Sports drinks are popular with individuals who work out and play sports. The purpose of sports drinks is to replenish the body of what it has lost during exercise, such as fluids and minerals.

Why is afternoon fatigue so widespread, and how the heck does anyone avoid it? According to sports medicine specialist Brad Thomas, MD, the answer is in your hydration habits.

Sparkling water may not be the guilt-free soda-alternative we always thought it was — it may even be causing you to gain weight.

While it's tempting to grab your favorite iced tea, latte or sports drink when looking for something to [quench your thirst](https://www.livestrong.com/slideshow/1011160-spa-water/) or boost your energy, keep in mind that these beverages — and countless others — can have [lots of added sugar](https://www.livestrong.

The use of distilled water for drinking is vital in areas that have poor tap water or polluted drinking water sources, as the distillation process purifies the water. However, the loss of minerals during the distillation process has led some to suggest that drinking distilled water can be harmful.

The most common food allergens include wheat, soy, milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish, which make up about 90 percent of food allergies, according to The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network. However, other foods can cause allergic reactions.

Air gets into your system either through swallowing it or from bacteria breaking down undigested food in the large intestine. You can swallow air while drinking water, especially if you're trying to drink too much too fast.

Since the 1980s, conventional health professionals have denied a link between diet and acne, but that thinking is on its way out, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. Diet doesn’t cause acne, but it can be a trigger or it can be used to help treat it.

Babies under a year old get most of the fluid they need from breast milk or formula, but after your child's first birthday, start making water a part of his daily routine.

Proper water consumption affects many different aspects of health and wellness, including how well the body can maintain and regulate oil production in the skin, according to the UCLA Student Nutrition Awareness Campaign.

Natural spring and mineral water contains numerous minerals that your body needs in small amounts for a wide variety of functions, including nerve conductance, muscle tone and bone growth and repair. Commercially bottled varieties sometimes add minerals for taste and health purposes.

Your body is made up of about two-thirds water, so it’s important to drink enough fluid each day to keep this balance. If you find plain water boring, though, meeting your hydration needs can tricky.