You go to a restaurant and one of the first things your waiter will ask, assuming that they are providing you with good service, is what you would like to drink. Scanning the list of frozen alcoholic specials that they serve, and even the mundane list of the usual fountain drinks which also is loaded with sugar, your stomach rumbles and rejects even the slightest thoughts of consuming them and using it to fuel your body.
After a great workout, or even on a warm summer day, nothing is more thirst quenching than a tall glass of water! But water does way more for us than just hydrate our dry throats and mouths! With a little help from the writers and nutritionists at Breaking Muscle, here are some great reasons why water is so important and how it can change your life to drink up!
Our bodies are composed of water, so if you fail to replenish the body properly, organs start failing and your body will in fact shut down. Water also may help to prevent cancer, help you to perform better throughout your day, and even lose weight! (Many times, we eat because we think we are hungry, but in fact, our bodies are merely sending us signals that we are thirsty!) Sometimes, we get headaches caused by dehydration, which of course a bottle of water will also cure. Water can also help your skin get a healthy and natural glow. Sure, there are tons of beauty products that claim to do the same, but water will give you that glow from within. Our skin is the largest organ in our body. Regular and plentiful water consumption can improve the color and texture of your skin by keeping it hydrated and thus building new cells properly. Drinking water also helps the skin do it’s job of regulating the body’s temperature through sweating. So it’s a no-brainer that in order to lead healthy and fulfilling lives, we should cut the amount of soda and juices that we consume and focus our energy and attention to water.
The #StopDropAndChugChallenge has aided in the fitness battles with trying to lead healthier lives! But, it also made me think of other drinks that are advertised as being healthy but perhaps aren’t. I’ve discussed coffee and tea on my blog before, and I even touched on the whole juicing phase, but never have I ventured into the unchattered territories of carbonated or “Sparkling Water.”
According to the NY Daily News, “Sparkling water is often cited as one of those healthy drinks you’re supposed to switch to when you quit sugary soda. It’s sugar-free and calorie-free, and it hydrates.” Still, this left a yearning desire for a clear cut answer to the undying question of is it good for you, or not?
“If somebody doesn’t like the taste of water, they shouldn’t be concerned if sparkling is all they’re drinking,” said Manhattan-based nutritionist Keri Gans, RDN, CND. “Sparkling water is just as hydrating. All it is is added carbonation.”
And…carbonation is what again?
Carbonated water is water into which carbon dioxide gas under pressure has been dissolved. Some of these have additives such as sodium. This process, known as carbonation, is a process that causes the water to become effervescent. –Wikipedia
Sparkling waters, from left, Splitrock, Antipodes, Guadianello , Mount Franklin, Capi, Voss, Badoit, Perrier, San Pellegrino, San Benedetto.
Ahhh, so we have our answers! Carbonated water isn’t bad for you and if that’s all that you’re drinking in an efforts to rid your mind of craving that Pepsi, you’re in the clear! However, there are still some things to watch out for, as too much of anything is never a good thing. For instance, unflavored carbonated water won’t do you much harm, but those packets that allow additional flavoring may have secret sugars added within them.
If you’re still craving soda but not a big fan of the unflavored sparkling variety, try flavoring your fizzy water with mint leaves, fruits such as cucumber, or lemon juice!
What are you drinking today?
This is Good Food and the City!
While I usually make my own artwork, the team over at SkinnyPop was kind enough to let me share this awesome little guide with you all! 
Good Food and the City 