What to Drink for Optimum Fitness

Here's a quick guide to what you should and should not drink for maximum energy and optimum fitness...


From eFitness.com:

What to Drink

Water is so vital to good health. It helps maximize the fat-burning process so well that it's always your best choice for a beverage.

Try to drink 8 ounces of water at the beginning and end of each day. Your body needs this water for the chemical reaction that is your metabolism. It does not raise or lower your metabolism, but without it your body will not burn body fat.

In eight hours your body will run out of excess water. Drinking a glass of water before bed will stop this from happening. At first you may have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, but when your metabolism stabilizes this should no longer be a problem. The glass of water in the morning is to get metabolism up and running again.

Drink 10 to 12 8-ounce glasses of water throughout the day. You need this amount to allow your body to burn the fat that your increased metabolism is calling for.

Try to limit or avoid sugared and caffeinated beverages. These are high-glycemic beverages that will grind your metabolism to a halt. Appropriate sugar free and decaffeinated beverages include water, mineral water, herbal teas, green tea, decaffeinated coffee, tea and hot water with lemon.

Try to avoid fruit juice. These are also high glycemic-beverages that will slow down or stop your metabolism. However if you must consume, have only small amount and dilute the juice with water or sparking water.

If you drink vegetable juices or if you use a juicer, try to use lower-glycemic vegetables such as peppers, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, and celery. Try to avoid high-glycemic vegetables such as carrots and beets. Juicing removes all of the fiber from a given fruit, thus making it a higher-glycemic beverage and, as a result, should to be avoided or used sparingly.

Do not drink alcohol. Alcohol is one of the purest forms of sugar and can be absorbed very quickly causing a huge spike in the blood sugar level almost instantly. However if you are going to consume alcohol, do so with a low-fat protein, such as low-fat cheese, eggs, seafood, chicken or as part of a balanced meal.

Low-fat milk (containing 1-percent butterfat) has the desired 40-30-30 balance that we are looking for. It can be used as part of your meal or as a snack all by itself.

Scot Dawson is director and head trainer for Apollo Fitness. He has been working in the fitness industry since 1998. To learn more, go to www.apollofitness.ca

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