Water is the only drink for a wise man. ~ Henry David Thoreau

Most of us are aware of the importance of drinking enough water, but did you know that humans are up to 75% water? That our brains are 85% water and that a drop of just a few percentage points can be fatal? The human body is always working for homeostasis, striving for balance. It will do whatever it can to maintain the proper amount of water in the brain. This includes depriving other parts of our bodies of water. All of this can lead to the breakdown of normal physiological functions. So getting our daily requirement of water helps our organs perform their functions, keeps our skin clear and hydrated, and allows physical action in our bodies to flow smoothly. Even with this knowledge, it can still be challenging to drink all the water our bodies deserve daily, at least eight 8 ounce glasses a day (or until your urine is a pale yellow or clear!). In the summer, when we tend to play hard, sweat, and spend prolonged time in the sun, drinking plenty of water is critical. If you are not drinking enough you may experience poor digestion, sluggish thinking, skin breakouts, headaches, bad breath and general fatigue. 

To start your day right, set a large glass of water by your bed each night and drink it when you wake up. When the first thing that flows through your body each morning is water, it pulls out toxins left over from the previous day and freshens your system for the day ahead. It also gets your body prepared to digest breakfast! Keep a bottle of water accessible throughout the day; whether you are on the go or at a desk having one close by will remind you to take a sip when thirsty. But if you are just beginning the eight glasses a day regimen don't wait until you are thirsty to drink water. By the time most Americans' thirst signal kicks in we are already dehydrated. We also often mistake thirst for hunger. So next time you are craving a snack drink a glass of water first and see if the craving subsides. In addition to drinking a glass upon rising and prior to snacking, make a point to drink a glass or two 30 minutes before each meal. Americans have a bad habit of drinking while eating. Drinking two glasses half an hour before you eat will improve your digestion and make it easier to get your allotment in during the day. This is good, because trying to make up a large deficit at night by drinking before bed will usually backfire causing you to wake up to use the bathroom and disturb your peaceful night's sleep.

Another key to getting your daily allowance of water is to like the taste of the water you are drinking. If the taste of plain water is unappealing, experiment to see how you can make it tasty and drinkable. Try adding a few mint leaves, a wedge of lemon, a sprig of parsley, slices of cucumber or the squeeze of an orange. These are good ways to get you used to reaching for water. However, it is recommended that you wean yourself, eventually drinking just plain water. Although drinking juice and eating raw fruits and vegetables does contribute to the hydration process, any time you eat or drink anything other than H₂O your body uses stored nutrients and energy to break things down to their simplest, usable parts. Also drinking coffee and caffeinated tea means you'll need to increase your total water consumption for the day as they are diuretics.  A good rule is to drink an additional glass of water for each caffeinated beverage you consume.

What about quality? Some people like bottled water, while others prefer filtered water. Here's some food (or water!) for thought: the quality of bottled water is not regulated. Recently Pepsi's Aquafina and Coca-Cola Co's Dasani both admitted that their bottled water was actually tap water! So drinking water from a bottle may not necessarily be any better for you. It certainly isn't better for the environment. Relying solely on bottled water increases our dependence on foreign oil. Annually, making water bottles for the United States requires more than 1.5 million barrels of oil, according to the Earth Policy Institute. That's enough energy to fuel 100,000 cars. Last year the U.S. went through 50 million bottles of water. And even though these bottles are recyclable, sadly, less than 23% of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles are recycled each year. Most states do not require a deposit on water and other non-carbonated beverages. Heck! Many states don't even have bottle deposits on carbonated beverages! If you are truly concerned about the quality of your water or do not like the taste consider investing in a filter and a permanent, reusable bottle, such as certain Nalgene bottles or one of the many fun Sigg water bottles. (For more information on safe reusable bottles click here.) Most filters will pay for themselves many times over. Assuming that you are using it! If you do drink bottled water, please be kind and recycle. 

Once your body gets used to being well hydrated you will not have to use the restroom as often and your sense of thirst will be more reliable. You really only have better health to look forward too! So drink up!