Water: More Than Just A Thirst Quencher

Sunday, July 12, 2009

There are a variety of reasons to drink plenty of water each day--especially during the summer months. In addition to preventing dehydration, adequate water intake rids the body of excess toxins, carries nutrients to your cells and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues. It can also help clear and moisten your skin; people often report a healthy glow after drinking water. Of course, a change like this doesn't happen overnight, but in as little as a week of drinking a healthy amount of water can have remarkable effects on your skin.

If all of this isn't reason enough to start drinking more water, there's more! Substituting water for beverages high in calories can also help control weight. For example, drinking a big glass of water whenever you feel hungry and before a meal or snack can fill the stomach briefly, making you feel fuller and possibly stop you from overeating. Secondly, if you're drinking plain water, you're less likely to be drinking something with calories in it. :P Some studies also show water to briefly raise participants' metabolism after consumption (i.e. free burned calories without even breaking a sweat)!

So how much water do you need?

A general guideline that is simple to use is 1/2 ounce per pound of body weight. That would mean a 150 lb. person would need to consume 75 ounces of water each day to satisfy daily requirements and replenish what is lost through normal cell processes. Keep in mind, every ounce of sweat you produce through perspiration or lose from urination will need to be replaced. In other words, water consumption varies from person to person, depending on factors ranging from level of activity to the climate they live in. If you're still not sure how much water to drink per day, try using this neat little 'Hydration Calculator' I found at About.com: http://nutrition.about.com/library/blwatercalculator.htm. It basically uses the rule I've stated above, but it does the calculating for you!

Now Drink up! And beer doesn't count!