Switch to Water Challenge: Kick start a healthy summer

New Zealand’s Dental Association (NZDA) is asking Kiwis to ditch sugary drinks for the month of November as part of their annual Switch to Water Challenge.

We need water for hydration – not sugary drinks. Switching your sugary drinks to water is a great first step towards a healthier you!

Switch to water as it:

• is naturally the best way to rehydrate;
• has zero sugar and no calories;
• is non-acidic;
• is 100 percent natural; and
• is fresh, free and readily available on tap.

The Switch to Water challenge is all about switching your sugary drinks to water for 30 days – starting one day between 1st and 15th November 2023. Take the challenge and kick start a healthy summer!

Former Olympian and Black Sticks hockey player Brooke Neal is back onboard this year to help promote the challenge and support participants.

“Water is my go-to drink of choice for maintaining physical and mental wellbeing,” says Neal.

“During my time as a sportswoman, it was important to stay well hydrated and water is the best choice for that. What is less appreciated is its role in supporting positive mental health,” she says.

Take the challenge this November

The Switch to Water challenge helps you to set a realistic goal to reduce the amount of sugar you consume. The aim of this challenge is to build better habits, with water becoming your drink of choice over time.

It is easy to take the challenge. Simply sign up and commit to switching your sugary drinks to water for 30 days.

You can take up the challenge as an individual, as a whānau or as part of a workplace or school team.

• Sign up or find out more about the Switch to Water challenge.

Research reveals Kiwis consume around 37 teaspoons of sugar per day and that’s having a hugely detrimental effect on their health. Adults should ideally not consume more than 6 teaspoons per day, and children not more than 3 to 4 per day.

Sugary drinks are a leading cause of tooth decay and contribute significantly to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and many other health problems. Currently, nearly two thirds of adults and one third of children are either overweight or obese in New Zealand.

Download resources that support the Switch to Water challenge:

• Benefits of drinking water.
• Hydrate yourself with water.
• What are sugary drinks doing to your body?

• Switch to Water Challenge School Toolkit.
• Switch to Water Challenge Workplace and Community Group Toolkit.
• Switch to Water Challenge Whānau Toolkit.

• Order copies of water-related resources from the Community Health Information Centre.

Source: NZ Dental Association.

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