Fuel your life with the purest vitamins
Jan 23rd 2024
Kids Aren’t Getting Enough of this Crucial Nutrient: Pure Water
. . . they’re drinking sugar-laden beverages instead
Like everyone else, children need water. For one thing, the immune system functions best when well-hydrated. Mild dehydration in children can also cause constipation and behavior changes, for example acting tired, dizzy or slow to respond.
Most kids do get enough; the problem is they’re getting it in the form of fruit juice, soft drinks, energy drinks and sports drinks – all high in sugar, and
most containing additional toxins as well.
Sweetened drink consumption is on the rise. Soft drinks are the single largest contributor of calorie intake in the US today. About 50% of the added sugars in our diets come from sodas, sports and energy drinks, coffee beverages and fruit juice. A recent article in Pediatrics noted that energy and sports drinks are being heavily marketed to children; that energy drinks are inappropriate because they contain stimulants; and that sugary sports drinks should be avoided because they contribute to obesity.
Acknowledging that many kids today are hooked on fruit juice and other high-sugar drinks, Hillary Copsey, a mother of a 2 and 4-year-old, gives some tips on getting your child to drink pure water. Best is to never introduce sweetened beverages, but if your child is already addicted, she recommends diluting fruit juice with more and more water. Towards the end, add a little lemon or lime juice, or frozen fruit (she especially recommends raspberries).
Make drinking water fun by getting some bendy straws and a special, colorful mug.
Get your child their own water bottle. Make them feel important by allowing them to fill it themselves. It helps when everyone in the family has his or her own water bottle, and each sets out to work, daycare or school with bottle in tow. (Beyond Health now carries safe water bottles.)
When kids are old enough to understand, tell them how important it is to stay well-hydrated; that sugary drinks don’t really quench thirst or help their bodies to function well. Convey that they should be proud to be taking good care of themselves.
In addition to these good tips, I would add that one common reason people don’t drink enough water is that their water doesn’t taste very good. This is because the water is full of impurities and toxins. If you want great-tasting water, try Beyond Health’s RO home water treatment system. It took two years of research to develop the superior system that we offer. For pennies a gallon, you get higher quality water than found in most expensive bottled waters.
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