Despite the overwhelming value of water, most people do not drink enough. Drinking plenty of water is important to maintaining a healthy weight and a nutritious diet. It plays a key role in the way your body processes nutrients, maintain normal circulation and keep the proper balance of fluids.
So how much water is enough???
As a general rule 6 to 8 glasses of water, that is about 8 oz each, every day. If you exercise you will need to drink more to replenish what your body lost during sweating. After each 30 minute work out, drink 2 glasses to replenish your fluids.
Due to their calorie content sodas and fruit juices are NOT good choices for replacing lost fluids.
You can add a splash of fruit juice or a lemon to a glass of water to add flavor if needed.
When evaluating beverages a good place to start is by reading the nutrition facts label. Sodas and fruit juices are often high in calories and sugar while providing little to no nutrients.
Look for drinks with less than 100 calories per 8 oz serving. You don't want to drink back the calories you just burned off! If high fructose corn syrup is near the top of the ingredient list then you might want to pass. A little bit of carbohydrates in beverages can be a good thing. They can help to maintain blood sugar while exercising.
