Butt sculpting and core strengthening workout

 

Want a killer butt and core? Forget separate core workouts. Adding this ingredient to your current moves will amplify results and sculpt your middle in one efficient session.

Why the bosu ball? "By adding an unstable surface, a BOSU ball increases activation of the rectus abdominus and facilitates extra activity per exercise than a stable surface would," says Meaghan.

 

Words/workout: Meaghan Terzis
Photography: James Patrick 

 

1. Sit-up

3 sets / 12-15 reps

1. Begin by lying on the Bosu ball with your hips just off the edge of the ball. Place your hands behind your head to gently support your neck.

 

2. Exhale and curl your upper body over the Bosu ball. Hold for a brief second at the top before slowly returning to the starting position.

Words/workout: Meaghan Terzis
Photography: James Patrick 

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2. Push-up

3 sets / 12-15 reps

1. Place a Bosu ball on the floor so the half-ball is facing down. Assume a push-up position with your hands on the sides of the ball's platform. Brace your core and glutes.

 

2. Lower your body until your chest nearly touches the ball. Pause then push yourself back to the starting position as quickly as possible.

Words/workout: Meaghan Terzis
Photography: James Patrick 

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3. Bosu toe taps

3 sets . 15-30 seconds

1. Place one foot on the ground and one foot on the Bosu ball.

2. Switch feet rapidly, using quick taps.

Words/workout: Meaghan Terzis
Photography: James Patrick 

 

 

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4. Mountain climbers

3 sets / 12-15 reps 

1. Start in a modified push-up position over top of the Bosu with your shoulders lined up over your hands with feet straight out.

 

2. Keep your hips lowered and your core engaged and drive your knees in towards your chest, alternating between legs.

 

3. Continue driving your knees toward the centre of your chest until the appropriate number of sets have been completed.

Words/workout: Meaghan Terzis
Photography: James Patrick 

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5. Single leg hip bridge

3 sets / 12 reps

1. Lie down and place your right foot on the rubber part of the Bosu ball. Extend your left leg straight into the air. Extend your arms to the sides and tighten your core.

 

2. With your gaze focused on the ceiling, push down with your right foot, elevating your hips. Tighten your glutes when you come to the top of the movement and hold. Slowly lower your body towards the ground but do not lie back down until the end of the set.

Words/workout: Meaghan Terzis
Photography: James Patrick 

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6. Front lunge

3 sets / 12 reps

1. Keep your upper body straight with your shoulders back and relaxed, holding dombells of your choice at your sides. Keep chin up and engage your core. Step back with one leg so toes are pointing down on the Bosu ball and helping stabilise the body.

 

2. Lower your hips until both knees are bent at about a 90-degree angle. Make sure your front knee is directly above your ankle, not pushed out too far, and make sure your other knee doesn't touch the floor. Keep the weight in your heels as you push back up to the starting position.

Words/workout: Meaghan Terzis
Photography: James Patrick 

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7. Side to side squat

3 sets / 10 reps

1. Place your left foot in the centre of the Bosu with your right foot parallel to your left foot on the floor. Hold a weight of your choice at the centre of your chest with both hands.

 

2. Bend down into a squat position.

3. In one quick motion, jump sideways to your left, over the Bosu, so your right foot replaces your left in the centre of the Bosu. Your left foot should be parallel to your right but on the floor. Keep your body low in a squat as you plant your foot on the ground. Jump back over the Bosu, returning to the starting position. This completes one rep.

Words/workout: Meaghan Terzis
Photography: James Patrick 

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8. Side plank

3 sets / 30-second hold

Lie on your side with your bottom elbow on a Bosu ball and with your feet staggered on the ground. Your top foot should be in front of your bottom foot. Raise your hips so that they're off the ground and your body forms a straight line from your ankles to your shoulders. Hold, return to starting position.

Words/workout: Meaghan Terzis
Photography: James Patrick 

For more ab blasting workouts, try Emily Skye's ab and core workout.

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Kids From Poorer Families May Have Worse Food Allergy Care

By Randy Dotinga
HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, April 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A family’s income may play a big role in the type of care a child with food allergies receives, a new study suggests.

The researchers found that poorer families — those making under $50,000 a year — spent less on non-allergenic foods, medical specialists and important medications, such as lifesaving epinephrine injectors.

As a result, “poor people may therefore be experiencing more food allergy reactions,” said study co-author Dr. Ruchi Gupta. She’s the director of the Program for Maternal and Child Health at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

The study also found that low-income families incurred an average of $1,021 in emergency and hospital costs per year, compared to $416 for those with household incomes over $100,000.

An estimated 8 percent of U.S. children have food allergies, according to background information with the study. And about 40 percent of those children are believed to have had at least one life-threatening reaction.

The most common food allergies are to peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, shellfish, fish other than shellfish, wheat and soy, Gupta said.

“We know that food allergy costs $24.8 billion a year in the U.S.,” Gupta added. “We know that food allergy has a lot of additional costs including special diets and medications. Also, many parents report needing to leave their jobs or change their jobs to care for their food-allergic child. What we do not know is how this impacts low-income children and minority children.”

For the new study, the researchers turned to a survey of more than 1,700 parents and guardians who took care of kids with food allergies. The survey was conducted in 2011-2012.

The poorer families spent an average of $744 on non-allergenic food per year compared with $1,545 by the richest families. There was also a big difference in overall out-of-pocket costs related to food allergy: about $3,200 a year for the poorest families and over $5,000 for the richest families.

The researchers also discovered that black families — regardless of income — spent far less on out-of-pocket and direct medical costs than other families. The total annual out-of-pocket cost for black families averaged $395.

For white families, that total was about $4,200. For Hispanic families, it was nearly $1,100 each year, and for Asian families, the total annual out-of-pocket expenses were just over $1,300, the survey revealed.

“This is confusing,” Gupta said of the finding that black families spend so much less on food allergies. She noted that black children often have asthma — another allergy-related disease — and that their food allergy symptoms likely represent true allergic reactions.

But the study authors said there may be a protective effect in black families, such as a greater awareness of the need to avoid allergic foods. The researchers added that more study is needed to tease out these differences.

The study authors acknowledged limitations in their research. Among them, they said, is the fact that study participants were recruited from support and advocacy organizations, meaning they may not reflect the population as a whole.

Dr. Jonathan Bernstein, a professor of medicine at the University of Cincinnati who studies allergies, said the study results make sense. The findings reflect the differences between rich and poor when it comes to chronic diseases, such as asthma, he said.

Why might poorer families incur the highest hospital costs while spending the least on out-of-pocket preventive measures? “They either don’t have access to specialty health care or don’t take advantage of these resources,” Bernstein said.

Gupta said awareness is important. Epinephrine auto-injectors, such as EpiPen — which treat allergic attacks — are usually covered by insurance, she said. “The manufacturer also has programs to help those who cannot afford the medication. All families may not be familiar with these programs.”

Overall, she said, “we need better policies to keep all kids safe. We need to make sure all kids have access to epinephrine auto-injectors in schools and public places. We also need to make sure kids have access to safe foods at affordable costs. There should be an allergen-free food aisle in all grocery stores. We also need to improve our labeling laws.”

The study was released online April 27 and published in the May print issue of the journal Pediatrics.

More information

For more about food allergies, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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U.S. Health Report Card Finds Racial, Ethnic Disparities Persist

WEDNESDAY, April 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A report card on Americans’ health finds that racial and ethnic disparities persist, with significant gaps in obesity, cesarean births and dental care.

But advances have been made in some important areas, including infant death rates, women smokers and numbers of uninsured, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“We have seen important improvements in some health measures for racial and ethnic minority populations since … 1985,” said Dr. J. Nadine Gracia, deputy assistant secretary for minority health and director of the HHS Office of Minority Health.

“While there has been significant progress in our journey toward health equity, disparities still exist and we must remain vigilant in our efforts to end health disparities in America,” Gracia added in an agency news release.

The 39th annual report on the nation’s health was prepared by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.

Highlights include:

• Regarding infant mortality among five ethnic/racial groups analyzed, the difference between the highest (blacks) and lowest (Asian/Pacific Islander) infant death rates narrowed from 9.41 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1999 to 7.21 in 2013.
• Among women, the divide between the highest (white) and lowest (Asian) rates of current cigarette smokers narrowed from 17.5 percent in 1999 to 13.2 percent in 2014.
• The gap between the highest and lowest percentage of uninsured adults ages 18 to 64 decreased from 24.9 percent in 1999 (Hispanics versus whites) to 19.9 percent in the first six months of 2015 (Hispanics vs. Asians).
• Looking at low-risk cesarean deliveries from 1999 to 2014, researchers found that black mothers had the highest percentage (29.9 percent in 2014) among the five racial and ethnic groups while American Indian or Alaska Native mothers had the lowest (21.5 percent in 2014).
• Cuban mothers had the highest percentage of low-risk cesarean deliveries among the five Hispanic groups (41.4 percent in 2014) while Mexicans had the lowest (24.1 percent in 2014).
• Childhood obesity rates varied widely, too. Hispanics ages 2 to 19 had the highest rate of obesity (21.9 percent) between 2011 and 2014 while Asians had the lowest rate (8.6 percent).
• Hispanic adults were most likely to go without needed dental care in 2014. Nearly 16 percent had not received needed dental care in the past 12 months because of cost. This was true for just over 6 percent of Asians.
• Uninsured rates improved among adults between 2013 and 2014 — falling 28 percent in states that expanded Medicaid programs to include low-income adults and 14 percent in states that did not expand Medicaid programs.
• Prescription drug spending continued to climb, totaling $297.7 billion in 2014 — up 12.2 percent from the previous year.

More information

The U.S. National Institutes of Health has more on health disparities.

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Young Gay, Bisexual Men May Be at Higher Risk for Suicide, Study Finds

TUESDAY, April 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Young gay and bisexual men may be much more likely to attempt suicide or harm themselves than their older counterparts, and blacks are at greater risk than whites, British researchers report.

“We know minority groups are at higher risk of poor mental health than the heterosexual majority, however the mental health differences within sexual minorities is unclear,” said study author Ford Hickson, from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

“Our study showed that among gay and bisexual men, age and ethnicity had a significant impact on mental health, as did income and education. This is possibly because men are better able to cope with homophobia the older they are, or if they are relatively privileged in other areas of their lives,” he said in a school news release.

In the study, the researchers examined survey responses from nearly 5,800 gay and bisexual men from the United Kingdom 16 and older. The results: those younger than 26 were two times more likely to be depressed or anxious, and six times more likely to attempt suicide or harm themselves than those older than 45.

Blacks were two times more likely to be depressed and five times more likely to have attempted suicide than whites, according to the study published April 26 in the Journal of Public Health.

The researchers found that those with lower incomes were more likely to be depressed, anxious, and to attempt suicide or harm themselves than those with higher incomes. Those with lower levels of education were two times more likely to be depressed, anxious, and to attempt suicide or harm themselves than those with a university degree.

The study also found that gay and bisexual men living with a male partner were 50 percent less likely to have depression than those living alone.

“Poor mental health is not evenly distributed across race, income or education. We must ensure that access to life-changing support services are targeted to where they are needed most. Everyone has the right to good mental health,” Hickson concluded.

More information

The National Alliance on Mental Illness has more about LGBTQ mental health.

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Skateboarding Mishaps Send 176 U.S. Kids to ERs Every Day

By Chuck Green
HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, April 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Skateboarding can be a fun and challenging activity, but it also comes with a significant risk of injury, researchers report.

The researchers examined data spanning two decades and found that more than 64,500 U.S. children and teens were treated in hospital emergency rooms each year — about 176 a day — for skateboarding-related injuries. Fractures and dislocations were among the most common injuries, the study indicated.

“Part of the fun of skateboarding and board sports in general is using gravity to kind of get away with something you can’t get away with just running on your own two feet. But when you come down, it’s just like when someone hits you with a hammer. It hurts, and things can break,” said Dr. Mark Morocco, an associate clinical professor of medicine/emergency medicine at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Morocco was not involved in the current research.

Five deaths were reported during the study period. All were due to motor vehicle collisions. But the study’s lead author, Lara McKenzie, suggested that the death rate may be underreported. McKenzie is a principal investigator with the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

The study included data for kids between 5 and 19 years old. All were treated in U.S. emergency departments for skateboarding-related injuries from 1990-2008.

From 1990 to 1994, the number of skateboarding injuries actually fell. But from 1994 through 2008, the rate of injuries rose again, according to the study.

McKenzie believes those changes can be attributed to “the waxing and waning of the popularity of the sport. Kids want to do it, they do, then move on to the next thing,” she said.

Males were far more likely than females to be injured. Almost 40 percent of injuries occurred at home. Just under 30 percent occurred on a street or highway, the study found.

One piece of good news from the study is that most of the kids injured don’t end up admitted to the hospital.

Young daredevils may try to emulate tricks they’ve seen professionals do, but Morocco noted that professionals take extra safety precautions.

“Professionals try to balance [the risk] by doing them in places like a controlled course; a controlled setting, where there are run off areas that make it easier to slow down. As riders come off a skateboard, they’ll slide off a slope and come to a stop, rather than into a tree. And they’re wearing pads and full armor,” he said.

“They might get a scrape, but tend not to get the fractures. The problem we see is as kids get more skilled on skateboards, they’ll take slightly higher risks and often don’t up the safety ante by adding more safety elements, like helmets and elbow pads,” Morocco added.

So, if kids are going to try to copy their favorite pro’s moves, they need to make sure they also copy the protection that the pros wear, he advised.

Neither expert expects that kids will give up skateboarding.

“If my kids like to skateboard, I’d just institute all the best practices to make sure they have the lowest risk of getting injured,” said McKenzie. “I’d try to take them to a skate park that’s designed for skateboarding instead of letting them do it in the street. Or I’m going to make them wear helmets instead of saying ‘let them just go and we’ll see what happens.’ I wouldn’t take it away from them just because there’s a risk.”

Findings from the study were published this month in the journal Injury Epidemiology.

More information

Find out more about skateboarding safety at Safe Kids Worldwide.

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Trouble With Sense of Direction May Be Linked to Early Alzheimer’s: Study

TUESDAY, April 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Difficulty remembering how to get around in new surroundings may be an extremely early sign of Alzheimer’s, a small study suggests.

The findings, if borne out in future research, might help doctors diagnose Alzheimer’s long before someone shows obvious memory problems, said researchers from Washington University in St. Louis.

The study included 16 people with symptoms of early stage Alzheimer’s and 13 outwardly normal people with signs of preclinical Alzheimer’s in fluid from around their brain and spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid). A control group of 42 healthy people without the cerebrospinal markers was also involved.

Preclinical Alzheimer’s disease refers to brain changes that occur before symptoms develop that lead to its diagnosis.

The study participants were tested on their ability to remember how to navigate a virtual maze on a computer with a series of interconnected hallways with four wallpaper patterns and 20 landmarks. Two specific skills were assessed: how well the participants could learn and follow a pre-set route, and how well they could create and use a mental map of the maze.

The group with preclinical Alzheimer’s had little or no trouble learning the pre-set route, but had significant problems in creating a mental map of the maze, according to the study.

However, the participants with preclinical Alzheimer’s eventually overcame this map-learning deficit, and performed nearly as well as the control group in later testing.

“These findings suggest that navigational tasks designed to assess a [mental] mapping strategy could represent a powerful new tool for detecting the very earliest Alzheimer’s disease-related changes in cognition,” said study senior author Denise Head, associate professor of psychological and brain sciences.

Problems with the ability to mentally map a location are well-documented in patients with early stage Alzheimer’s disease. But, they had not been studied in seemingly normal people who could be headed toward the disease, the researchers said.

The presence of cerebrospinal fluid markers for Alzheimer’s disease does not mean that a person is destined to develop the disease, the researchers said. Nor does difficulty finding your way around new neighborhoods.

“Future research should examine whether cognitive mapping deficits in individuals in preclinical Alzheimer’s are associated with an increased risk of developing symptomatic Alzheimer’s,” the researchers concluded.

Results of the study were published in the April issue of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

More information

The American Academy of Family Physicians has more on Alzheimer’s disease.

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Statins Might Not Lower Colon Cancer Risk: Study

TUESDAY, April 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Long-term use of cholesterol-lowering statins does not appear to reduce the risk of colon cancer, but a person’s cholesterol levels might affect risk, a new study suggests.

Both statins and cholesterol levels have been linked with lower colon cancer risk, but pinpointing which one is actually responsible has been difficult, the University of Pennsylvania researchers explained.

So, they compared statin use and cholesterol levels in more than 22,000 British patients with colon cancer and more than 86,500 without the disease.

The results confirmed findings from previous studies that showed a lower risk of colon cancer in people who take statins. But the risk was not significantly different between people who kept taking statins and those who stopped taking the drugs.

Instead, the higher the cholesterol level, the lower the colon cancer risk for patients, regardless of statin use, the study found.

The researchers also discovered that an unexplained drop in cholesterol levels one year before a cancer diagnosis was linked to an increased risk of cancer in both statin users and nonusers.

But the study did not prove that lower cholesterol levels caused colon cancer risk to increase, it only showed an association between the two.

The findings, published online April 26 in the journal PLoS Medicine, suggest that cholesterol levels, and not statins, may influence colon cancer risk.

“There appears to be an artificially protective effect of statins,” lead study author Dr. Ronac Mamtani said in a university news release. He is an assistant professor of hematology/oncology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia.

“Although the risk of colorectal cancer was lower in statin users versus nonusers, when we compared those who continued statin therapy versus those who discontinued the therapy, such that each group shared the same indication for statin therapy, there was no difference in risk,” Mamtani said.

The findings suggest that cholesterol levels could help diagnose colon cancer earlier, according to the researchers.

“Together, these data demonstrate a complex association between statins, cholesterol and colorectal cancer,” Mamtani said. “While unexplained decreases in blood total cholesterol should alert physicians to consider colon cancer as one potential explanation, future studies are needed to determine the utility of blood cholesterol as a marker for early detection of colon cancer.”

More information

The American Cancer Society has more about colon/rectum cancer.

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Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplements Might Boost Antidepressants’ Effects

TUESDAY, April 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Omega-3 fish oil supplements may improve the effectiveness of antidepressants, new research suggests.

Researchers reviewed the findings of eight clinical trials worldwide, as well as other evidence, and concluded that the supplements appear to help battle depression in people already on medication.

“Omega-3 fish oil — in combination with antidepressants — had a statistically significant effect over a placebo,” said study leader Jerome Sarris. He is head of the ARCADIA Mental Health Research Group at the University of Melbourne in Australia.

The study looked at the result of trials where patients battling depression took either a standard antidepressant plus a form of omega-3 fish oil, versus the antidepressant plus an inactive placebo.

“The difference for patients taking both antidepressants and omega-3, compared to a placebo, was highly significant,” Sarris said in a university news release. “This is an exciting finding because here we have a safe, evidence-based approach that could be considered a mainstream treatment,” he explained.

“Many studies have shown omega-3s are very good for general brain health and improving mood, but this is the first analysis of studies that looks at using them in combination with antidepressant medication,” Sarris said.

Doctors may be reluctant to prescribe dietary supplements in combination with antidepressants due to a lack of scientific evidence and concerns about safety. But, Sarris noted, the researchers found no major safety concerns in combining the two therapies.

However, the study authors stressed that patients should always talk with their health care provider before taking dietary supplements. In addition, people need to be aware that these supplements can differ in quality.

“We’re not telling people to rush out and buy buckets of supplements. Always speak to your medical professional before changing or initiating a treatment,” Sarris said.

One expert in the United States believes the findings might be of use to patients.

“The general population is often looking for natural remedies to treat health problems,” said Dr. Victor Fornari.

“A large number of individuals with depression do not reach remission with one or two trials of medication,” added Fornari. He directs child and adolescent psychiatry at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park, N.Y.

“This may enhance the recovery of individuals who do not respond to antidepressants alone,” he said. However, Fornari agreed with the authors that “individuals are cautioned to consult with their medical professional before proceeding.”

The study was published April 26 in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

More information

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more on dietary supplements.

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Drug for Yeast Infections May Raise Miscarriage Risk, FDA Warns

TUESDAY, April 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Doctors should use caution when prescribing the antifungal drug fluconazole during pregnancy because it may raise the risk of miscarriage, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns.

Fluconazole (brand name Diflucan) is used to treat vaginal yeast infections.

“Patients who are pregnant or actively trying to get pregnant should talk to their health care professionals about alternative treatment options for yeast infections,” the FDA advised Tuesday.

The agency said it is evaluating the results of a recent Danish study that suggested a link between fluconazole and miscarriage, along with additional data and will release final conclusions and recommendations when the review is completed.

Current labeling information suggests that a single 150 milligram (mg) dose of oral fluconazole to treat vaginal yeast infection is safe to take during pregnancy. However, the FDA noted that in rare cases higher doses taken during pregnancy (400 mg to 800 mg a day) had been linked to abnormalities at birth.

In the Danish study, most of the fluconazole use appeared to be one or two doses of 150 mg.

“Until FDA’s review is complete and more is understood about this study and other available data, FDA advises cautious prescribing of oral fluconazole in pregnancy,” the agency said in a news release.

The agency noted that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends only antifungal creams to treat pregnant women with vaginal yeast infections — even for longer periods than usual if the infections persist or recur.

While the Danish study showed that pregnant women treated with fluconazole had a greater risk of miscarriage than those who used an antifungal cream, it did not prove the drug causes miscarriages, the authors noted.

Still, “women who are trying to become pregnant or who are pregnant should avoid fluconazole,” said Dr. Jennifer Wu, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, when the Danish study results came out. “For these women, a topical medicine is the preferred treatment.”

Fluconazole (available as a pill or suspension liquid) is the only oral drug used to treat yeast infections during pregnancy, Wu said.

More information

The U.S. Office on Women’s Health has more about vaginal yeast infections.

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Americans Getting Adequate Water Daily, CDC Finds

TUESDAY, April 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Americans’ worries about not being properly hydrated may be unfounded: A new government report finds most are getting enough water each day.

The data, from the U.S. National Health Nutrition Examination Survey for 2009 to 2012, found that adult men take in 117 ounces of water daily, on average — more than 14 cups. For women, the number is 93 ounces, or almost 12 cups daily.

The study was conducted by Asher Rosinger and Kirsten Herrick, of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They noted that in 2004, the Institute of Medicine set “adequate” daily intake of water at 125 ounces for men and 91 ounces for women. The new data suggest that the average man approaches the needed level, and the average woman more than meets it.

Of course, not all of that fluid comes in the form of plain water. Only about 30 percent of daily water intake for men in the new study came as plain water, with women drinking a bit more, at 34 percent. The rest of Americans’ daily water intake comes via other liquids, such as sodas and juices, or through food.

One expert noted there are potential downsides to taking in water via juices or sodas, however.

“Juice and soda can count as fluid, however they also add extra calories and over time may lead to weight gain,” said Antonella Apicella, a nutritionist at Lenox Hill Hospital, in New York City. “Water is the most hydrating fluid there is.”

The CDC study did find variations in how much water people took in each day. For example, people over 60 tended to take in less fluid than younger adults, and whites tended to drink more water than blacks or Hispanics.

And as physical activity levels rose, water intake tended to rise as well, the researchers found.

“Fluid needs vary quite a bit from person to person, and the old standby recommendation of eight to 10 cups a day has caught on with most people, though it’s not based on any science,” noted another expert, sports dietitian Dana Angelo White.

“I often recommend half your weight in ounces as a starting point,” said White, who is also an assistant clinical professor at Quinnipiac University, in Hamden, Conn. “For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, aim for 75 ounces of fluid per day, and more if you exercise regularly.

“It is also true that all fluids count towards your hydration. Water is often best but other beverages and high-water foods like soup all count towards your daily tally,” she said.

Apicella also cautioned that there’s such a thing as taking in too much water — something marathoners and endurance athletes are sometimes prone to do.

“Drinking too much water can lead to [a dangerous condition known as] hyponatremia, or low blood sodium concentration, which occurs in overhydration,” she explained. “When hydrating, it is important to replace fluid with electrolytes such as sodium and potassium to prevent hyponatremia.”

The new study was published April 26 as a Data Brief from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics.

More information

There’s more on proper hydration at the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

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