There are three fundamental reasons to drink any liquid:
- Thirst
- Quenching thirst, filling the body's need for liquid.
- Flavor
- Sweet, bitter, citrus - whatever. Often our body craves some
effect and we go for the flavor.
- Effect
- Often coupled with flavor - the sweet flavor of glucose, the
citrus flavor of vitamin C. Though other times its for the effect
of some drug within the beverage - for example: caffeine and alcohol.
And what does this all mean?
When a cyclist is out cycling, the beverage of choice is that of water
for its thirst quenching ability and lack of effect (you don't want a
sugar rush that burns out). Over a good dinner,
a glass of wine - for
the complementary flavor and effect. Other times, its the pure and
simple desire to get drunk as the effect (its the only explanation for
some of the drinks people consume).
Whatever reason one is consciously drinking for - be aware of the other
reasons. This becomes especially important when effect factors in:
- Drinking for thirst - a caffeinated drink
before trying to go to sleep.
- Drinking for flavor/effect - a hot day, sitting in the pub and
realizing that while mixed vodka drinks may have the flavor and effect
that were sought after, being thirsty increases the rate and quantity
drunk - far beyond the original intent.