“Water?! Why Should I Care?”

Oh, No Reason—Unless You Want to Lose Weight.

I know, I know: Water’s not the most exciting topic. But this simple liquid packs a big punch, so let’s give credit where credit is due. After all, you wouldn’t be here without it, and we are trying to give you the longest, healthiest life possible.

Why water?

We’re mostly water — 60% of your body weight. Hold up! Drinking less water doesn’t mean you’ll weigh less. Far from it. Tanking up on water is one of your best weight loss strategies .

There’s more. Water keeps the good stuff moving throughout your body — oxygen, disease-fighting antibodies, body-regulating hormones, and nutrients. And the bad things out of our bodies — food-borne pesticides, chemicals, and waste. This is especially important during weight loss, because toxic substances are often stored in fat cells.

And how about this? If you don’t drink enough, your body is forced to recycle dirty water, which slows down all your body functions.

Enough said. Moving on …

What makes water so special?

Okay, stay with me.

• Water is calorie free, yet, like food, it can help you feel full and satisfied. And much of the time, when you feel a craving to eat, your body is actually telling you it needs more … water.
• Water gives you energy! Feeling sluggish? Have a headache? Not on top of your mental game? Yep, good chance you just need to drink up.
• It keeps your metabolism revved up, so your body burns more calories throughout the day.
• Staying well hydrated helps lower blood pressure and promotes weight loss. In one study, participants who drank only water or diet beverages were twice as likely to lose 5% of their weight after 6 months.

What happens when you don’t drink enough water?

Even mild dehydration zaps your energy. If you wait until you’re thirsty, you’ll always be behind. Your body won’t recover full function until several hours after you “fill up” again.

Signs of dehydration? Fatigue, confusion or slowed thinking, headache, and, dark-looking urine (more on that in a sec).

How much water should you drink?

You may have heard ‘drink 8 glasses a day.’ Who knows where that came from but it’s just plain wrong.

The best way to tell if you’re well hydrated is the color of your urine. When you’re getting enough water, your urine should be clear to light yellow.

What else can you drink besides plain water?

Plain water is best, but sparkling water and no-calorie hot or cold beverages can also do the job. Limit your caffeine to no more than 300 mg a day (the equivalent of 3 cups of coffee).

Is it possible to drink too much water?

Technically, yes. But that’s not going to happen. You’d have to drink many gallons a day before you even start getting concerned about that. Most people need at least 100 ounces a day, and even more is great! Your body will make good use of all the water you drink, trust me!

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