Weight-loss plans, Jenny Craig included, adhere to the daily recommended water intake of 64 ounces a day. But it's the fear of a kidney stone recurrence that keeps me guzzling.
Since I wrote about my surprise Christmas week visit to the Parkridge ER, I've been amazed by the number of questions I've gotten about kidney stones.
Invariably, everyone asks how painful they are.
I always give this comparison: It's like pushing the Polk County rock slide through a straw.
So I've been drinking water until I slosh.
I think a chilled bottle of water can be refreshing. But let's face it, plain water is dull.
For this reason, I started checking out flavored waters. Splash makes a good white-grape-flavored water.
Then I tried Glaceau vitamin waters. It's the one endorsed by Carrie Underwood -- and if you can't trust country music's "all-American girl," what's this world coming too?
Vitamin waters accomplished my goal of adding flavors, albeit weak ones, to my daily water intake. Although I wasn't buying them for the vitamin boost, I wondered if they really were a beneficial source.
Science was never my strong subject, but if you add vitamins to liquid, wouldn't they be, well, watered down?
I Googled that question and found on scienceline.org that vitamins can be divided into two groups: water-soluble and fat-soluble.
The article said Vitamin C and the B-complex group are water soluble and can enter the bloodstream with water. Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat soluable and can only enter the bloodstream if dissolved in dietary fat such as what's found in a meal.
Next I asked this question of Pam Kelle, a local registered dietitian and nutrition therapist.
First she confirmed that most people do need about two quarts of fluid a day; but, she added, that 64 ounces doesn't all have to come through water.
"Some foods have a very high water content such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, soups, pastas and rice. You can also count the fluid from coffee and soda," she said.
But if it's the vitamin benefit you want, she said, the American Dietetic Association suggests using supplemental vitamins instead of relying on a flavored water.
She suggested adding flavoring to a container of filtered tap water if you're tired of plain water.
"It's less costly ... and an added perk is that by using a tin or recycled bottle, we save the environment countless amounts of trash," she pointed out.
Bottom line: If you're just looking for a change of flavor from plain water, then yeah, vitamin waters will suit your purpose. But if you're looking to boost your vitamin intake, you'd be better served by popping a One-a-Day and drinking clear, cool water.