Water still the best thirst quencher

On a hot summer day, you can really feel your thirst and there are many options for quenching it. However, while all beverages hydrate the body, water remains the best option, as it is the only one with no unnecessary additives or calories. That means you can drink as much of it as you like.

Sweet drinks (soft drinks, iced tea, lemonade, energy drinks) are a very concentrated source of refined sugars and colouring. Not only do they lead to weight gain when consumed in large quantities, they may increase your risk of suffering from type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Avoid these drinks. As for sports drinks (e.g. Gatorade©), they are only appropriate when taking part in a vigorous and extended physical activity.

So-called “diet” drinks are not the answer to the large quantities of sugar contained in sweet drinks. In fact, some studies show that they confuse the brain, which can’t compute why the sweet taste isn’t associated with a calorie intake. If you do drink artificially sweetened beverages, limit yourself to one a day.

“Vitamin-enriched” beverages may sound healthy, but they are actually needlessly sweetened drinks with no significant vitamin content.

Home-made iced tea or iced coffee can be an interesting option, as long as you don’t add too much sugar or fat (from cream).

Milkshakes and yogurt-based smoothies can contain as many calories as a dessert. Enjoy them only occasionally!

Find your glass of water rather dull and tasteless? Add a few slices of lemon, lime or cucumber, some crushed mint leaves, a splash of pure fruit juice, or two ice cubes made from pure fruit juice. You can also replace flat water with carbonated water.

Make sure you drink enough in the summer. And remember that unless you are taking part in vigorous and extended physical exercise, water is your best option.