We all get thirsty, but what you use to rehydrate can have a huge difference on your health overall. According to women’s health expert Marla Ahlgrimm, water should be your drink of choice.
There’s Nothing Wrong With A Treat
Marla Ahlgrimm wishes to clarify that there’s nothing wrong with a sweet liquid treat every now and then. A cup of coffee in the morning or a glass of sweet tea with dinner once per week probably won’t interfere dramatically with your health. However, the vast majority of your liquid intake should be water or unsweetened beverages.
Water Compared To Soda
There are many reasons that it makes sense to swap your carbonated drinks for a glass of water. First is that water is essential in keeping your body hydrated. This is absolutely crucial for maintaining body temperature, aiding indigestion, and lubricating joints. In fact, Marla Ahlgrimm says that every cell in your body relies on water to function. Water is also calorie-free, whereas most sodas average 150 cal or more per serving.
Most importantly, drinking water over sugary beverages can reduce your risk of chronic diseases and improve your dental health. When you drink more water, you put yourself in a lower risk category for developing heart disease, kidney stones, type II diabetes, obesity, and more. Marla Ahlgrimm also explains that the absence of sugar in water means that your teeth aren’t exposed to cavity-causing substances.
Water Compared To Coffee
Again, Marla Ahlgrimm says that a cup of coffee in the morning is fine for most people (and essential for some). But drinking water over coffee, which is a stimulant, can help you avoid caffeine dependence and its unnecessary impact on your sleep patterns, mood, and health. Water is also not acidic like coffee, so you bypass the risk of stomach irritation, particularly if you have a sensitive digestive tract. Further, Marla Ahlgrimm explains that coffee, with its high level of caffeine, may actually dehydrate you.
Water Compared To Tea
Green, fruit, and unsweetened hot teas can actually be really good for your health, says Marla Ahlgrimm. However, sweetened teas also contain sugar, which can negate the health benefits of tea in the first place. And, if you take prescription medications, you should know that tea may interact with the efficacy of your medicines. While this is rare, drinking water simply eliminates this concern.
Bottled Versus Tap Water
Many people operate under the mistaken belief that bottled water is better for you than what you get out of your tap at home. Marla Ahlgrimm says this isn’t true. While bottled water is treated and may come from natural sources, such as springs, clever marketing means that you’re likely buying tap water labeled as “from the source” with no explanation of what the source is. Water from a municipal treatment facility, by contrast, comes from a known source and is regulated by the EPA.
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Nobody will fault you for a soda or tea with your meal and coffee to get your day started. But Marla Ahlgrimm insists that plain old tap water is all you need to keep your body hydrated down to the cellular level.
Final Thoughts
