Friday, June 03, 2005

Are You Getting Enough Water?

We have been hearing for some time now that we should drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. New research suggests that there are other ways you can stay hydrated. Sports drinks do a good job of hydrating the body plus they put back some of the electrolytes, such as potassium and sodium, lost through perspiration.

If you are dieting water is by far the best way to stay hydrated. Plus there are other benefits; water takes up space in your stomach, which will result in a feeling full after consuming less food. Another proven fact is that when you are dehydrated your body can signal hunger as well as thirst; so staying hydrated should result in you eating less.

If you just can’t stand the taste of it, try adding lemon, try sparkling water, or there are many flavored waters on the market today. If none of these options appeal to you, diet pop is a reasonable option. You can also try introducing water in small amounts to your daily liquid consumption, start with 1 glass of water per day, and try adding one more glass each week until you are consuming 6 to 8 glasses.