Watch What You Drink to Combat Obesity

Although I try to drink plenty of water (especially flavored water) throughout the day, I too am guilty of indulging with an iced tea or soda every once in a while.

Did you know that each 7.5 ounce can of Classic Coke has 90 calories? 

You may be sabotaging your diet by satisfying your thirst with the “wrong” drink.

On Tuesday, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Dr. Pepper Snapple pledged to provide smaller-sized bottles, and more water and other low- or no-calorie beverages, to the market to help bring down per-person consumption of their high-sugar drinks that some say are a cause of obesity – especially childhood obesity.

These soft-drinks giants promised to work to reduce the country's beverage calorie consumption by 20 percent by 2025 in a campaign to counter obesity trends.

How can you begin to combat obesity?  Drink more water.

As I wrote about in my blog on April 29, 2014, the human body is comprised of roughly 60% water and water is vital to your health. 

·    You will lose weight if you stay hydrated.  If your belly feels full, you won’t be as hungry and won’t overeat.

·    Staying hydrated will help you exercise because you will have less joint pain.  Your joints are fluid filled and you have to drink enough water in order for them to work properly. This is especially true of the discs between your vertebrae. If you suffer from low back pain, drinking water can help. This is also true for your knees. Water is vital to your joints and keeps them moving freely. Drinking water can reduce pain in your joints by keeping the cartilage soft and hydrated. This is actually how glucosamine helps reduce joint pain, by aiding in cartilage’s absorption of water.  Less pain means more opportunity to exercise and stay fit.

Water is the building block of life and helps with critical functions such as maintaining body temperature, cushioning and protecting vital organs and aiding in digestion.  Therefore, it is vital that you try to drink half your bodyweight in ounces of water (if you weigh 120 pounds, drink 60 ounces of water) each day.  Your body will thank you!

Don’t think you can break the soda habit?  Help your family swap out one sugary drink a day with water and save yourself – and your kids - 90 calories! By substituting just one can of soda a day, you will lose 14.6 pounds a year, according to researchers.

Fitness for Health can help you build a healthier body by creating a customized, exercise regimen that addresses your unique concerns.  Whether you want to decrease your weight, tone, build muscle, increase flexibility or improve your athleticism, we can help you reach your goals!  Visit www.FitnessForHealth.org to learn how we can help you – and your children – combat obesity.