Coffee, Tea or... Water?

Stop right now and think about what you've had to drink over the last week. Are you living on coffee and soda? How's your water intake? Are you squirming as you think of your answers?

You're not alone. Many people drink caffeinated beverages for their "pick me up" benefit, but what they may not realize is that they're trading off their long term health for the short term buzz. Yes, caffeine is a stimulant, but it's also a diuretic which means it takes away water from the body instead of replacing it. Caffeine is also addictive and you may well find yourself needing more and more of it to get the same buzz. Drinking too much caffeine can possibly lead to headaches and anxiety.

Soda is a double whammy. Not only does it have caffeine, but it packs lots of refined sugar. Yes, you get short bursts of energy but you're soon feeling tired as the sugar burns off. You crave more sugar, and the cycle keeps repeating itself.

The very best beverage for our body is water. It depends on your size, but an average adult should drink about 8 (8 oz) glasses of water a day. There are so many health benefits linked to drinking water that I can't list them all here. There have been many instances when common ailments, such as headaches, have been improved when more water was consumed. Our bodies need water to function smoothly.

Your best bet for better health is to wean yourself slowly from caffeinated and sugary drinks and replace these with water. If you go cold turkey you might get a severe headache and be extremely grumpy. It may be better to slowly go from "fully loaded" coffee to "half caff" coffee and then to decaf.

Some people don't like water, but its a taste that can be acquired. The more you drink it, the better you will like it. Try it different ways like with ice or with a slice of lemon. Try drinking it through a straw.

If you like tea then try green tea. It has less caffeine than regular tea or coffee, and it has high amounts of EGCG, which is an antioxidant. You can also drink herbal teas in small quantities and these may help your sweet tooth.

Whatever you put in your mouth has an affect on your body. This is also true with the beverages you drink. Do yourself a favor - cut back on the coffee and pop, and drink your water!