Our focus today is water.

We all know that water is a good thing for us, but why? And how much should we drink? What counts as water? We will take a look at all of these questions and also give you some tips to help you with your water intake. So pour yourself a glass of water and lets get started!

Why should we be drinking water?

We are made of water, well mostly, about 70 percent water, and all of our body systems need it. We need water to survive and it aids us in so many different ways including

• weight loss
• skin moisturization
• muscle efficienc
• brain function
• mood balance
• temperature control
• and joint lubrication… to name a few

So not only does water keep us healthy and alive, it also keeps us full, and from eating and snacking too much.

What counts as water?

This can be a tricky question. Generally flavored or sparkling waters are not considered in your water intake, although adding a slice of lemon, lime or mint to your water can be refreshing. Stay away from artificial sweeteners. Herbal tea is another gray area that doesn’t fit into the soda, juice, coffee non-hydration zone. It is best to stick to just water, whether you like it cold, hot or room temperature, or adding your favorite natural fruit or herb. If you drink caffeine or alcohol, add an extra glass of water for every cup you drink, since these drinks can be dehydrating.

How much should I drink?

The recommended amount of water to drink per day is eight glasses, or 64 ounces, and this is generally plenty, especially if you haven’t been drinking it at all. What we should be doing for our health is making water the primary substance we drink. If you would like to take things further and make your daily amount specific to you, you can take your weight in pounds and divide it by two, what you have left is the amount for your body in ounces. So for example, if you weight 150 lbs, you would drink 75 ounces of water a day.

Tips to get your water in:

1. Have a water bottle with you at all times if you are out and about, fill it up right away in the morning. It may also be helpful to have a water bottle in many different locations, such as home, at work, and in your car.
2. If you’re at home all day you can fill up a pitcher and have it on the table so that you can pour yourself a glass throughout the day. Add some of your favorite fruit or mint to the pitcher if you so desire!
3. Have a glass by your bed to drink as soon as you wake up and start your day off right.
4. I once met a lady who kept a glass by her kitchen sink, and when she got hungry she made herself drink a glass of water before she ate something. This kept her from overeating, and helped her get her water in throughout the day.

Drinking more water is an excellent way to move in the right direction for better health.

If one day you don’t hit your goal, start again the next!

Good luck everyone and feel free to comment with tips and tricks that work for you!

~ Jenny