Water, you need it so drink it... LOTS of it!

Happy "hump-day" everyone!  Today I wanted to talk about something that many of you already know is important, but I still see a lot of people asking, "well what is "healthy" to drink?"  The answer is WATER!  Sure there are other things that will not have ill effects on your body also, but do you need them? No.  Your body actually needs water.  

The average persons body is made up of 60-70% of water.  The average, everyday, non athlete or heavy lifter should consume AT LEAST 8- 8 oz glasses of water per day (64 oz), that is a minimum.  For people who are athletes and very active it is the average to consume about a gallon of water throughout the day (128 oz).  

There are so many reasons that it is good to drink water, that there really should be no questions about what to drink.   If you are trying to lose weight, drinking water helps maintain a feeling of fullness so in a sense it helps you not be as hungry throughout the day.  There have also been studies that show that drinking water can increase ones metabolic rate which would also aid in burning more calories and losing weight.  As far as general health areas are concerned water helps with digestion and circulation.  

Hydration is very important during workouts.  Your body needs the water replaced because as you know, you sweat during your workouts so you need to replenish to maintain hydration.  

According to fitday.com this is WHY you should drink water during your workout. (I thought their explanation was good and easy to understand so I wanted to include it!)

"You know that water keeps you hydrated during your workout, but you might not know how. Water acts as a lubricant for your muscles, joints and vital organs. Water is necessary for you to have energy during your workout because it is the transporter of oxygen and glucose throughout your body. Your muscles need water for strength and flexibility. Your joints need water to prevent stiffness and your brain needs water to send messages, like how to regulate your body temperature." 

So, the moral of the story is... DRINK WATER!!! :) Your body needs it!