Here are some fun facts about hydration that you might not know:

• Did you know it only takes a loss of one to two percent of your body’s ideal water content to cause dehydration? Vigorous activity during the winter, such as sledding, skating, snowboarding and skiing, along with the addition of extra layers of clothing can lead to rapid loss of body fluid and can cause hydration more quickly than you think.
• Did you also know that high altitude can affect hydration? Higher elevations cause harder and more frequent breathing, resulting in loss of more fluids. So, if you’re hitting the slopes, take a little extra time to make sure you’re well hydrated.

So stay active – and hydrated – during these winter months.  Winter has a lot of fun activities to offer, but remember these tips while you’re active. Your body will thank you for it. Please check out our website to learn more about our industry’s myriad products and to find out more about hydration.

In fact, as we head into what is an important shopping season for our nation’s economy, we also wanted to remind you that the beverage industry employs more than 208,000 people and has a direct economic impact of $178.5 billion.

And if you’re anything like us here at Sip & Savor, there’s probably a favorite beverage that brings back happy holiday memories. So as you get ready to embark on what is likely to be a busy season filled with friends, family, shopping, parties and more … take a moment to kick back, relax, enjoy that favorite beverage, reflect on the past and look toward the future!

1 – Despite what you may read, see or hear, like all foods and beverages, energy drinks and their ingredients are regulated by FDA.

2 – It’s important to keep their caffeine content in perspective.  Energy drinks contain about half the caffeine of a similar size cup of coffee from your favorite coffeehouse.   You can see a comparison here.

3 – Caffeine is one of the most thoroughly tested ingredients in the food supply today and has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as well as more than 140 countries around the world.

4 – Energy drinks are not sports drinks. Sports drinks typically contain electrolytes and were created to help athletes and other active people hydrate before, during and after vigorous exercise. Furthermore, sports drinks do not contain caffeine.

If you want to learn more about energy drinks, you can visit our products issue site. You can also view the ABA Guidance for the Responsible Labeling and Marketing of Energy Drinks.

First, it’s important to point out that while water is a perfectly good choice for normal hydration purposes, sports drinks can provide additional benefits for anyone who is exercising or exposed to high temperatures – including children. Why?  Because in addition to providing much-needed hydration, they also can replenish electrolytes, which are salts found in the body fluid, tissue and blood that are lost during exercise or in the heat.  Common electrolytes include sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium and magnesium.

In fact, aside from athletics, there are times when the added benefits of sports drinks can be beneficial. For example, today in the District of Columbia (like many of our readers in various parts of the country), we are experiencing a bit of a heat wave.  Just a short while ago, the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency sent out an alert to subscribers on protective actions for heat.  Among many helpful tips, they advised combating dehydration by “drinking plenty of water along with sports drinks or other sources of electrolytes.” And for those who work outdoors during the warm weather – whether professionally, such as in construction, or in your spare time tackling the garden or mowing the lawn – sports drinks can help you stay hydrated and reduce muscle cramping.

Second, it is a misperception that sports drinks are high in sodium. On average, sports drinks contain only 50 to 100 milligrams of sodium per serving. In fact, most sports drinks qualify as a low-sodium food according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s definitions for sodium health claims.  Did you know that an 8 ounce serving of a sports drink has a similar sodium content to a cup of 2 percent milk?

Finally, as with many beverages, sports drinks can have calories.  However, due to industry innovation, there is a wide variety of options from which to choose. Due to industry innovation, lower-calorie versions of sports drinks are now available for consumers who want nutrients and electrolytes, but fewer calories.  After all, we know that when it comes to maintaining a healthy weight, what matters most is balancing calories consumed from all foods and beverages with those burned through exercise.

Whatever beverage you choose for you and your family, remember that, as with all foods and beverages, the key is moderation.  You can find out more about all of our industry’s beverages by visiting our Products Issue Site.

While today is a big day for our friends in the beer industry, we hope that you’ll remember the non-alcoholic beverage industry as well.  Our industry also offers plenty of fun and refreshing options for today’s celebration.  We have soft drinks, bottled water, sports drinks and energy drinks – some of which are even the perfect shade of green for the occasion!

However you choose to celebrate, enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day holiday.  And if you are drinking alcohol, make sure to pick a designated driver, and always look out for your friends.

Our website features a section explaining the science behind hydration, and gives readers information on the amount of fluids they should be drinking every day. According to the Institute of Medicine, that number is 11-16 cups of total fluids for adult men and women, depending on your activity level and size. Adults and children can consume a wide variety of fluids each day, including water, juice, tea, sports drinks and soft drinks to meet their hydration needs – all of which are produced by our member companies.

To learn all about the multitude of hydrating options our industry offers, visit our products site. Check back with Sip & Savor for more ways to stay hydrated all winter long!

What’s truly unfortunate is that this tax would be paid by the hard-working families of the District, and we at Sip & Savor believe that there couldn’t be a worse time to raise prices on a specific group of items in people’s grocery carts.   And while it has been suggested that the revenue from this tax would go to nutrition programs, we also know that the obesity issue will not be resolved by taxing anything, let alone beverages.

There is no doubt that work needs to be done here in D.C. to turn back the clock on obesity.  And we all – government and community leaders, school administrators, industry and parents  – need to work together if we want to improve the health of our city, and our nation.  Let’s just make sure that we are seeking comprehensive solutions that will have a meaningful and lasting impact, rather than simplistic approaches like taxes that simply won’t make a difference.

Please visit http://www.nodcbevtax.com/ for more information on the coalition, and let your voice be heard by contacting your Council Member.

In addition to a bill that would ban sports drinks from high schools, other legislation has been introduced that aims to ban aluminum bats at baseball games.  These come on the heels of another bill which has a goal to ban toys in happy meals!

The beverage industry also cares about our nation’s children.  We understand that childhood obesity is a serious problem and a concern for many parents.  And we recognize that schools are special places.  In fact, our industry’s School Beverage Guidelines have dramatically reduced the number of calories available to children and teens throughout the school day.  The guidelines are common-sense and backed by parents, teachers and other community leaders.

But legislation like the proposal to ban sports drinks in high schools seems a bit over the top for teenagers who are exposed to a world of choices as they enter high school and, among other significant milestones, are learning to drive. How can we best prepare them to make the right choice?  We at Sip & Savor believe that, with some guidance from parents, giving them the tools to make dietary decisions that are best for them is a good start.

When it comes to sports drinks, they clearly have a functional place in schools.  In fact, studies show that 53 percent of high school students participate in interscholastic sports before, during and after schools, and sports drinks provide a functional benefit necessary for students to add energy and absorb fluids efficiently.

Just as high school brings a range of options for sport and exercise, so also are increased options for food and beverages to quench thirst and satisfy hunger.  Many studies have proven that adolescents who get the proper amount of physical activity in high schools are more likely make exercise a part of their adult life, too.  Nutrition education, proper physical activity and a balanced diet is the key to healthy living.  And allowing choice in the school environment is appropriate for teens that are learning how to best care for their body.

The Senators welcomed many representatives of government and health organizations, each with varying opinions on the topics of the day. One thing became immediately clear – obesity is a very serious and complex issue and something needs to be done to address it.

We at Sip & Savor agree. But, where we disagree with some of the witnesses is that we know that the obesity issue will not be resolved by taxing anything, let alone beverages. We should consider solutions that incorporate education, physical activity and other programs into our communities.

Our view was shared by many members of the New York community, including the Food Industry Alliance of New York, UFCW Local 1500 (the grocery workers union), the National Supermarket Association, the Bodega Association of the United States, Northbridge Environmental Management Consultants and the Business Council of New York State. ABA’s Jim McGreevy provided testimony at the hearing, and so did American Council on Science and Health President Elizabeth Whelan, Sc.D., M.P.H.

There is work to be done in New York to counter obesity. And we all – government and community leaders, organizations, schools and individuals – need to work together if we want to shrink the waistlines of New Yorkers. Let’s just make sure that we are seeking comprehensive approaches that will have a meaningful and lasting impact.

Many of our members’ products will be featured in advertisements surrounding the big event, and we hope you’ll check back with us at Sip & Savor for a preview. But as you watch the pros pre-and re-hydrate with sports drinks on the sidelines, have you ever wondered how they work?

Sports drinks – like Gatorade, Powerade, Accelerade, Capri SUN Sport and All Sport, among others – play a very important role in keeping athletes hydrated. In fact, these drinks were created to help athletes hydrate before, during and after vigorous exercise so that they can maintain a high performance level through a long workout or game.

When you exercise, you lose water, electrolytes (such as potassium and sodium) and carbohydrates through the energy you use and through sweat. Sports drinks help replace these important substances. And while sports drinks may have been designed for athletes, you certainly don’t need to play for the NFL to consume these tasty beverages.

Enjoy the playoff season!