With all this talk about needing water, should we all become heavy drinkers? You’ve no doubt heard from many different sources that we should be drinking 8-ounces of water 8 times a day. “Everybody knows” we’re supposed to do this, but does anyone know where this rule originated?

The answer is… not really. Best guess is it’s a misinterpretation of normal physiological requirements. Adults lose about 64-ounces of water a day from breathing, sweating and going to the bathroom. A big part of that fluid is replaced by the foods we eat since there’s a lot of liquid in most of them.

In fact, there have been scientific studies that refute the need for drinking such large amounts of water. It seems that a daily intake of 5 or 6 glasses of water is more appropriate. Of course, it you’re outside on a hot day or exercising a lot, you might need a little more.

It’s probably more a matter of WHAT you’re drinking for most people. If you’re swilling down a liter of Coke every day, that’s not getting the job done for replacing fluids in your body. In fact, it can lead to lower calcium levels and higher phosphate levels in the blood, causing calcium to be pulled out of the bones.

Which brings us back to the need for healthy drinks. Remember, the following are good replacements for some of the chemical concoctions many of us are fond of drinking –

• Yerba Mate
• Fizzy or Plain Juice
• Teas: herbal, green, and others
• Lemonade
• Kefir
• Milk
• Vegetable Juices

And of course, purified water tops the list!

If you improve what you’re drinking a little every day, before you know it, you’ll have acquired a taste for the “good-for-you” stuff.

And then you’re one step closer to a healthy diet.

Post from: Health Food Made Easy

Should You Be a Heavy Drinker?

Need more ideas for healthier drinks in your diet besides plain water? Try some of the following:

Fizzy Juice – If you really miss the fizz of sodas, mix some of your favorite fruit juice with sparkling water. Do it a glass at a time unless you’re going to share a pitcher full, because like any other soda, it’ll go flat without being bottled.

Green Tea – Hot or iced, green tea has antioxidants, and research shows it to boost the metabolic rate and increase mental alertness. Derived from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, the leaves are steamed, which prevents the antioxidant EGDG (enigallocatechin gallate) from being destroyed. There are also decaffeinated varieties, although green tea has only about a third of the caffeine as a cup of coffee.

Lemonade – What’s more refreshing than a cold glass of lemonade on a hot summer’s day? To control how much sweetener is in it, make your own! You don’t have to squeeze fresh lemons to make it, though that’s pretty delicious. Using bottled lemon juice makes a good tasting drink also. Put a cup of lemon juice in a 2-quart pitcher (don’t forget to shake the bottle of lemon juice first), then fill the pitcher with water. Add your favorite sweetener to taste, and there you go!

Kefir – This is a fermented milk drink made much like yogurt. Milk is inoculated with kefir grains, which are a combination of good bacteria and yeasts. It has a sour taste, and some people prefer it mixed with sweetener, or made into a smoothie with fruit added. Also like yogurt, it is considered a probiotic food. You can make your own with a starter culture, or buy it ready made from some online merchants, and also at health food stores, and even some grocery stores.

Milk, fruit juice, vegetable juice, and other teas are all good choices, too. You can also do an internet search for healthy drink recipes and come up with more choices if you feel adventuresome and want to make something different.

Remember, the idea is to consume less and less chemicals. Natural ingredients = health food, so go for the gusto and drink stuff that will be good for your body!

Post from: Health Food Made Easy

More Healthy Drinks