Hydration, calories and diabetes: a dangerous triangle

Today we drink more than forty years ago. Despite this our water intake remains similar at the same time that insufficient. Seems quite evident that our hydration patterns have changed and with it also, probably, our risk to suffer several metabolic diseases.

Summer: that time of the year in which we are the target of a special campaign focused to let us know all those messages related to the importance of the hydration. It is somewhat expected, and even normal. The increase of the temperatures with a greater probability of spend more time outdoors, even the performance of a more or less strenuous physical activity justifies all these messages.

It sells more water but we drink less

In spite of reiterate the importance of the hydration, also there is an important and growing commercial interest in that we drink more … of anything, included the water, especially when it comes bottled. Look at the following chart; we will see the almost exponential increase that the sale of bottled water has suffered in recent years.

We drink a quantity of water quite similar to the years ago, but at the same time we have increased the consumption of an amount of liquids which are not water and also it has important implications that benefit us at all. As highlighted this clairvoyant Study: Shifts in Patterns and Consumption of Beverages Between 1965 and 2002, currently and over more than 50 years the income of calories we do from what we drink has increased alarmingly.

Liquid calories, obesity and diabetes

It has been increased the consumption of calories from certain drinks that, beyond the water (which has not changed) involves the consumption of soft drinks, juices and other sugary or alcoholic beverages with an important impact on our metabolism.

At this point, should highlight the concept of “empty calories” in relation to all those foods with a nutritional value of zero or low, but at the same time incorporates energy (or calories) without involving a greater satiety. This type of food of empty calories are usually foods like “soft drinks” most of the times as the Department of health of the city of New York emphasized with the campaign “Are you pouring on the pounds?” that is worth paying attention to two of its illustrative videos : this one here and here another.

It looks that there is a causal relationship between the consumption of more liquid calories and the high increase of obesity and diabetes in our environment, as show the numbers.

The summary is that we drink little water and drink much of what not is water. So when you get thirsty, drink water. It is the best thing you can do for your health.

By Juan Revenga, dietitian-nutritionist and biologist