You want to lose that extra weight around your middle and you want to be healthy and vital, not puny and listless, while you drop those pounds. At first glance it would seem that the new plethora of vitamin infused drinks – such as Vitamin Water, SoBe Life Water, Airforce Nutrisoda and Propel Fitness Water - would be just what you need. Look again. There are real calories in all those nutrient-fortified sodas.
Before you sip your vitamins through a straw, consider this: your good health has suddenly become a big dollar business. According to an article published in the July 24th issue of the Wall Street Journal, the explosion of nutrient-laced drinks reflects consumers’ desire for more healthful choices than soda. These drinks’ combined U.S. volume more that tripled from 2001 to 2006, according to the Beverage Marketing Corp., compared to 5% growth for the U.S. beverage industry overall.
These growth statistics tell me that a lot of health-conscious Americans are being duped. Many of the nutrients touted to be in these drinks are present in such small amounts that they won’t make a difference. And, these hyped “healthy drinks” are sold at prices up to twice as high as that of plain bottled water.
If you’ve gone on my website (www.hormonewell.com) or read my newsletter before, you know that I am concerned that most people don’t get all their needed vitamins and minerals from their daily diet. Some of the deficit is due to what we do and don’t choose to eat. Also, unseen environmental factors (such as antibiotics, hormones and pesticides) can negatively impact the nutritional value of meats, poultry, fish, fruits and vegetables.
So what’s a well-intentioned, health-conscious individual supposed to do? Very simply, eschew those hyped-up calorie-ridden health drinks, drink plain water instead and take your vitamins. When it comes to water, drink at least eight 10 oz glasses a day. Drink a glass of water with each meal and, then, sip throughout the rest of the day. Although water contains no calories and may contain no micronutrients, it is an indispensable aid to digestion, nutrient absorption and waste-elimination. Water also impacts how your body metabolizes fat. Let me explain.
One of the functions of the liver is to convert stored fat to energy. Another function of the liver is support kidney function. According to Maia Appleby author of Why Drinking Water Really is the Key To Weight Loss, “If the kidneys are water-deprived, the liver has to do their work along with its own, lowering its total productivity. It then can't metabolize fat as quickly or efficiently as it could when the kidneys were pulling their own weight. If you allow this to happen, not only are you being unfair to your liver, but you're also setting yourself up to store fat.”
For those who want simplicity when taking a multi-vitamin supplement, MEGA II Daily is your answer. Two capsules a day, one taken with breakfast and another with dinner, provide 100% of the Recommended Daily Values of a broad spectrum of essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. And, because most women and men find it difficult to get the recommended 1,200 to 1,500 milligrams of calcium from their diet, I recommend supplementing calcium with a calcium-magnesium combination supplement, Cal-Mag + Vitamin D.
Note: Water + Vitamins = 0 calories + Healthier Body
Be Well,
Dr. Randolph
