Taking Care of Your Body: The Importance of Water

The word nutrient often conjures images of food pyramids, vitamin and mineral charts, and supplements. Sadly, the most commonly overlooked nutrient is also the most vital one to our bodies. Without enough water, our bodies become sluggish, begin to function improperly, and eventual quit working entirely.

We have all heard it countless times: "Drink 8 glasses of water a day." How much truth is there in this? Well, that depends entirely on you and your body. So how much is enough? There really is a simple calculation to determine what your ideal daily water intake is:

1. Take your body weight in pounds (apologies to those readers who use the metric system).

2. Divide this number by 2.

3. The new number is the amount of water you should drink daily (in ounces).

For example, I weigh 150 pounds. 150/2 = 75. Ideally, I should be drinking 75 ounces of water daily.

Why is drinking water so important?

It is a well known fact that our bodies are heavily composed of water. In fact, without water, our bodies cease to function properly. Everything we do (walking, laughing, blinking, even thinking) is caused by chemical reactions. These reactions are water based; without water, our functionality is seriously impaired.

What are the benefits of drinking water?

* Improved energy

* Increased mental and physical performance

* Remove body toxins and waste

* Healthy, glowing skin

* Strong, healthy hair and nails

* Increased fat loss

* Reduction of headaches and dizziness

* Proper digestion

* Decreased body acidity

* Reduced risk of heart attack

I have found it helpful to keep a water bottle nearby at all times. The bottle that sits next to my computer at work holds 36 ounces; I make a point to fill it three times daily. This gives me a bit more water than my recommended 75 ounces, which helps my body function better in the dry Montana air (while I was born here, I think my body was designed for more humid climates).

A few more important points:

*For those caffeine drinkers among us: for every 8 ounces of caffeinated beverage you drink, you should drink 16 additional ounces of water (caffeine is a diuretic--it takes water away from you--these 16 ounces help to replace the water caffeine robbed from you and get you back on track).

**If you are not used to drinking this much water, you will inevitably have to make more trips to the restroom. Eventually, your body will become accustomed to the extra liquid and start utilizing it instead of expelling it, decreasing your urination. Be warned though: it can take eight months to a year for your body to adjust to your water intake (if you are consistently drinking enough-if you are sporadic, your body will restart the adjustment period every time you up your water intake).

***It is also important to note: water will increase fat loss only with a healthy diet and exercise. This means, one will burn more fat drinking water than one would doing the same routine without water. One should never drink water excessively in order to lose weight.

Grab your water bottle and start drinking to a healthier you!

* *Rae* *