Why You Should Watch What You Drink

If you don’t know why you need to watch what you drink, don’t miss this article. Here, we'll explain this, along with the health impacts of consuming soft drinks.

In your everyday life, it’s important to watch what you drink. Water must be your main source of hydration because soft drinks contain sugar and they could be harmful to an athlete’s health and performance. This is one of the main guidelines when it comes to watching what you drink.

In recent years, the intake of drinks with additives that may condition the functioning of the body’s physiological systems has skyrocketed. You could include some of these products into your diet occasionally. However, experts advise restricting them as much as possible.

Hydration: a fundamental process

Both athletes and sedentary people need to guarantee a correct hydration status. Losing a certain percentage of water in the body can significantly affect performance. Moreover, it can also reduce an individual’s ability to perform a certain activity.

A study published in the journal Sports Medicine explains the link between fluid loss and increased fatigue.

In turn, losing water can affect the cognitive performance of both athletes and sedentary people. Scientific literature affirms that more than 2 percent loss of water in the body can significantly condition motor coordination.

Thus, you need to watch what you drink to improve your hydration status and prevent problems related to water imbalance.

Watch what you drink: restrict soft drinks

We’ve talked about the importance of maintaining water balance and, also, about the relevance of water intake in this process. In addition to ensuring the regular intake of this liquid, you need to watch the rest of the drinks you consume to avoid those that can be harmful.

One of the best examples of drinks that experts don’t recommend is soft drinks. This ultra-processed product contains a lot of simple sugars.

Among the carbohydrates that are added to these types of drinks, fructose stands out due to its ability to negatively affect liver health if you drink it profusely. An investigation published in the Journal of Hepatology evidences this.

Sodas that don’t contain sugar are sweetened with artificial sweeteners. These substances aren’t beneficial for the body, since they’re capable of impacting the intestinal microbiota and reducing its diversity. This situation can increase the risk of developing obesity or metabolic diseases.

Coffee and tea are suitable beverages as part of a healthy diet

Although water should be your main source of hydration, other beverages can positively affect your health if you drink them regularly but in moderation. A couple of examples of this are tea and coffee.

Both are rich in polyphenols, antioxidant substances that are related to the prevention of complex diseases in the medium and long term. For example, coffee could be effective in reducing the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases.

We recommend consuming these drinks without sugar to avoid impairing their nutritional quality. Likewise, you can add milk or a vegetable drink to it to slightly improve its organoleptic qualities.

As we’ve mentioned, artificial sweeteners aren’t a recommended option for these drinks either. The best idea is to gradually become used to their “natural” taste.

Watch what you drink to stay healthy

Watching what you drink on a daily basis isn’t only recommended but also essential. Staying hydrated is crucial to improve your health and prevent acute disorders that can affect your sports performance.

On the contrary, including sugary soft drinks or artificial sweeteners in your diet can negatively affect your health in the medium and long term. For this reason, experts advise against consuming them.

However, a healthy option is to drink coffee and tea on a regular basis. These antioxidant-rich drinks may help prevent diseases in the medium and long term. Experts recommend consuming them unsweetened. Nevertheless, you can add whole milk or vegetable drinks to your diet too, depending on your individual taste. Just remember to always watch what you drink!