Water and other Healthier Drinks
Benefits of Drinking Water:
Getting enough water every day is important for your health. Drinking water can prevent dehydration, a condition that can cause unclear thinking, result in mood change, cause your body to overheat, and lead to constipation and kidney stones. Water has no calories, so it can also help with managing body weight and reducing calorie intake when substituted for drinks with calories, such as sweet tea or regular soda.
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/water-and-healthier-drinks.html
Getting enough water every day is important for your health. Drinking water can prevent dehydration, a condition that can cause unclear thinking, result in mood change, cause your body to overheat, and lead to constipation and kidney stones. Water has no calories, so it can also help with managing body weight and reducing calorie intake when substituted for drinks with calories, such as sweet tea or regular soda.
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/water-and-healthier-drinks.html
Drink options:
Of course, there are many other beverage options besides water, and many of these can be part of a healthy diet.
Low- or no- calorie beverages
Plain coffee or teas, sparkling water, seltzers, and flavored waters, are low-calorie choices that can be part of a healthy diet.
Drinks with calories and important nutrients
Low-fat or fat-free milk; unsweetened, fortified milk alternatives; or 100% fruit or vegetable juice contain important nutrients such as calcium, potassium, or vitamin D. These drinks should be enjoyed within recommended calorie limits.
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/water-and-healthier-drinks.html#Options
Of course, there are many other beverage options besides water, and many of these can be part of a healthy diet.
Low- or no- calorie beverages
Plain coffee or teas, sparkling water, seltzers, and flavored waters, are low-calorie choices that can be part of a healthy diet.
Drinks with calories and important nutrients
Low-fat or fat-free milk; unsweetened, fortified milk alternatives; or 100% fruit or vegetable juice contain important nutrients such as calcium, potassium, or vitamin D. These drinks should be enjoyed within recommended calorie limits.
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/water-and-healthier-drinks.html#Options
The Risks of Dehydration and OverhydrationIf you lose more water than you take in, your body can become dehydrated. Dehydration can wreak havoc on your body, causing headaches, dizziness or digestion problems. Mild dehydration may impact your mood, memory or how well you're able to process information. These symptoms often go away once your body gets rehydrated. Medical attention is often needed with severe dehydration, since it can lead to more serious problems such as confusion, kidney failure, heart problems and possibly death.
It also is possible to become overhydrated. Although this is not as common, athletes and individuals with certain medical conditions may be at higher risk for overhydration. Symptoms of severe overhydration are often similar to dehydration and may require medical attention. For example, confusion and seizures can occur. Individuals participating in long stretches of physical activity, such as marathons, often need to replace both water and sodium losses. In these events, a hydration schedule is usually followed, and beverages such as sports drinks may be recommended.
Foods That Are High in Water
Options with a 90% to 100% water content, include:
This information is from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
It also is possible to become overhydrated. Although this is not as common, athletes and individuals with certain medical conditions may be at higher risk for overhydration. Symptoms of severe overhydration are often similar to dehydration and may require medical attention. For example, confusion and seizures can occur. Individuals participating in long stretches of physical activity, such as marathons, often need to replace both water and sodium losses. In these events, a hydration schedule is usually followed, and beverages such as sports drinks may be recommended.
Foods That Are High in Water
Options with a 90% to 100% water content, include:
- Drinks including water, sparkling water and fat-free milk
- Fruits, especially cantaloupe, strawberries and watermelon
- Vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage, celery, spinach and cooked squash
- Fruits including bananas, grapes, oranges, pears and pineapples
- Vegetables such as carrots, broccoli and avocados
- Dairy products including yogurt, cottage cheese and ricotta cheese
This information is from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
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Updated 5/5/2022
institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity
and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille,
large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency
that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY)
or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint
Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-ComplaintForm-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA.
The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged
discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature
and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by: 1. mail: U.S.
Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C.
20250-9410; or 2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or 3. email: [email protected].
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Updated 5/5/2022