While most everyone knows the health benefits of drinking lots of water, even being a dietitian doesn't necessarily mean you like the taste of plain water. Three Atlanta dietitians shared what they add to water to make hydrating more enjoyable.
Nicole G. Morgan, RDN, LD, CLT: Citrus
Morgan focuses on diet therapy, weight management and prevention and treatment of disease. She says she loves adding lemon, lime, or orange slices to her water when she gets tired of drinking it plain. "The lemon is especially refreshing and it adds negligible calories or sugar to the water," she said. "It makes the water palatable so that I am able to drink more!"
Rahaf Al Bochi, RD, LD: Lemon or mint
Al Bochi is the owner of Olive Tree Nutrition and provides nutrition counseling on diabetes, weight management, vegetarian eating and family nutrition. She admits she doesn't typically add anything to her water. "But if I do it would be a slice of lemon or mint for a bit of flavor," she said. Her personal nutrition strategy involves drinking six to eight cups of water.
Page Love, MS, RDN, CSSD: Calorie-free flavored waters
Love is a leading expert on sports nutrition and eating disorders in the southeastern United States. "I have never been a water drinker nor is anyone else in my family, so I am constantly looking for ways to increase my fluid intake," she said.
Along with drinking Lacroix, Perrier and the new Dasani carbonated waters, Love also likes calorie-free flavored waters such as Propel, Lifewater, Vitamin Water Zero and Crystal Light.
"Sometimes I drink half of my intake in other fluids beside water to meet my nutrition needs," she said. "I check my hydration by checking my urine color. I shoot for and counsel my clients to shoot for light yellow or 'lemonade colored' urine to make sure that I am hydrated."
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