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Should You Dive Into the New Wave of Waters?

If you thought plain old H2O is the only water available, think again! The latest trend is to sip on naturally occurring water such as coconut, maple and birch. Each are collected from natural sources and are touted to be super healthy. Should you be sticking to tap water or plunging headfirst into the pool of alternative water? Here’s a look at these three trendy waters lining store shelves.

Coconut Water

This tropical water is the clear liquid extracted from the inner chamber from immature, green coconuts. Unlike coconut milk, coconut water is relatively low in calories, providing about 46 calories per cup. It is naturally a good source of vitamin A, magnesium, potassium and manganese, providing between 10 to 19 percent of your daily recommended amount of each. One cup of coconut water also provides 11 percent of your recommended daily amount of sodium, which is a beneficial electrolyte for those who work out regularly. Many coconut waters also contain a good dose of vitamin C, but this is because it’s added by food manufacturers as a preservative.

Athletes in particular have been turning to coconut water because of its electrolyte profile, which is touted as being similar to sports drinks. However, that’s not the case. “During exercise you lose more sodium than potassium in your sweat, which needs to be replenished,” says Dana Angelo White, a sports dietitian for Quinnipiac University. “Coconut water has a lot more potassium and a lot less sodium compared with sports drinks. For many athletes, this is not an ideal formulation because they need to replenish the high amount of sodium lost in their sweat.” Sports drinks are formulated in order to help athletes replenish the higher levels of sodium and lower levels of potassium lost during exercise. In addition, the high amounts of potassium found in coconut water can be problematic for those with kidney issues or who have high blood pressure.

Coconut water has a sweet, nutty flavor. Here are several popular brands you can find at the market:

Vita Coco

O.N.E. Coconut Water

Zico

Big Tree Farms Coco Hydro

Harmless Harvest 100% Raw Coconut Water

[Read: New Products Made With Coconut: All They’re Cracked Up to Be?]Maple Water

Maple water comes from maple sap, which has a thin consistency and clear color. Maple sap is tapped from the maple tree before it’s boiled down into maple syrup. This water has a variety of nutrients, which are obtained by the trees pulling water and other nutrients through the soil by way of its roots. Maple water is pasteurized to destroy pathogenic microorganisms, while maintaining its nutrient profile.

About one cup of maple water contains 15 calories and 3 grams of carbohydrates (specifically sugar), and it’s free of fat and cholesterol. It’s an excellent source of manganese and contains a boatload of phytonutrients, plant compounds that may help promote certain health conditions and fight disease. One such phytonutrient, called abscicic acid, has been shown to help control blood sugar, which may be beneficial for diabetics. More research is needed, however, to determine the full phytonutrient profile of maple water along with any health benefits it may provide.

Maple water also helps promote ecological sustainability. While attending the Natural Food Expo West this past March, I spoke with Vertical Water, who produces maple water from trees found in New England forests. They encourage forest owners to tap their trees instead of selling them for lumber. Maple water production is a good way farmers can make money off the land without causing damage to their maple trees.

Here are several brands of maple water to sip on:

Vertical Water

DRINKmaple

SEVA

[Read: Beverage Face-Offs: Which One Is Best?]

Birch Water

Although not as popular as coconut and maple, birch water can be found in some health food stores in the U.S. and online. Birch water is harvested annually in the spring in a similar method to maple sap. It has a similar nutrient composition to coconut water. Birch water is traditionally sipped in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Russia.

Here are two brands that sell birch water:

Byarozavik Birch Tree Water

Sealand Natural Resources, Inc

[Read: America’s Next Top Superfood.]

More from U.S. News

9 Foods Packed With Potassium

5 Healthy — and Tasty — Smoothie Ingredients

Unusual Uses for Greek Yogurt

Should You Dive Into the New Wave of Waters? originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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