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Some people dislike drinking plain water, finding it tasteless, and thus tend to replace it with various beverages to stay hydrated. So what about those who want to lose weight but dislike drinking water? They often opt for drinks labeled “sugar-free, zero calories” or substitute with different types of coffee beverages. But are “sugar-free, zero-calorie” drinks truly beneficial for your health? Can coffee genuinely replace water in daily life or during weight loss to aid detoxification and boost metabolism?

01 Best Value for Money Pure Water

In fact, no beverage can replace the importance of drinking water. It’s crucial to understand that the human body is composed of up to 70% water, and failing to replenish fluids in a timely manner can harm our health.

The food we consume contains some water, and water aids in breaking down and digesting food. Other bodily tissues also rely on water to maintain normal metabolic functions. Therefore, consuming an adequate amount of water daily is essential for keeping the entire metabolic process running smoothly. Beyond the water obtained from daily food intake, people need to drink 1500ml to 2000ml of water each day to maintain proper hydration balance. For fitness enthusiasts, hydration throughout workouts is crucial to prevent dehydration.

However, note that plain water isn’t ideal for replenishing fluids after heavy sweating. Following intense exercise, when significant water and electrolyte loss occurs, consuming lightly salted water is recommended. This helps promptly restore substances lost through perspiration and maintains normal cardiovascular function.

02 Avoid Sugar-Free Consumption Traps

Sports drinks are formulated based on the physiological demands of exercise to enhance athletic performance. They primarily consist of water, glucose, oligosaccharides, and electrolytes like sodium and potassium ions. These beverages replenish nutrients lost during physical activity, helping maintain and improve athletic capacity while alleviating post-exercise fatigue. However, prolonged consumption is not recommended due to their relatively high levels of ingredients like taurine, which increase nervous system excitability.

The various “zero-sugar” sports drinks heavily promoted in the market actually refer to products that contain no sucrose, instead using artificial sweeteners as substitutes. Sugar substitutes are artificially synthesized sweeteners with significantly lower calories than sugar. Common examples include erythritol, isomaltulose, and sucralose. However, the low or zero calorie content of sugar substitutes, coupled with their low absorption rate by the human body, does not mean “sugar-free” beverages can be consumed like water. Currently, research on whether sugar substitutes are harmful or harmless to human metabolic function remains inconclusive.

03 Drinking tea boosts metabolism

Drinking tea can indeed accelerate the body’s metabolism. In fat-reduction diets, green tea, pu-erh tea, or black tea are often recommended, with the primary components affecting metabolism being tea polyphenols, caffeine, and vitamins.

For instance, tea polyphenols and their oxidation products can eliminate free radicals in the body—byproducts of human metabolism. Simultaneously, consuming tea polyphenols promotes the excretion of total lipids and cholesterol, thereby lowering cholesterol levels in the body. It also prevents the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids in food. Tea leaves contain significant amounts of vitamin C and B vitamins, which play a notable role in promoting metabolism through benefits like eye health maintenance and antioxidant effects. Among these teas, green tea has the highest content of tea polyphenols, caffeine, and vitamins. However, it is still recommended to drink tea in moderation.

04Black Coffee and Weight Loss Plateaus

If you have any queries or suggestions, please feel free to reach out via email to info@harisonfitness.com. We will do everything in our capacity to ensure that you love your experience with us.

Lumbar disc herniation is a common ailment among middle-aged and elderly individuals, primarily affecting those in this age group and people who maintain fixed postures for extended periods. Although the number of individuals engaged in manual labor has significantly decreased in modern society, the demographic affected has notably shifted, now including younger people who lack regular physical activity.

Fortunately, most cases of lumbar disc herniation are not severe and do not require surgical intervention. However, relying solely on medication makes recovery difficult and may lead to complications, as the pressure caused by the herniated disc persists. So how should we address this? In fact, consistent, proper exercise is an excellent solution! But for whom are rehabilitation exercises for lumbar disc herniation suitable?

If you are experiencing an acute flare-up of lumbar disc herniation, rehabilitation exercises should be avoided. Assess whether your condition is in the acute phase, characterized primarily by sudden, sharp pain and numbness.

Many individuals experience limited mobility and difficulty turning over during this period. Therefore, any rehabilitation exercises should be avoided. Blindly exercising not only hinders recovery but may also prolong local inflammation. Bed rest is the optimal solution at this stage.

Patients undergoing conservative treatment during the non-acute phase are generally suitable candidates for rehabilitation exercises. Fundamentally, lumbar disc herniation refers to various symptoms caused by a protruding lumbar disc compressing nerves; if this compression does not result in narrowing of the nerve or nerve root, it may not produce any symptoms.

Clinically, it is common to encounter individuals with lumbar disc herniation visible on imaging who do not necessarily experience symptoms such as pain or numbness. In such cases, medication is unnecessary, but the protrusion itself remains present. Should an accident occur, accidental contact with the disc could trigger symptoms. For non-acute lumbar disc herniation patients, how can improvement be achieved? The fundamental approach lies in strengthening the musculature surrounding the vertebrae and alleviating nerve compression. This necessitates appropriate and effective rehabilitation exercises.

Patients who undergo surgical treatment must also engage in postoperative rehabilitation exercises. Typically, lumbar disc herniation surgery reduces pressure on the intervertebral discs to alleviate discomfort and pain. However, surgery does not signify the end of treatment or a return to worry-free living. For optimal recovery, long-term rehabilitation training remains essential. Rehabilitation exercises strengthen muscular endurance, playing a crucial role in restoring function to the surgical site and other areas.

If you have any queries or suggestions, please feel free to reach out via email to info@harisonfitness.com. We will do everything in our capacity to ensure that you love your experience with us.

Protein accounts for 16%-20% of human body weight and serves as the primary building block for constructing and maintaining various bodily tissues such as muscles, skin, and blood. It sustains the normal functioning of all organs and tissues, providing robust support for our bodily functions. Meat, eggs, and dairy products are rich in protein. Given the dietary shifts over the past decade or so, has this approach been effective?

01Protein-rich diets enhance physical fitness.

With the widespread availability of meat, eggs, and dairy, it’s clear that children today are significantly taller than their peers from the 1970s and 1980s. This is largely due to our increased emphasis on the importance of protein.

02Protein plays a significant role in adolescent development.

From childhood to adolescence, protein plays a crucial role throughout the growth and development stages. Protein not only significantly impacts height and physical stature but also plays a vital role in brain development. In the human brain, protein accounts for one-third of its composition, and only by ensuring adequate protein intake can we support sound mental development. Moreover, during the developmental phase, protein promotes collagen synthesis in the body and actively regulates hormone levels and acid-base balance.

Within the body’s daily energy requirements, protein demonstrates a selfless dedication, burning itself to provide timely energy for daily needs. Each gram of protein contains only 4 kcal—far lower than fat and comparable to carbohydrates. Therefore, our caloric intake should ideally consist of 40% carbohydrates, 40% protein, and 20% fat.

03 Protein Boosts Human Immunity

Protein is a key factor in boosting the human immune system. Components like white blood cells, lymphocytes, and antibodies all rely on protein support. These cells are crucial for our body’s defense against disease. If protein intake is insufficient, immunity can plummet dramatically, leaving you vulnerable to illness.

So how can we supplement protein in daily life? Nutritionists recommend a daily intake of 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. For example, a 50-kilogram person should consume at least 40 grams of protein daily—this is the minimum standard. Which foods provide high-quality protein in our diet?

1. Animal Proteins

In daily meals, meats and eggs are rich sources of protein. Examples include seafood like fish and shrimp, skinless poultry, eggs, and milk.

2. Plant-Based Protein

With the growing number of vegetarians, most obtain their protein through plant sources like soy products, in addition to supplements. Plant proteins are easier to digest and absorb than animal proteins, though animal proteins contain higher protein content.

When protein enters the human body, it breaks down in the intestines into essential amino acids. These are absorbed into the bloodstream and transported to various tissues and organs. Within these organs, amino acids undergo biochemical processes to reassemble into human proteins, fulfilling their vital functions.

In daily life, consuming high-quality protein is key to a healthy diet. Based on individual dietary habits, we should reasonably incorporate meat, eggs, dairy, and soy products to meet our protein needs—the foundation for building a healthy physique.