Water

[DudeBroBrony]

Water
By: Aaron Reed

While training for the Wonderbolts what do you think Rainbow Dash drinks to stay hydrated? Soda? Nope. Juice? Nope. Water? Eeyup. It's healthy, has 0 calories, and it's free.

Water is one of the most important factors in a healthy lifestyle. It plays a key role in supporting health, particularly during weight loss, when it helps remove toxins and other unhealthy substances
stored in your fat cells. Being well-hydrated helps all your organs and systems function properly. Water is the solvent that moves nutrients, hormones, antibodies, and oxygen through your bloodstream and lymphatic system, and removes waste. And of course it's essential to your kidney's ability to filter out and eliminate metabolic byproducts and toxins. If you don't drink enough, your body is forced to recycle dirty water, diminishing the efficiency of every metabolic function.

Not only does water keep your body running efficiently, it can help you lose weight too. Drinking a single 8 oz. glass of cold water burns 9.25 more calories than drinking one at room temperature (Anderson, 2003, p. 176). Doesn't sound like much does it? However, if you take into account drinking 8 glasses per day for a year, that adds up to 7.7 lbs. (It takes 3500 Calories to create
one pound of fat). Not to mention the calories that you will be saving by replacing traditional drinks with water!

So how much water should one drink in a day? According to the Institute of Medicine, adequate intake is about 104 oz. for stallions and 72 oz. for mares. Have a hard time drinking that much water in
your day? Here's what I do: Before every meal (I eat 5 – 6 meals per day) I drink 2 8 oz. glasses of cold water. I also drink 16 oz. twice per day when I take my vitamins and supplements for a grand total of 112 – 128 oz. Not only does this help me get all my water in, drinking water helps to suppress appetite and research has shown that drinking 2 8 oz. glasses of cold water boosts your metabolism by 30% for approximately 90 minutes (Boschman et al, 2003).

If you are one of those ponies that simply can't stand the taste of plain old water, then I would suggest trying one of the numerous zero-calorie flavor enhancing options that exist. Similarly, if you are in an area with low quality or bad-tasting water, try one the various water filtration options (I have a PUR filter pitcher).

Now with all this being said, it doesn't mean that you can never have anything but water ever again, but save them for a treat instead of as a regular part of your diet.

​

References

Anderson, W.S. (2008). Dr. A's habits of health: the path to permanent weight control and optimal
health. Annapolis, MD: Habits of Health Press.

Boschmann M., Steiniger J., Hille U., Tank J., Adams F., Sharma A.M., . . . Jordan J. (2003). Water-
induced thermogenesis. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 88(12), 6015–6019. doi:10.1210/jc.2003-030780

[Cipher]

Does it matter if its vaporized/distilled or plain water? I have a habit of drinking Smart Water.

[Commander Hurricane]

I'd recommend plain old distilled water. That's government regulated to make sure that it is drinkable, as opposed to water made by a company (Vitamin water is a no-go!) where anything goes, usually to up taste and a loss to health :/ I do recommend Dudebro's filter if you have bad water, my town is known for NY's best tasting water, so I wouldnt have much of an opinion though :/

Also this is a side note, but I nearly died of high blood pressure because of not drinking water. I was probably the most fit kid in my school, yet had sky high blood pressure because I drank a lot of protein shakes and too little water. Now I have very healthy blood pressure and drink tons of water. Water and tea are my two main drinks and I highly recommend both.

(P.S. Don't fall into the juice trap, we were always told juice was good for you, but it's not! It has tons of sugar and is the equivalent of eating about 6 oranges for one glass. I dont know how many of you eat 6 oranges at one sitting, but I can't. If you must get your juice water it down. HEAVILY. )

[Cipher]

Nov 4, 2012 21:17:47 GMT -5 Commander Hurricane said:

I'd recommend plain old distilled water. That's government regulated to make sure that it is drinkable, as opposed to water made by a company (Vitamin water is a no-go!) where anything goes, usually to up taste and a loss to health :/ I do recommend Dudebro's filter if you have bad water, my town is known for NY's best tasting water, so I wouldnt have much of an opinion though :/

Understandable, the maker of Vitamin Water (Glaceau) also makes Smart Water.

Any who, I also like Poland Spring, we do have good tap water, its just it comes from the same drinking supply as the one for NYC, or its just really bad well water.

[Commander Hurricane]

Nov 4, 2012 21:29:38 GMT -5 Cipher said:

Understandable, the maker of Vitamin Water (Glaceau) also makes Smart Water.

Any who, I also like Poland Spring, we do have good tap water, its just it comes from the same drinking supply as the one for NYC, or its just really bad well water.

I can safely say Poland Spring is approved, especially thanks to Sandy, my tap is undrinkable. :/ All water brands (Poland Spring and the like) are usually good, it's those sneaky flavored water drinks that will get you

[DarthAvarous]

"Does it matter if its vaporized/distilled or plain water? I have a habit of drinking Smart Water."

H₂O is H₂O. Whatever your preference is, be it bottled or tap.

[sagebrush]

Since I can, I drink from the tap. Those plastic bottles really add up in more than one way. When it comes to juice though, I'm a sucker for the carrot variety.

[alesand]

Fresh well water from the country is the best in both flavor and health. The best way to quickly absorb water into one's body is to drink it warm. In the hot weather warm water will be absorbed faster by one's body, thus keeping the body immediately hydrated.

[Bon Bon]

If you have bad tap water (thankfully I don't) a cheaper option than bottled is to get a water filter. Otherwise distilled water in gallon jugs is probably the best. Please, please buy a reusable bottle or you'll make Fluttershy cry.

[appledashfan185]

I need to learn to drink more water in my diet. I love flavored water a lot more than plain water. But drinking plain water is a lot better for you and me.

[animagic4u]

Nov 5, 2012 22:34:11 GMT -5 appledashfan185 said:

I need to learn to drink more water in my diet. I love flavored water a lot more than plain water. But drinking plain water is a lot better for you and me.

Trust me. Once you drink water for a while, it's like you crave nothing else.
I freak out at the thought of drinking a soda now since I've been off it for 3 years.

[DarthAvarous]

It's the only thing I drink, with the exception of an occasional mixed drink.

[alesand]

Nov 5, 2012 23:18:53 GMT -5 animagic4u said:

Nov 5, 2012 22:34:11 GMT -5 appledashfan185 said:

I need to learn to drink more water in my diet. I love flavored water a lot more than plain water. But drinking plain water is a lot better for you and me.

Trust me. Once you drink water for a while, it's like you crave nothing else.
I freak out at the thought of drinking a soda now since I've been off it for 3 years.

I was off of pop/soda for a while. Whenever I would drink it, it was similar to drinking alcohol. I mean I could become drunk from drinking it.

[madbrony]

Im drinking min. 4L water a day. Its hard to start drink more than the maybe normal 2L because you dont really care about it but if you want to drink more it will help to place a bottle of water everywhere you could be and just drink a bit every 30 min. After some time I did this I even drink water when im not really thirsty it is like a reflex now ^^.

[dexterino]

8 cups a day, Always maintain a hydration throughout the day, your body needs it. Plus it's free haahaha