The Importance of Hydration

Drinking enough water is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Water keeps your digestion flowing and helps to regulate your metabolism. Did you know that drinking water can help you lose weight? By drinking a glass of water before a meal, you will already feel full, so you are likely to eat less. Staying adequately hydrated is also essential for healthy kidney function. There is a change in the recommended guidelines for the amount of water that you should drink each day. The old guideline suggested drinking eight glasses of water per day. However, this general recommendation does not take an individual's specific body type and weight into account. Drinking eight glasses of water a day may be too much for a smaller person, but not enough for a larger person. The new guideline suggests that you drink between one half ounce to one full ounce of water for each pound of your body weight. Please see the infographic below for an example of this calculation and more information about the importance of staying hydrated.