Water versus other Liquids- Summer special

Water represents a critical nutrient whose absence will be lethal within days. Water’s importance for prevention of nutrition-related noncommunicable diseases has emerged more recently because of the shift toward large proportions of fluids coming from caloric beverages in daily modern lifestyle.

Water comprises from 75% body weight in infants to 55% in elderly and is essential for maintenance proper health and functioning and therefore, the cellular health and life. It is essential for the maintenance of normal body temperature, acid base balance, inter and intra cellular equilibrium of water and minerals and the maintenance of normal internal environment regardless of outside conditions.

Water intake is regulated by an exquisitely sensitive network of physiological controls, which tend to maintain body water and fluid intake. Humans may drink for various reasons, particularly for hedonic ones but most of drinking is due to water deficiency which triggers the so called regulatory or physiological thirst.

Most of the times, though, we do not drink to quench thirst, but for other reasons; as beverages used as stimulants such as tea and coffee, as part of daily diet such as in milk and shakes or just for pure pleasure as juices and soft drinks. Most drinking seems also to be mediated through the taste buds, which communicate with the brain in a kind of “reward system”.

The way human beings rehydrate themselves may be advantageous because it allows water losses to be replenished before thirst-producing dehydration takes place. Unfortunately, this also carries some disadvantages. Drinking fluids other than water can contribute to an intake of caloric nutrients in excess of requirements and in most cases, we do not reduce food intake, while consuming calorie rich beverages.

This clearly leads to increased energy intake as compared to requirement and therefore weight and related problems of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, early aging or the so called modern day chronic diseases.
The most important point here to be considered also is that apart from being rich in calories, most of these beverages provide none of the other important nutrients beneficial for health and wellbeing.

Studies have shown that on an average of 200 to 500 extra calories per day are added due mainly to the consumption of these sweetened beverages. Some researchers also found that even an increase of about 200 ml of water in daily diet and consequent decrease in the intake of calorie rich beverages, decreased the weight of individuals about 2 to 4 kgs. in a month. Another study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, established the fact that there was a strong association between coronary heart disease and intake of fluids other than water, independent of all other factors. This study was carried out for 6 long years with approximately 20,000 participants (12,017 females and 8,280 males).

It would, therefore, be wise to conclude that reducing even about 200 ml of calorie rich drinks and replacing it with water or other non-calorie drinks such as lemon water and detox water would reduce the risk of weight gain, heart disease and other chronic diseases along with the benefits glowing skin and delayed aging.
Preparing Detox Water:

Detox water can be prepared by any one or a mix of the following ingredient being soaked in water for 2 to 3 hours, this water will not only be appealing to the taste buds but also provide the essential minerals as well and help in reduction of weight, by reducing unwanted calories from daily diet.

• Watermelon
• Strawberries
• Cucumber
• Green apple
• Orange
• lemon
• Ginger
• mint

To enhance the taste and health benefits further, a stick of cinnamon and roasted cumin powder can also be added.

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