Cool Water

You're really, really thirsty. You open the fridge and reach for a glistening can of... Hey, wait a minute! What are you really putting into your body? actv8 checked out the facts about fluid and found that while other drinks have their place humble H2O comes out tops all round.

Why drink water?
Water is the best drink because:
1. We can't survive without it.
2. Every part of your body needs water to function properly - which makes sense when you think that our bodies are around 75% water.
3. It's free - not buying sugary fizz means you'll have more $$$s for something else you want.

How much?
You need around 6 to 8 glasses, of water a day - 1.5 to 2 litres. More if you are thirsty, the weather's hot or when you're being active.

Down and thirsty:
Yup, that's what you'll be if you don't get enough water: tired, dry mouth, moody and irritable, maybe headachy too. By the time you feel thirsty you're already dehydrated, so it pays to get into a regular water-drinking habit. Try it for a week - we guarantee you'll feel better.

How to be a water baby:
Slurping from the water fountain is one way to keep hydrated, but if your school's fountains are a bit... um... dodgy, or not in a convenient place, a water bottle is a great idea. Having a bottle handy means you're more likely to drink throughout the day. Most teachers don't mind you bringing a water bottle to class (as long as you don't end up in a water fight.

Jazzing it up
If you think plain water sounds boring, vary it by adding a splash of different fruit juices, some mint leaves, or orange and lemon slices. It's way cheaper than flavoured bottled water, which can have lots of added sugar. And, if you're really craving your fizzy fix, try sparkling water with a splash of orange or pineapple juice instead.

The alternatives
Straight fruit juice is fine every now and again - but it's better to eat real fruit as you'll get all the other goodness, including fibre and any nutrients in the skin. Low fat milk also tastes great and provides you with a good amount of calcium.
So, what about all those energy drinks? Clever marketers entice you with a huge range of added ingredients - from exotic-sounding ginseng and guarana to B and C vitamins. But the main ingredients are pretty much just sugar and caffeine - and caffeine can actually make you dehydrated, as it makes you want to go to the loo more.
And then there are sports drinks, with added electrolytes etc. While they do have their place, when you've sweated buckets during heavy exercise or on especially hot days, you've got to ask yourself - are you really in the tropics or running a marathon today? If not, water is a better
(and cheaper) choice.

Keep it clean
While a sipper bottle is a great idea, especially for school or sports, don't forget to wash it out regularly or it'll get really germy. Also, don't share your bottle -put your name on it so you don't get it mixed up with someone else's. They maybe your mates, but do you really want to exchange spit? Mmm... meningitis, hepatitis, flu? It's your choice.