| You've probably heard by now how important it is to | | | | than your body needs. That's why some health |
| drink lots of water. How much? The answer varies | | | | experts recommend to get your fruit from whole |
| according to who you read or listen to, but my | | | | fresh fruit rather than juices. |
| advice is to not get carried away. Your body will tell | | | | For example, have you ever had a large glass of |
| you when it needs water -that's what thirst is for. | | | | fresh squeezed orange juice? It's certainly refreshing, |
| The funny thing is, at the same time we are | | | | but watch the person who makes it and see how |
| bombarded with health information about the | | | | many oranges they have to use to make one large |
| importance of staying hydrated, the market is | | | | glass. Certainly more than you'd ever eat if you were |
| saturated with products that are supposed to quench | | | | just sitting there eating oranges. I'm not saying that a |
| our thirst, give us energy, nourish us, make us | | | | glass of orange juice is bad for you, but if you rely |
| smarter, and who knows what else. The only | | | | on juices to quench your thirst, you will be getting |
| problem with all of these products? They aren't | | | | lots of superfluous sugar. |
| water. | | | | When it comes to energy drinks, there are other |
| I'm not saying that you should only drink water. | | | | things to watch out for. Many have high caffeine |
| There is definitely room for other beverages. Juices | | | | content. Combined with sugar, and maybe some |
| can be healthy and refreshing. Coffee and tea are | | | | herbal stimulants such as Ginseng as well, you may |
| debatable, but there is evidence that even they have | | | | indeed get a burst of energy, but you will probably |
| health benefits when consumed in moderation. The | | | | also crash. Many energy drinks have an impressive list |
| same is true for alcohol -again, stressing the need for | | | | of vitamins, herbs and other supplements. In most |
| moderation. Soda and the various sugary "fruit | | | | cases, you are better off getting these from a |
| flavored" drinks you would really be better off | | | | proper diet or taken as pure supplements, without all |
| skipping altogether. | | | | the added sugar. |
| What I'm focusing on here is the way that juices, | | | | The real point is that nothing replaces water. Pure |
| energy drinks and various "thirst quenchers" are being | | | | water -finding a good source of water can be |
| marketed as alternatives to plain water. They can | | | | problematic nowadays, but buy the best you can or |
| never replace water, and in many cases they aren't | | | | find a good purification system- should always be |
| even that good for you. Of course, this is a | | | | your primary thirst quencher. If you use anything else |
| generalization, and with all of the products out there, | | | | as a way to satisfy your thirst, especially when |
| new ones coming on the market every week, we | | | | exercising or in hot weather, you will almost certainly |
| cannot possibly make a general statement about all | | | | be consuming excessive sugars, caffeine, and even |
| of them. Or can we? | | | | vitamins (you can consume too much of certain |
| The next time you are tempted to reach for an | | | | vitamins, depending on your age, gender and overall |
| energy drink, or even pure juice, take a look at the | | | | state of health). |
| list of ingredients and the sugar content. Now some | | | | The bottom line, then, is simple --when you're thirsty, |
| sugars are better than others, but even if you are | | | | drink water. Sip on other beverages for variety, as a |
| gulping down gallons of, say, 100% all natural, organic | | | | treat, at social occasions or whatever, but when you |
| apple juice, you are still consuming lots of sugar. | | | | need to gulp down large quantities of a liquid, make it |
| Natural sugar, to be sure, but still way more sugar | | | | H2O. |