5 TIPS WHY CHILDREN SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO DRINK MORE WATER

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

5 TIPS WHY CHILDREN SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO DRINK MORE WATER

Here in the Philippines, we all know that diabetes is rampant. Meron ka na lang mababalitaan na the dad of ganyan is Type 2 diabetic, the mom of ganyan is mataas ang sugar. And it is also sad to note that there is a growing rate in children obesity from age zero to 10 years old. The culprit? The constant consumption of processed food that is high in sugar and fat alongside an inactive lifestyle.

I know that to some parents, it has been already a constant struggle to convince and encourage their children to drink water instead of the sweet drinks especially with the many available juice drinks out there. And building on this habit earlier on will encourage kids to develop the good foundations of healthy eating.

I am proud to say that I was able to form this habit of "drinking of water" instead of juice drinks to my daughter Tammy. I actually started her young, kaya din siguro sya nasanay. Instead of sweetened drinks for baon, I only gave her water and water alone.

This kind of habit should start with us parents isn't it? Totoo naman, we should start building the culture of hydration at home by being a good example.

To encourage your kids to love drinking water, educate them on its benefits and how it functions in their bodies. Always make it available and accessible to them, and make it drinking water a fun occasion for the family.

Here’s a rundown of why you and your kids should start the habit of drinking water today.

1. Hydration

The body loses about eight cups of water every day. This lost water needs to be replaced to avoid discomforts such as nausea, headaches, muscle cramps, and ultimately dehydration. Sweetened drinks don’t really rehydrate the body as efficiently as water. In fact, fizzy drinks make the body lose more water by stimulating urine production. So, when it comes to water replenishment, nothing beats water.

2. Weight watch

Sugary drinks are loaded with calories and of course, sugar. Studies have found links to prevalent child obesity and flavored drinks, which is why some schools have mandated bans on such. If you want your child to maintain a healthy weight, limit their intake of sweetened drinks and get them to opt for water to quench their thirst.

3. Sugar and tooth decay

Sugary drinks make it easy for bacteria to grow inside the mouth. Bacteria feed on the sugar and create enamel-damaging acids in the process. Water, on the other hand, has natural elements that strengthen the teeth, making them less susceptible to damage from plaque and sugars.

4. Poor appetite

Consuming too much-sweetened drinks has shown to affect a kid’s appetite. If a healthy diet is a top priority, make sure they only consume sugary drinks occassionally, and more importantly to establish water as the first choice when they are thirsty.

5. Healthy and inexpensive

On top of it being calorie-free and with tons of health benefits, water is inexpensive compared to sweetened or flavored drinks.

There is more to water for everyone, but one thing is clear: water is better than any other drink alternative.

And here's something that would help you encourage your little ones. I'm definitely sure that they will love their water even more with the new Absolute Drinking Water in kiddie water bottles with the iconic Disney characters on them.

Absolute Disney kiddie water bottles

Absolute Drinking Water, in its mission to encourage kids to drink more water, has collaborated with The Walt Disney Company Philippines to launch kiddie water bottles with the iconic Disney characters on them. This is to promote the value of water hydration and make it an exciting and fun choice over sweetened drinks.