- bicyclebeth

I'm sure many of you are wondering the same thing. To find out what I think, read more.

Staying hydrated is a necessity, so here are some rules I like to follow:

An hour or two before a long workout, drink 16 ounces of water or a sports drink like Gatorade. This will help prevent dehydration and also keep you feeling alert.
During your run, sip eight ounces of fluid every 20 minutes. Plain water is fine if you're running an hour or less. If your run is longer, you'll need to replenish lost electrolytes, so Smartwater or a sports drink are better options. You can also use a combination of Gu or Luna Sport Moons with water.
Hydrate proactively. Don't wait until you feel thirsty to start drinking, since this is an early sign of dehydration.
Avoid drinking too much water, because it can lead to a potentially fatal condition known as hyponatremia, or water intoxication. This is when you have dangerously low amounts of sodium in your body. It usually happens on long or hot workouts, if you lose a lot of sodium through sweating and consume a ton of plain water. This sets off an electrolyte imbalance, so opt for sports drinks instead.
Lastly, after a run that's an hour or longer, rehydrate with 16 to 24 ounces of sports drink for every pound of water weight you lost during your workout.

Source

What's the Deal With Function Water?

FitSugar — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:00:00 -0700

It amazes me how many different variations there are on the water theme. There's tap water, filtered water, bottled water, sparkling water, Vitaminwater, Fruitwater, Fruit2O, and now Function Water. The bottle says it's "vapor distilled water + electrolytes." Vapor distilling removes all impurities, so supposedly it makes this water taste better than ordinary water (my mouth couldn't tell the difference). Then they add electrolytes to keep your cells operating well. Where have I heard this before? Oh, right. This is the exact same thing a bottle of Smartwater says. This Function Water even attempts a similar quirky sense of humor: They compare the impulses in your body's cells to impulse-buying that "sale-rack polyester jumpsuit you'll never wear but had to have." It makes it difficult for me to take this water seriously.

Fit's Tips: You should know that your body doesn't need to replenish lost electrolytes after a normal 30-minute workout, but it does need to hydrate. Regular water will do the trick after a half hour of exercise. If you're training for a race or sport and are exercising a ton, then this electrolyte-infused water may be worth the extra dough. At least it isn't infused with sugar.

Would You Wear It: Claire Danes Spandex Gear

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 03:00:00 -0700

Typically when we see celebs going to, or coming from, the gym they are in the latest and greatest gear. I recently spotted cool Claire Danes prancing around in her gym gear (complete with smartwater).

Don't get me wrong, ever since My So Called Life, I've been a Claire fan, but what's with the gear? In my opinion, spandex is one of those things that must be approached with caution. Plus, since she was going for it, why not carry a proper gym bag too? Anyways, I am curious what you guys think about Claire's super sporty spandex look -- Is this something you'd wear to workout or otherwise?

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