The benefits of drinking water are many. Very, very many, in fact. From helping you to improve your physical performance to improving your energy levels and relieving common illnesses like constipation, headaches, and more, drinking enough water is essential for your overall physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. One of the other big advantages of drinking water is that it helps prevent dehydration. 

To put it simply, drinking enough water ensures that cells and organs within our body are working and functioning optimally at all times. So what happens when we drink water instead of the usual soft drinks and other caffeinated beverages? How can we easily switch to plain and pure drinking water ?

Juice.

Because juice is high in sugar and calories, water and milk are almost always the better options–especially for your little one. In fact, if your child is under 1 years old, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests completely removing juice from his or her diet.

Soda.

Call it soda, call it pop. But sugary, carbonated beverages by any name are bad news for your teeth. “One can of soda is the amount of sugar recommended for three days for a child,” Dr. Hayes says. They’re expensive, full of artificial junk, and pretty darn avoidable.

Sports and Energy Drinks.

Same as above, and arguably a little worse. In fact, numerous studies find a strong association between sugary sports ad energy drinks and poor dental health in teenagers. Tooth erosion, cavities, elevated sodium levels… If you insist on sports drinks, consider having one smaller bottle each day, and drink it in one sitting. Sipping it over a long period of time increases the amount of time the teeth are exposed to the acid. You can also consider watering the beverage down, or drinking/rinsing with water after consuming the sports drink. 

The bottom line? Water is always the best drink choice. It can help us maintain your waist, your wallet, and your good health in the long run. Happy summer!