Question:
Why water? Why not juice or broth?

   — Mel M. (posted on August 9, 2001)

August 9, 2001
Juice has a lot of sugar which in turn is empty calories thus helps lead towards weight gain. That's why they tell you to water the juice down. There are lots of sugar free products now-ice tea, tang,koolaid,countrytime Lemonade and more. However, water is much better for your body. With the broth just watch the sodium content. Try to stick with the low salt versions so you won't hold water.
   — Linda M.

August 9, 2001
From the time I was four I lived on regular pop. No water, just pop. Since the Bypass I love water and only drank water. Well a couple weeks ago I ended up in the emergency room having two vials of potassium by IV. The doctor asked what I drank. I said water! She asked about juices. I said no, just water. She said, that's no good,have to have some juices for electrolites! What can I say? I made a good move by ending pop and drinking plenty of water and I'm still bad. ;) Go figure! So I guess the moral of the story is all things in moderation. I still mostly drink water, but I do drink alot of watered down OJ with Splenda in it. Plus I enjoy some diet peach teas (don't know if there is any nutricial value in that). So avoid sugar as much as you can, but you should have some juices/broths too. We need "balance".
   — Danmark

September 25, 2001
Others who have responded are correct about the ups and downs of juice. They do have vitamins and minerals that help feed your body and keep your electrolytes where they ought to be. Unfortunately, there is the sugar issue. If you have a tendency toward sugar dumping, you may jolly well have considerable difficulty with orange or apple juice. The calories in juice can slow down weight loss if you drink enough of it, but there's nothing wrong with having 6 oz once or twice a day. If you want to drink it for the water content, you should dilute it by doubling the water in it. You can't drink enough broth to worry about the sodium content anymore. It shouldn't taste like seawater, but if you want to drink broth, go ahead and drown yourself.
   — Dr. Vance R.