Top 10 Health Tips from Supersizeyourhealth.com – Tip #1
Tags : Super Size Your Health Tips
Skip the Soda and save $1000 – and your waist line.
This is a first in a series of Super Size Your Health Tips. Got a tip of your own? Click on the title to add a comment and we will add it to our tip list.
Super Size Your Health Tip #1: Cut The Soda Pop, Drink Water!
- Glass of Water
I had made several lifestyle changes in my diet before this. The first major change I made was in early 2005 when I learned of the dangers of NutraSweet® and cut out Diet Coke® and carbonated beverages. I enjoyed telling people about this. Think of it as “how to save $1000 a year.” Think of all those $ 0.99′s you would save by not buying a soda every day. (0.99 x3 x 365 = $1084). Everybody’s first reaction is “I can’t live without my Coke or Pepsi,” or “I need my caffeine.” But you know what? You don’t need it, you just THINK you do. The world will not come to an end if you don’t have that cup of coffee or that high fructose corn syrup sugar rush spiked with caffeine. If anything your adrenal glands will thank you, and you will have fewer highs and lows throughout the day.
So today’s tip of the day is:
Drink more water!
Did you know that your body is about 60% water? Your brain is almost 70% water. If you are dehydrated you could experience foggy thinking, lethargy, drowsiness, constipation and poor transport of nutrients to and from your cells. Likewise, you inhibit your body’s ability to eliminate waste products from your body if you don’t consume adequate fluids.
How much water should you drink every day? How about at least 8 glasses of water a day for a total of 64 ounces. It is not as much as it sounds. Technically I have read that you should take your body weight and divide it by two, then drink that number in ounces. For me that would be 161/2=80.5 ounces. I got this great insulated cup that is 32 ounces and I fill it up in the morning and consume it by lunch time. I fill it up again and drink it by the time I reach home for dinner. When you spread it out over the whole day, it really isn’t that much.
Now another thing, water is water. Drinking coffee, or any other liquid beverage other than pure water does not count to your water quota.
So you say you are no where close to that 64 ounces a day? Here is the thing, start with one extra glass a day. Replace your lunchtime beverage with water. Then next week add a glass before and after lunch during your normal day. Then build on your progress.
By the way, I make sure you drink purified, distilled, or reverse osmosis water. Clean water is good water!
How much water do you drink a day? Click on the comment button in the upper right corner
photo credit gfrphoto
Brad – I think the $1000 a year is a bit steep of a claim. Do people really buy 3 cokes a day, every day? Maybe I’m wrong. Of course, my caffeine addiction is housed in coffee, not coke. If I didn’t drink coffee there is no question my coke intake would be higher.
What is the draw backs of caffeine? I’ve been slowly decreasing my caffine intake (down to 2 cups of coffee a day – from 1.5 pots).
Love the site
adam
Hey Adam, Thanks for the comment. I would say that $1000 could be on the high side of estimation. But I realize that I have seen an awful lot of patients come into the pharmacy that stop at the gas station on the way to work to buy a Coke, buy a Coke for lunch, and have a Coke for dinner. Now I guess I am willing to concede that you can buy a case at the grocery store and it would be cheaper, but when was the last time you could buy a beverage at a gas station or a McD’s for under $1?
The draw back of caffeine is actually that it increases the stress on your adrenal glands. I will have a post up soon that talks about how stimulants like caffeine put extra strain on the body’s most important organ that is responsible for stress and the health of the immune system. Ever notice what happens when you burn the candle at both ends and build a fire in the middle? Often time you get sick.
Thanks for the comment and the feedback.
Oh, I agree about the general costs. A few years ago I went out for lunch 4 days a week at work. I always had a coke with lunch for $1. I realized that I could easily save $200/year by cutting it out. It’s amazing how the little things add up.
If you throw out a latte a day at Starbucks – you can see that savings add up real quick.
I’m looking forward to Tip 2.
Interesting post about the water drinking. Just drinking more and walking every day can have great health benefits!
I dunno that I pay that much for soda (Dad buys it
) but I definitely think I’ve got to start getting rid of it completely. The nasty cans pile up and honestly, the impact on your teeth isn’t really worth it. I would say on average I drink maybe two bottles of water a day? So that’s what, 40 oz?
Weight loss or should I say weight control is a key component of healthy living.As with
healthy living,weight control requires a lifestyle change to be successful.Only you can change your lifestyle,but here is some help for Weight Loss Control – http://www.losethebellyfatnow.com
Your point about sodas is well taken. My son in law probably spends more than a $1k a year on sodas. Safe water is clearly more healthy. Eight glasses of water is what is frequently advised, but actually the amount needed will vary with different individuals.
It would be easier for people to stay healthy if they took care of their bodies and eat less processed food and more of what God gave us.
My feed.
Hi Brad-
Great site. So, those of us that are picky and drink smartwater or fiji really don’t save money. We even have a filter system in our house but I feel like I drink more when I have the big liter of one of my favorites. I do feel a ton better and definitely notice when I don’t drink enough water. I’m down to one diet coke can a day – definitely better than the days of the Union or Den huge refillable ones!