Drink Up!

How much water should you drink per day?

Drink lots of water. Try for 8 cups (64 ounces) daily. Why?

1. Believe it or not, by drinking more H20 throughout the day you'll actually retain less water, making you look slimmer. Taking in insufficient water makes our bodies cling to the water we already have, as if reacting to possible drought conditions.  But when we drink water consistently, our body doesn’t bother stockpiling excess water.

2. Drinking water can prevent mindless noshing. Believe it or not, our bodies can actually mistake thirst for hunger, bringing on cravings, and leading us to grab an extra snack.

3. When you drink a glass of water before a meal, you’ll eat less. Why? Water fills your stomach, making you feel less hungry and more full.

How much water should you drink per day? About 8 cups (64 ounces) should do it. If you exercise (you do exercise, right?), you should drink an additional 1.5 to 2.5 cups of water during cardio workouts lasting 30-60 minutes.

Here are some tricks for staying hydrated:

Remind yourself to drink more water by keeping a bottle with you at work and in the car.

Does plain water bore you? Try adding a few slices of lemon or lime for a touch of flavor. Or stock up on 0-calorie flavored waters like VitaminWater Zero, Fruit2o, or Crystal Light on-the-go packets (10 calories per packet) and treat yourself to flavors like lemonade and grape raspberry.

How do you know if you’re getting very dehydrated? Symptoms of dehydration include dark urine, dry mouth, mild muscle weakness, and fatigue.