Stop! Water Time!

Water is simply best for staying hydrated

It’s officially summer and that means outdoor playing, working in the garden, and more physical activity time outside. Being out in the heat and sun means your body needs even more hydration than it does the rest of the year. Your best bet: stick with water.

Water is naturally free of fat and sugar and is critically important for proper health and body function. Water helps keep your body temperature normal, lubricates and cushions your joints, protects your spinal cord and other sensitive tissues, and helps your body get rid of waste and toxins through your digestive tract. You can read more on the CDC website about water and its health benefits.

Too often water is replaced by unhealthy options

Sugar-sweetened beverages like soda/pop, fruit punch, Gatorade, or energy drinks are the leading source of added sugar in the typical American diet (CDC). For a lot of people, sugar tastes good – people are easily drawn to it, but it’s important to remember that sugar can be harmful to your body. Additionally, with sugary drinks it may be hard to determine just how much sugar you or your family members are consuming.

Just how much sugar is in soft drinks? A typical 12 oz. can of coke (or similar soda/pop) contains 39 grams of sugar; that’s almost 10 teaspoons. If you’re drinking a soft drink in a restaurant or filling up a cup of fountain soda, you may be getting more than 12 oz. Energy drinks and sports drinks can also be high in sugar, and are not recommended for children. Replacing high-sugar drinks with “sugar-free” or “diet” versions may not be a better choice, as studies show that they may actually contribute to weight gain.

It’s not your imagination; you are bombarded with soft drink advertising

The UConn Rudd Center’s recently released Sugary Drink FACTS 2020 report, found beverage companies spent over $1 billion in 2018 to advertise sugary drinks—regular soda, energy drinks, sports drinks, and sweetened iced tea—an increase of 26% since 2013. The report finds that the advertising is heavily targeted at Black and Latino youth, groups that are already disproportionately impacted by chronic illnesses related to overweight and obesity – heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer, and now COVID-19. Even soft drink advertising directed at children as young as preschool age increased 26% between 2013-2018.

Drinking plenty of water is part of the healthy habits that we regularly promote at Jump IN. In case you’ve forgotten, 5-2-1-0, every day.

Mini workout of the week

In keeping with our water theme this week, instead of posting a video to follow to get your physical activity in, we are encouraging you to go outside and have some kind of fun water battle with your family or neighbors (remember social distancing). You can break out the super-soakers, a hose, squirt guns, water balloons, or even cups of water. The aim is to run around and have some laughs. Be careful of slippery surfaces once the water starts flying!