Drinking water and eating healthy obviously have benefits compared to eating unhealthy food and drinking sugary drinks. The list of unhealthy foods could go on forever, and even the foods labeled ´healthy´ can harbor unhealthy ingredients. The recommended amount of plain water a day for adolescents is 64 to 82 ounces a day. Even with these healthy recommendations, many students make unhealthy choices.
¨During 2015–2018, US children and adolescents drank an average of 23 ounces of plain water daily.¨ According to the CDC. Water has many benefits, including better hydration, gut health, kidneys, dental health, weight loss, and overall your entire body.
Many teenagers struggle to drink water because there are so many ¨tastier¨ options like soda. However, if they took the time to look at all of the negative side effects that come with drinking soda, many would think twice about what they´re consuming. There are effects such as weight gain, obesity, type two diabetes, heart disease and non alcoholic fatty liver disease.
¨I only really drink juice and soda a lot with my meals. I only really drink water sometimes when I feel like it or it’s the only thing I can drink because juice and soda tastes better than water,¨ said sophomore Yaritza Zelaya.
Food is another major factor in gut health, energy levels and how you feel on a day-to-day basis. The major benefits of eating healthy, nutrient-dense foods include increased energy levels and improved metabolic function.
Eating unhealthy food also leads to you consuming an excess amount of calories, sugar and fat that low-nutrient foods rely on for taste.
¨I started eating healthy a few weeks ago and drinking a lot more water than I usually did because I noticed when I go to the gym after eating unhealthy foods, I just feel more drowsy. When I started eating things that were considered more healthy like greens and more like chicken and stuff, I felt a lot more energized. Before, I would just drink a lot of juice and not eat a lot, and when I would eat, it would only be frozen foods,¨ said sophomore Rebecca Soto. This shows that people feel better and more energetic after eating healthier compared to eating a whole bunch of sugar.
In general, people should eat healthier and drink water often to support a healthy lifestyle.
