Water, drinks and your health
It's easy to overlook, but choosing healthier drinks is vital to a balanced diet.
The Eatwell Guide and the British Nutrition Foundation say we should drink 6 to 8 cups or glasses of fluid a day. Staying hydrated is one of the best things you can do for your overall health. It can help support physical performance, prevent headaches and constipation, and more. Water, lower-fat milk and sugar-free drinks, including tea and coffee, all count.
Drink plenty of water
Water is a healthy and cheap choice for quenching your thirst at any time. It has no calories and contains no sugars that can damage teeth.
Plain tea, fruit tea and coffee (without added sugar) can also be healthy.
If you do not like the taste of plain water, try sparkling water or add a slice of lemon or lime or add some no-added-sugar squash or fruit juice for flavour.
It is believed that drinking water may improve memory and mood, improve exercise performance, prevent constipation, support the health of the urinary system and help with weight maintenance.
Juices, smoothies and 5 A Day
Fruit and vegetable juices and smoothies contain a variety of vitamins and minerals.
A 150ml glass of unsweetened fruit juice, vegetable juice or smoothie can count as a maximum of 1 portion of your recommended 5 daily portions of fruit and vegetables.
Limit the amount of fruit juice, vegetable juice or smoothie you have to no more than a combined total of 150ml a day (1 small glass) this can help reduce the amount of ‘free sugars’ which can damage your teeth, especially if you drink juice or smoothies often.
It's best to drink juice or smoothies with a meal because this helps reduce harm to your teeth.
Tea and coffee
It's fine to drink tea and coffee as part of a balanced diet. Bear in mind, though, that caffeinated drinks can make the body produce urine more quickly and overconsumption can cause headaches in some people.
Some people are more susceptible to this than others, but it also depends on how much caffeine you have and how often you have it.
If you drink tea or coffee with sugar or you have flavoured syrups in your coffee-shop drinks, you could be unwittingly damaging your teeth and adding unhelpful calories to your diet. Instead, why not try a tablet or granular artificial sweeteners which are available and safe to consume in hot drinks.
