Only 19% of Canadians Always Make Effort to Stay Hydrated

Poll Finds Almost Half of Canadians Drink Four or More Non-Water Beverages Per Day

PUSLINCH, ON, June 12, 2012 /CNW/ - While most Canadians know drinking water is the healthiest way to stay hydrated, they may not be practicing what they preach, according to a poll released today for Nestlé Waters Canada and hosted on the Angus Reid Forum.

The online survey of 1,234 Canadian adults in nine provinces asked respondents about their hydration habits and found some very interesting results.

The findings revealed that while the majority of Canadians (92 percent) believe water is a very healthy drink option, almost half (45 percent) drink an average of four or more non-water beverages per day. The results also indicate that 55 percent of the respondents' children drink only one to three glasses of water a day, and 22 percent indicate that fruit juice is the beverage their children consume most often.

Health Canada recommends Canadians drink water regularly and promotes plain drinking water in the Food Guide as a calorie-free way to respond to thirst¹. Water is one of the most essential elements to health and plays a key role in the maintenance of our bodies, lubricating joints and removing toxins, but poll results show a mere 19 percent of Canadians always make an effort to stay hydrated.

"With obesity rates soaring in Canada, particularly amongst Canadian children, it is important for Canadians to understand the health impact of their beverage choices," said Sherry Torkos, pharmacist and author of The Canadian Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. "Eight out of ten Canadians polled believe that fruit juice is healthy for them, but many beverages, including fruit juice, sports drinks and some soft drinks contain hidden calories in the form of highly refined sugars. For example, a 12-ounce serving of unsweetened orange juice contains up to 168 calories, a whole milk café latte contains up to 200 calories and a soft drink contains a minimum 150 calories. "

As part of its commitment to helping families live a healthier life, Nestlé Waters Canada launched the  Nestlé Pure Life Hydration Movement to educate Canadians on the importance of staying hydrated and making smart beverage choices when on the go. Families are encouraged to demonstrate their willingness to make simple changes towards a healthier lifestyle by visiting www.nestle-purelife.ca to pledge their commitment to swap one sugared beverage a day with water for a full year.

About the Survey

From March 26 to March 27, 2012, an online survey was conducted among 1,234 randomly selected Canadian adults who are also Angus Reid Forum panel members. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 2.8%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current data on age, gender, region and education to ensure the sample is representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

About Nestlé Waters Canada

Established in 1970, Nestlé Waters Canada is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nestlé Waters North America of Stamford, Connecticut. With headquarters in the Township of Puslinch, bottling facilities in Hope, British Columbia, and Puslinch and distribution facilities in Chilliwack, British Columbia; Puslinch and Laval, Quebec, approximately 400 employees support a network of more than 145 retailers across Canada.

Pharmacist, Sherry Torkos is available to comment on omnibus results and tips on healthy hydration.

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¹ http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/order-commander/eating_well_bien_manger-eng.php#5.

John B. Challinor II
Nestlé Waters Canada
1 888 565-1445, Ext. 6441 or [email protected]

Jamie Jo Alton
NATIONAL Public Relations
416-848-1370 or [email protected]