In the last month I’ve met three diehard runners, each of whom has their own philosophy about this undertaking. Some veer toward the spiritual, that running is a transcendental experience, while others simply believe that it’s a perfect form of exercise. And yet, all of these people were, until recently, drinking sugary beverages that negated the very calories they had burned on the treadmill or outdoor track. Upon my gentle recommendation, these individuals tried HINT – I’m awaiting word about their favorite flavors – and the response was superb: they love this stuff. If only I had their cardio strength!

Since the weather’s been superb lately, the outdoors – all those great hiking trails – are even more inviting than usual. But the heat takes its toll. That’s why I’ve been carrying bottles of HINT on these weekend excursions. The only problem is: my friends have been “pilfering” my stash of HINT because their drinks, mostly artificially sweetened “water,” taste like a chemistry set. Memo to my fellow hikers: Get some HINT!

Kudos to Charles Stuart Platkin, aka The Diet Detective, for liking HINT. As he states, the brand “offers purified water with natural flavors and no calories or artificial sweeteners. The flavors include lime, raspberry-lime and mango-grapefruit, to name a few.” Good stuff. Now drink up!