Why Water Is so Important for You to Drink

Did you know that at least 50 percent of your body is water?

While coffee is considered OK in moderation, other drinks such as coffee, sodas and alcohol do not actually count toward your daily water intake.

Did you know that at least 50 percent of your body is made up of water? Conventionally wisdom used to say 70 percent but on a quick Google search I found numbers that ranged from 50-75 percent. Did you also know that leaving your body dehydrated not only is bad for your skin but it also can make you have unnecessary cravings? Why is that you ask? Because sometimes your body thinks you are hungry when you are actually thirsty. That's right the two can actually get confused and can lead to a whole host of other issues.

Unfortunately, our society is set up in such a way that getting access to water is not always conducive. With that being said the rest of this article is going to contain suggestions on how to maximize your water intake. Before getting into that I would like to preface that drinking other types of drinks such as soda's, coffee and alcohol does not count as your water intake for the day. While coffee is considered OK in moderation, sodas and sometimes alcohol place varying negative factors on our health. So now onto the five ways to increase your water intake, which are the following: 1. If you are going to be at a place for a period of time such as work or a school function take some form of a water bottle and at least have a general knowledge of whether water fountains are available; 2. try to drink water before and during each meal; 3. be aware of the amount of water you need; 4. have a general knowledge of why you need to drink water; 5. be self aware and don't just drink it when your thirsty. Here is a more in depth look at each of the five ways.

• Be self aware and don't just drink water when your thirsty

Unless your intermittently fasting most nutrition experts will recommend you eat at least five to six times a day. That includes breakfast lunch and dinner along with a mid morning and mid afternoon snack. So why would I want to drink every time I eat? The first reason is because it confirms with your body that your actually hungry and not thirsty and some foods have the potential to dehydrate you anyways. That can potentially include healthy and unhealthy food. So how much water do I need to drink? Most nutritionists will say half your body weight in ounces but you will need more if you exercise.

• Having the general knowledge you need water

We all know that we shouldn't smoke and that if we want to get better at something we have to practice it and gain knowledge. Tom Brady didn't join the ranks of the NFL greats by rolling out of bed and accomplishing everything he has. You should apply the same thing to your water consumption. The best thing about water? Most of the time it's free. So unless you live in an area where good water is scarce it is just as far as your kitchen sink or refrigerator or if you have that type of fridge. So in a sense replacing water with other type of drinks can actually save you money.

• Be aware of the amount of water you need

Assuming you go with the rule mentioned in this article first you should know how much you weigh. Of course there also many other theories on how much water you should drink such as the 8X8 rule. It would also be helpful if you know the number of ounces of the glasses and water bottles that you are drinking out of. The easiest way to determine is to take a cup or bowl that has the same circumference of the glass or water bottle and compare the size. Once you know how big the water bottles are you know how many of those you have to drink and let's face it. Knowing is half the battle. It also helps if you make it a tall water glass and something that is portable and you can carry with you for a large portion of your day.

This goes straight into the last tip on how to maximize the amount of water you drink.

• Take a big water bottle with you if you are going to be at a place for a long period of time. This can include work or school events, family events, road trips and if possible if your going to be on an airplane for a while This last tip is quite simply all about preparedness. Just like it helps to plan out your meals it is also possible to plan out your water too and when you can consume it for most of the day. If you have anything physically strenuous during the day obviously you would want to plan a good bit for then.

What is the best tip for staying hydrated? Planning and always having fluids with you. Stay hydrated my friends.