Today, I'm leaving on a jet plan (so, according to J Denver you're supposed to kiss me and smile for me). Carolyn brings you this post on water. You read about water, I'll be staring at turquoise water and understand you may no longer me "smiling for me".
You’ve heard it a million times; tummy-rumbling hunger pangs are often thirst going incognito. And it’s true, a University of Washington study found that one glass of water put an end to late night hunger pangs for 100% of dieting participants. Beyond satiety researchers have found that even being mildly dehydrated can cause a 3% drop in your metabolism.
You’ve heard it a million times; tummy-rumbling hunger pangs are often thirst going incognito. And it’s true, a University of Washington study found that one glass of water put an end to late night hunger pangs for 100% of dieting participants. Beyond satiety researchers have found that even being mildly dehydrated can cause a 3% drop in your metabolism.
For something that makes up ~70% of our
bodies and 75% of our brains, water gets very little love. Instead, we waste it
with 30 min showers (I’m guilty), pollute it and contaminate it with
prescription drugs, birth control and antibiotics. Worst of all, we call water
“boring”.
Compared to many other countries, our
tap water is safe to drink. While your risk of getting dysentery is low, you
may be guzzling down small doses of chemicals, carcinogens and even sex
hormones - check out this EWG/NY Times project to find out what’s in your
water. Freaky.
Water filters work to remove
contaminants via carbon micro filters. They vary from your $15 Brita pitcher to
fancy reverse osmosis systems. Reverse osmosis produces the cleanest water but
also removes naturally occurring minerals. According to Consumer Reports, your
“best buys” for filters are
Carafe: Clear20 ($15)
Faucet
mounted: Culligan($15) or Pur ($30).
Reverse osmosis: Kinetico K5 ($1800…
yikes)
We have Pur filters at home but love
our office Ovopur (pictured above and not a snowman).
For on the go, Black + Blum has a new
BPA-free water bottle plus filter. It comes with a stick of binchotan – an
ancient Japanese charcoal that absorbs impurities while releasing minerals into
water. A WSJ article says “We binchotanized
some New York tap water, and the difference in taste was drastic.”
Buying bottled water by the case isn’t
necessarily the answer either; 49% of bottled waters are just tap water
repackaged in bpa-leaching plastic bottles. There are a few gems, one of our favorites is
Mountain Valley Spring Water – glass bottles, no contaminants or leached
chemicals, and it’s naturally more alkaline than most waters (pH = 7.8). Consuming
alkaline foods and drinks benefits immunity, digestive issues and even your skin.
MVSW has won best tasting water in the world
- and they are giving a reader the chance to try it - a combo case of
still & sparkling.
To enter comment and tell us why you
want to be entered and why water isn’t boring (show us your H20 love).
OR tweet “@Foodtrainers is giving away
a case of @MtnValleyWater”
OR like Foodtrainers on Facebook. We’ll announce the winner Monday 7/30.
OR like Foodtrainers on Facebook. We’ll announce the winner Monday 7/30.
Are you a good hydrator? Do you drink
bottled water? Filter your water? Ever think about what’s in your water?
I'm lucky enough to live somewhere where the water is wonderful. I hate paying for water, but when I do on occasion, it does taste DELICIOUS! I especially love it nice and cold from the bottle (And sometimes fizzy!)
ReplyDeleteWater (carbonated or flat) are the only drinks in our house (except coffee of course!). I'll take boring over sugar and chemicals. I also like food too much to drink my calories (or toxins). I haven't tried mountain valley but will check it out. What's your take on carbonated? Any downside?
ReplyDeleteI'd love to try Mountain Valley Spring Water! I use the Brita at home but trying a new glass bottled water sounds good to me.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm a pretty good hydrator, although I know I can use reminding from time to time. I grew up in a household where water was the primary beverage, Alhough milk was served too, and ocassionally juice. My husband was not, so it drives me crazy when we go to a restaurant and he always has to order (read pay for a beverage). Of course, if it's wine or a martini, nothing wrong with that. When I do buy water it's sparkling Pelligrino (from Costco) or Ayalas sparkling herbal water for a special treat. The water of choice at home is filtered under the sink, but we gave up our RO filtration last year, since you need to waste a gallon of H2O to make a gallon of H2O. Big sigh...I'd love to try the Mtn Valley water, because I love water.
ReplyDeleteI have always been a big water drinker, but do slack off sometimes. It's easier in the summer when I am thirsty but have also found ways to make it more interesting.
ReplyDeleteSummer, I have been adding lime and mint. It's my own virgin mojito. Winter, just add lemon to hot water.
My problem is I drink so much liquid, that I need to know where all the restrooms are.
I would love to try the MVSW. There really is a difference in how water tastes, and would love to try something voted the best tasting, and anything good for digestion would be wonderful.
I realized that when you get used to water, everything else tastes too sweet. We put lemon, cucumber, rasperries, or strawberries in our water to flavor it. If we make juice or iced tea we still dilute with a little filtered water. Getting the kids used to water from the start also makes things a lot more simple for meals, eating out etc.
ReplyDeleteWe need water to live, but so many people drink other stuff (soda, energy drinks, sports drinks, etc) instead. But learning to appreciate the pure taste of pure water is a fine art—but everyone can do it. I filter my water, but I'm always unsure if the under-the-sink filter is filtering enough. I steer clear of plastic water bottles at all costs; it may not contain BPA but give it a couple of years and they'll find that those plastic bottles are leaching something else. Either filter your water to get rid of chemicals or drink glass-bottled water like Mountain Valley Water. Your body will be MUCH better off!
ReplyDeletecompletely agree about bpa alternatives/suspicious about those and even the experts say "we're not sure if those are safe". I don't get why I still see so many people with the plastics.
ReplyDeleteWater only rule is a great one, I wish I'd instituted it sooner, now we have water/seltzer.
ReplyDeleteThose of us in the water club are bathroom dependent, the only downside to hydrating.
ReplyDeleteOoh I'm ok paying for wine or a martini too but never anything else. Love ayalas waters too.
ReplyDeleteI think most things taste better in glass, maybe you'll get to see.
ReplyDeleteCarbonation itself is fine (doesn't cause cellulite ha but chemicals just may).
ReplyDeleteI just moved to a higher elevation and the difference in how much water I need to drink is unbelievable. I would love to win a case of this water to try! And please. Water is delish. Not boring at all, especially if it's sparking water!
ReplyDeletewater just quenches thirst like no other! i've been getting in to putting fresh fruit slices in my water and that makes it a bit different than the every day
ReplyDeletei have been drinking 8 or more glasses of water for years. spend a lot of time in the ladies room. i will definitely try mountain valley spring water since it sounds terrific. i am not sure i want to carry around a glass bottle so i don't think it will become a habit. i can be a bit clumsy.
ReplyDeletemany reusable glass bottles (bkr, lifefactory) come with a sleeve so that cannot shatter. I think taste and ability to stay cold is far superior with glass. Of course, when trapped, I make exceptions.
ReplyDeleteagree lindsay, just had orange slices in water, nothing better.
ReplyDeleteLove the pro water messaging. How much would you say you need to increase consumption Erin?
ReplyDeleteAs I become more in touch with my own body (older and wiser?) I'm learning to recognize the its needs better- and have found that the #1 thing it wants is cold water. I've felt so much better since (almost entirely) cutting soda from my diet. The alkaline properties of Mountain Valley Water is intriguing- would love to try it out!
ReplyDeleteI've always been a big water drinker, and I spend a lot of time in the bathroom, but sometimes I like to mix it up. I usually drink soda water on the airplane - because they give you a whole can instead of just a glass - and the extra lemon or lime makes me feel so fancy. Sometimes I'll do that at home too - when I WANT a cocktail but don't NEED one.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I literally have no water-drinking options at work as my office is filled with plastic water bottles. This is particularly depressing as I work really hard to keep up my water intake as I'm one of those people who always forget to drink water! I've never tried Mountain Valley Spring Water, but it sounds amazing! For me, water is the perfect beverage. However, sometimes I'll add some mint or lavender to make it more exciting.
ReplyDeleteMy husband is battling a rare cancer and water has been critically important in helping him to stay hydrated and his kidney detoxed and cleanse. I look for water with electrolytes and to alkalize as much as possible. Sometime even fresh juices are too much for his system. I often add mint from our garden or a slice of lemon, lime or orange to add some vitamin C.
ReplyDeleteI have been drinking Mountain Valley Spring Water for about 6 months now. It is the best water I have tried, (even better than Fiji water.) I love that is alkaline, bottled in glass and it comes from my home state of Arkansas. It is bottled straight from a pure spring source near Hot Springs, a town known for its spring water.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know Arkansas info, shame on me. Thanks Donna.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your husband Nancy. Fluid balance is so important for kidney function. I'm so happy to hear you're up on alkalinity etc. Stay strong. Curious if you've heard of Cycle for Survival which supports rare cancers, a cause near and dear to me.
ReplyDeletelove the idea of lavender, Ayala does an herbal with lavender and it's great. Maybe your workplace would "spring" for a case of Mountain Valley or a filter so you can refill a glass bottle?
ReplyDeleteI could make a case for needing a cocktail sometimes. I do love flavoring water though. I am not a can fan (also hate styrofoam tea cups on planes).
ReplyDeleteGreat job cutting out (almost) soda, go for it 100%, you'll continue to feel great.
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued ever since I saw a reference for the movie "The Sound of My Voice" starring Britt Marling. In almost all cases I'm immune to product placements in television and film. Maybe it was the movie's website that piqued my curiosity, but I found myself looking up Mountain Valley Spring Water on the web. Now I'm convinced, someday, somehow I've got to try it, not only to enjoy the claims of it's benefits, which are plentiful enough, but also the simple fact that my maternal grandmother was born in Arkansas with native blood in her bones. Thinking on a place my grandmother's line never returned to, but surely shaped them as true as any force, with names like "Red Bottom", "Foggy Bottom" and the like, the rich loam of the land that produces such wonders as I have never seen for myself, I can't wait to get me a case of them green bottles.
ReplyDeleteOur post poetic entry, I am sometimes a sucker for product placement have to admit.
ReplyDeleteYes, I am a water drinker. I started drinking water while on a WW diet some years ago and stuck with it. And when I do have a cocktail, its scotch and water!!! I live in a small town in North Central Arkansas and the water is terrible. It has so much lime and calcium in it that it stops up a water filter!! So bottled water is for me and I love the idea of glass water bottles. Send me a free case!!!!
ReplyDeleteDrinking water has never been clean using this.
ReplyDeleteAir Temperature Specialists