Hydrate for Heaven's sake

What is the highlighter colored beverage in your hand?  Are you actually drinking a soda with your name on it because it had your name on it? Listen, folks, I get that the marketing geniuses over at Gatorade have you pretty well convinced that your 30-minute foray to the gym to jog on the treadmill while watching Ellen qualifies you as an athlete. And Coke well they're coca cola they've been making soda an addictive beverage since it came on the market but what are the real facts about hydration?

• Fluid is important, it keeps you sharp, can perk you up like a wilting flower for that 330 meeting with your boss.  But some tips to keep in mind:
• Ditch the sugary stuff- extra calories- extra weight
• Limit the caffeine 
• If you're going to be working out for an hour or more try a beverage with added sodium
• Monitor your urine color- clear to pale yellow means you're well hydrated.  If you're looking at fluorescent or school bus yellow march yourself to the nearest water fountain and have a drink.
• Do yourself and the environment a favor and bring a reusable bottle along.  You'll always have a drink and you won't kill a whale with you wasteful plastic.

So key points here:

• water is not boring.  If it is stop eating so much sugar and salt so you can actually taste your food.  Try La Croix waters or any other of the wide variety of flavored and carbonated waters on the market.  Flavor your own with some essential oils, herbs, lemon or other fruits.
• bring your own.  You'll feel better and mother nature will love you more and maybe she won't drop a tree on your house or something.
• check your pee
• light post it yellow= good
• school bus yellow =bad

Drink up

the reluctant dietitian