Flavored hydration

Karen Fifield<fifield@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension -

Sugary drinks can keep you thirsty. Hydrate with flavored water.

If you have a hard time drinking unflavored water, try adding fruit to infuse your water. By adding washed, fresh fruit to water you can create your own flavor combinations.
If you have a hard time drinking unflavored water, try adding fruit to infuse your water. By adding washed, fresh fruit to water you can create your own flavor combinations.

Staying hydrated during the summer is very important. As you’re indulging in beverages, pay attention to what it is you are drinking. Consuming enough fluids to stay hydrated, regardless what time of year it is – do you really think about the amount of sugar you may be consuming in your drink? Soda or pop are increasingly popular with youth and adults.

Many drinks are targeted toward teens and youth, enticing them with slogans and “energy added” to get them to drink more of their product. Sugary drinks can also contribute to obesity, diabetes and possible dental issues.

There are plenty of tasty drinks available that are not loaded with sugar, such as plain water, tea and fruit infused water. To help you decide what to drink read the label of the drink you are considering. Remember the first item on the ingredients list is the largest amount by weight. Also look at the calories per serving and serving per container. Even though one bottle looks like one serving, it may contain more than one.

Michigan State University Extension recommends water as the best source of hydration. Pure water contains no calories and leaves no after taste. Staying hydrated helps you stay alert throughout the day. Water gives you a feeling of being full whereas sugary drinks can leave you craving more. You will find a healthy glow in your skin tone and feel better from the inside out.

If you have a hard time drinking unflavored water, try adding fruit to infuse your water. By adding washed, fresh fruit to water you can create your own flavor combinations. Experiment with various fruits and vegetables and know you are staying hydrated by not consuming sugary drinks. 

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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