Pitcher of health: is "smart" water a dumb idea?

When it comes to wetting the ol' whistle, we're all being instructed to get more from our water. But should we bother? While humans have survived several million years without added electrolytes, some good stuff can be added to water to provide nutritional value. So, what are the health-conscious to do? Nutritionists say this: Understand your needs, evaluate your activities and--above all--read labels.

water works

Before talking about the array of "enhanced" drinks, let's take a look at how water works in the body. When plain [H.sub.2]O hits the stomach, it doesn't hang around; it passes through, enters the small intestine and is absorbed into the blood.

Water is the major ingredient that helps keep blood flowing smoothly. After the stomach breaks down food, nutrients pass from the small intestine to the bloodstream, which carries them throughout the body. Along the way, the blood passes through the kidneys, vital organs that eliminate unneeded solids. Without enough water to keep them moving, these solids can accumulate into balls known as kidney stones.

If you've talked to someone with a kidney stone, you know how painful these mineral deposits can be. Stones that get lodged in the urinary tract can cause infection and harm kidney function. So it's no wonder that Phil Harvey, PhD, chief science officer at the National Nutritional Foods Association, says, "Water is the most important factor in kidney health."

sugar, sugar

But what does hydration have to do with enhanced drinks? Sometimes, not much. In fact, many enhanced drinks deliver as much food as liquid. While they promise hydration, they also deliver calories. That's not necessarily bad, but if you're serious about body function, you need to take a look at what's in those bottles.