Sometimes I get asked the question, "can I drink something other than water?" Before I answer that question, let me present a case for drinking water.When you observe other species of life, what source do they seek to hydrate themselves? Answer: Water!
You will also notice that we don't have soda, sports drinks, or any other form of liquid flowing through rivers and streams, or falling from the sky. It's water. Water is the basis for life for most organisms on the planet. Without it, we don't exist and you must drink it.
(Side Note: A person may present a case that the amount of water in food is sufficient enough for hydration. I remember a guy on a radio show a few years ago presenting this case. Unfortunately, the scientific basis for this is not very well supported. Over 50% of the body is comprised of water. Most of the water in food is used for motility and other aspects of metabolism. There simply isn't enough water in food alone to sustain hydration.)
Usually when someone speaks against drinking water, it's because they don't like the taste. As unfortunate as it may be, it's a reality that has occured in a post-industrial society. At birth, we begin to train our chidren to drink Kool-Aid and juice (which is another problem because of sugar), which extends in to adulthood. A little over a hundred years ago, you would have never heard anyone say, "I don't like the taste of water."
Obviously, you can detect my position on the matter. However, if you need help drinking water, here are a few suggestions.
1. Combine water with a light amount of freshly squeezed lemon or lime. This will help flavor it up a bit and provide some vitamin C. (Nutrient Brief: Lively Limes)
2. If you like tea, it's okay to drink for hydration so long as it's not caffeinated and loaded with sugar. Drink it unsweet. The empty calories of sugar not only leads to health problems, but it can lead to a need for even more water (for very gram of sugar, 2.4 grams of water is needed to transport it).
3. Sports drinks such as Powerade and Gatorade are okay, however, they are only necessary when large amounts of water is lost due to sweating (or gastrointestinal issues like diarhea). These types of drinks have higher amounts of electrolytes and a light amount of sugar (usually high fructose corn syrup- blah!) to replace loss of nutrients during high intensity training. Due to it's marketing power though, it has been sold as a "water replacer" or casual drink. The original Gatorade was made by an exercise physiologist that combined orange juice, water, sodium, and potasium. It wasn't made using food dye to color the water or high fructose corn syrup to sweeten it. Recently, marketers have caught on to the public's perception of these drinks and created new products such as G2. It's still just colored water that has been sweetened. The Origin of Gatorade
4. Water Powders such as Emergen C and Crystal Light also can be used. However, if you don't like artificial sweeteners, you may want to keep these to a minimum. Emergen C you should only use once a day.
More than anything, if you have a problem drinking water it is due to perception and habit. You can drink water if you fully understand its value and if you make an effort at drinking it over other fluids. Keep in mind, water is the original drink that has sustained humankind for millenniums.
written by:
Kelly Huggins, A-CPT
Exercise Science, B.S.
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