But how did it taste?

Offered in lemon, berry, orange and grape, there is a flavor for everyone. I was especially impressed with the berry. It was crisp and refreshing, not overly cloying or sweet. Often, I need to add additional water to many flavored waters, especially Propel and Crystal Light, but the Bot Water was not overwhelming. The grape flavor was especially enjoyed by my children, who remarked that it tasted very similar to Kool-Aid, but it was much better for them.

Sold at Whole Foods, Wegmans, and available online at various retailers for a bit more than $1 per bottle, this beverage is a healthier choice than soda and more flavorful than plain water.

While Bot Water provided Carmen with sample product, this review is her own opinion and was not influenced or sponsored in any way.

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We Love BOT Water

The phenomenon which she is describing took me all the way back to Intro to Psych in undergrad. Sensory Adaptation is the tendency for sensory receptors to have decreasing responsiveness to stimuli that continue without change. This is why you stop smelling your own perfume or cologne, or those in the city get used to the sound of traffic. It also applies when eating; you get less and less pleasure from every bite of a food following the first bite, the introduction to a new flavor.

You can remember this phenomenon to remind yourself that the large bowl is not going to be more goodness, but rather more of something that is losing goodness, and manage your portion sizes. However, there is a positive spin to this phenomenon as well. Like my client, you can use it when you are trying to have less of something or more of something in your diet. Just start and see if it gets easier (Let us know how it goes!). Especially, if you are busy with other things, you will likely be able to drink more and more water, noticing it less and less.

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Drink More Water through Sensory Adaptation

It felt odd to order Fanta at the first restaurant. My reaction to soda was not a thrill of return or a desire for more. It felt sugary and heavy. After just a day, I was experiencing nausea, bloating, and low energy. I felt unhealthy. What I was craving was a shower and 64 ounces of water!

Now I know just how much healthier I am without soda. It is not just about the calories. Perhaps there are things in your life that you think you are denying of yourself, but you really would not want any more anyway. Or perhaps you would find that one thing you are afraid to eliminate really is not all that fabulous if you go without it for a while.

Begin kicking this unhealthy habit with How to Wean Yourself off Diet Soda and The Health Benefits of Drinking Water.

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Soda Addiction No More

In keeping with their conscious theme, each cute Y-shaped chubby bottle is 100 percent recyclable and 100 percent reusable. What is even more fun is that each bottle comes in a Y Knot that allow the bottles to stick together so that your child can build and connect things. It’s like Lego for water bottles!

Y Water comes in four different flavors, each providing different nutrients and containing 40 calories per nine ounce bottle. The four flavors are:

Brain: This mind-charging drink contains Vitamins C, B6, B12, molybdenum and Zinc. Zinc has been linked to mental acuity and the vitamins are needed for brain development.

Immune: This virus-fighting drink contains antioxidants Vitamin C, E, A and B6 which can help stave off all those germs.

Bone: Calcium, Vitamin D, fluoride and Vitamin A round out this bone-strengthening booster.

Muscle: With minerals like magnesium, potassium and selenium, this Y Water assists in muscle repair  – perfect after a tough game of soccer.

Unfortunately, Y Water is only available at limited Whole Foods Markets in California, Arizona and Nevada, but you can order these cute sippers online and stash them in your child’s lunch box for a beverage that you both can feel good about.

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Y Water is a Healthy Kid-Friendly Beverage

Water is the single most important beverage that there is.  Plain old water.  Yet, studies have shown that many of us aren’t drinking the amount of water that our bodies need to stay healthy and strong.  Lack of hydration can cause headaches, muscle cramps and even fatigue.  Being well hydrated can help with clearer skin, a more effective metabolism, and even can help you to eat less food – a great bonus if you are actively trying to lose weight.

True story time: I am a big water drinker. Huge. I carry around my own reusable bottle and drain it several times a day.  I’m not fussy – it doesn’t have to be filtered – plain tap water works well for me.  The bottle holds 24 ounces, and I probably fill it five or more times a day, not including meals.  So, my body is used to lots of water.

One day I was traveling and my plane was delayed several times.  Typically when I travel I bring my empty bottle with me through security, and then fill it on the other side.  I was late to board, so I didn’t fill the bottle, and we ended up being delayed for take off several times, ultimately spending several hours on the runway.  I decided against drinking the first several times that the flight attendant offered water, because I really don’t like using the restroom on the plane.  When we finally were airborne, the flight was so rocky that we weren’t given any drinks at all.  By the time I arrived at my destination, I had a raging migraine – one that took two days to depart.  It was viscious, and I know that not drinking enough, or really any, water was the main culprit.  Let that be a lesson – DRINK your WATER.

But what if you don’t like the taste of plain water?  There are lots of packets that you can add to your water – from Gatorade to Propel, there are flavors to suit every palate.  I’ve also enjoyed fresh lemon and lime squeezed into my water, and freezing berries or mint leaves into ice cubes means that you get a subtle flavor that is really refreshing.

Why not make a goal to fill your water bottle at the top of the hour, and drain it by the end?  Try it and see if you feel an improvement in your body!

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The Benefits of Drinking Water for Health

On the other hand, most of us exercise to lose weight and drinking beer after exercising pretty much defeats the purpose. (The average light beer has 103 calories, 5.7g carbs and 14mg sodium.) Why put empty calories back in your body after trying to burn them? I recommend drinking plenty of water while exercising and then eating a healthy meal or snack after the bout of exercise to help replenish the body. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment and I will get back to as soon as possible.

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Study Finds Benefits of Beer after Exercise

• Water. Good hydration plays a vital role in keeping skin looking healthy and even young. Though the amount you need per day varies, a good amount to shoot for is around eight glasses a day. Water helps to keep your cells hydrated, while moving good nutrients in and toxins out.
• Essential fatty acids. Essential fatty acids are found in foods like salmon, flaxseeds, walnuts and canola oil. Essential fatty acids are responsible for healthy cell membranes. Meaning, they act as barriers to harmful things as well as a passageway for nutrients and as means of waste products to exit. These foods should ring a bell for helping your heart fight off inflammation, well the same can be said for your skin because they protect both! The key is to have a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
• Low-fat dairy products. One the most important components of skin health is vitamin A, and low-fat dairy products are some of the best places to get it! Some dairy products, like low-fat yogurt, not only contain high amounts of vitamin A, but also acidophilus, which is a “live” bacteria. This bacteria has been shown to be good for intestinal health and it may also have an impact on the skin. The idea behind this is that anything that helps keep digestion normal will help reflect healthy skin.
• Fresh fruits, including plenty of berries. Blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries all contain a potent amount of free-radical fighting antioxidants.  Free radicals result from various sources, like sun exposure, which damage skin cell membranes. The antioxidant’s (and its partner phytochemicals, also found in fresh fruit) role is to protect the cell from degeneration and damage by pairing up with the free radicals, neutralizing them, and sending them on their way without causing harm to our heart or skin.
• Selenium containing foods. These foods include: whole-wheat bread, cereal, tuna, and brazil nuts just to name a few.  Selenium is a mineral which acts like Vitamin C and E due to its capability to act like an antioxidant. Selenium helps the skin the same way that the fresh fruit mentioned above does.

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The Best Foods for Healthy Skin

1. Remember your fruits and veggies! It’s recommended to consume 5-9 servings of fruits and veggies a day. So take advantage of your lunch to really rack in some servings.

- A salad is an easy way to score big on veggies, with fresh greens, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes, or any vegetable you want. You can also add some dried or fresh fruit and you will be feeling good. You’ll be scoring big for your health without having consumed a lot of calories (remember veggies and fruit are very nutrient dense, meaning you get a lot of nutrients and small amount of calories and fat). However, keep in mind to pick an oil-based salad dressing and to remember to lightly pour it on… you don’t want to drown your salad in dressing.

- A veggie sandwich (on whole-grain bread, tortilla, or pita of course!)

- A pasta salad (with whole-wheat/grain pasta) with veggies can go great here, too.

- Pack some fruit. Grapes, an apple, banana, strawberries or whatever you desire. Pre-wash or pre-cut your fruit at home to make it more convenient to eat as a snack or at your lunch break. The more convenient it is the more likely you’ll be to eat it.

2. Remember to include lean sources of protein.

- If you’re staying with the salad or sandwich theme, add some sliced turkey or chicken to it. Remember portion size is important. For you vegetarians, try adding beans (chickpeas/garbanzo beans, kidney beans, etc.) to your salad or wrap/sandwich.

- Don’t forget the nuts! It’s recommended to eat a handful of nuts a day, so why not add them to this nutrient dense salad or sandwich to make it a powerhouse, nutrient dense lunch? Or, simply pack them in a separate bag and enjoy them when you want.

3. Remember your carbs! Don’t shy away from carbs because you need them. Do keep in mind quantity and quality. For quality, you need to choose whole-wheat, whole-grain options (more frequently or most of the time) versus plain white bread or pasta.
4. Drink water! Remember to drink, not only with your meals, but all day long. Water is the best drink for you and it’s guilt-free (zero calories).

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4 Things to Remember When Packing a Lunch

1. Have you ever followed a crash or fad diet? These are the ones that promise unrealistic weight loss, like 10 pounds in a week, or have you consume terribly low calories, like >1000 each day.

2. Skipped breakfast to stay on schedule? You can get where you need to be sooner and you’ll save yourself a few hundred calories, that’s what you’re telling yourself. However, breakfast really is the most important meal of the day and you should make the time to eat it.

3. Mindlessly snack and forget the calories? A nibble here and a handful here can quickly add up to hundreds of extra calories a day – which turn into extra pounds.

4. Avoid snacks altogether? There is a happy medium. Scheduled snacks with healthy and low-calorie options keep your metabolism going throughout the day and fend-off hunger pangs.

5. Love low-fat food choices? To cut the fat from packaged foods, they had to save the flavor by adding sugar, sodium or other preservatives. Read the nutrition label and remember low-calorie.

6. Drinking too many calories? Soft drinks, juices, cocktails and lattes are all full of calories, and empty calories at that. Drink water (vitamin waters have calories, too) and get your calories from more satiating sources.

7. Staying hydrated a task? You need water. And lots of it. It fuels body processes, clears skin, gives energy and a host of other positives.

8. Not getting enough dairy in your diet? Calcium can help your body burn fat, and there are plenty of low- and non-fat dairy products perfect for snacking and meal time. Think yogurt, cheese sticks or a glass of skim milk.

9. Know the fast-food menu by heart? These meals-on-the-go are full of sodium, trans fat, calories and other food additives that a healthy body just doesn’t need. Not to mention oversized portions and the price tag. Plan meals ahead of time to avoid the drive-thru.

10. Stepping on the scale part of your daily routine? One to two pounds of weight loss weekly is a healthy rate. You’re giving yourself undue stress with daily weigh-ins. Also, keep an eye on waist inches as an indication of weight loss.

11. Setting goals that are tough to reach? Set small, attainable goals and as you reach each milestone, you’ll find you’re gradually moving toward that bigger goal.

12. Not finding time for the gym? It’s as simple as calories in, calories out. A combination of a healthy diet and then at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week will yield positive results.

See more about this list from WebMD.

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Avoid 12 Common Diet Mistakes

Below is a breakdown of drink choices, calories in each, and how long it will take to burn. The following exercise information is based on a four mile per hour walking pace.

• First, water is the best choice, but does not have any vitamins, minerals, or calories (which is a good thing). So, drinking water does not require any extra exercise.
  
• Next, is diet soda, which is a diuretic, but has zero calories and requires no extra time on the treadmill either.
  
• A sports drink contains 125 calories per 20 ounces and contains vitamins and minerals as well. It takes nearly 20 minutes to burn a 20 ounce serving.
  
• Fruit juice (100%) contains plenty of sugar and 230 calories, which requires 34 minutes of exercise to burn.
  
• Lastly, a regular soda is loaded with sugar and carbohydrates and contains 250 calories. Regular soda requires 38 minutes of exercise to burn off.

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The Truth About Juice, Soda and Water