Glug... Glug.... Ugh!</i> Why So Much Water? :

Water! An essential element of life and a very important and critical component of any serious weight-loss plan . The other day, I was responding to an eDiets member, who was struggling with drinking her daily allocation of water. I should add that this is not uncommon for those in the process of weight loss.

For those who feel like dieting is a punishment they must suffer for poor eating, this part of the program is often viewed as water torture.

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Many people would much rather drink soda or juice than water, but if you are to succeed at weight loss, you must learn to love water. That is a simple fact of weight-loss life.

As I was preparing to respond to this member, I thought I would do a little research on the topic. Let me give you some water facts and then offer a suggestion for those of you struggling to drink your daily water requirement. By definition, water is a clear, odorless, colorless and tasteless liquid. Chemically, it is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen, and it is everywhere. As a matter of fact, according to the World Book Encyclopedia, "it is the only substance on earth that is naturally present in three different forms -- as a liquid, a solid (ice) and as a gas (water vapor)."

Water is a common topic of conversation at eDiets . Let me share with you an excerpt about water from our "HELP" menu under the "Frequently Asked Questions" banner:

"How much water do I have to drink every day, and what else can I drink? Is it possible to drink too much water?"

Because water makes up 80 percent of your blood and brain -- and about 50 percent of the rest of your body's tissues, water is vitally important to your good health! You can estimate how much water you need by dividing your weight by two... the result is approximately the amount of water you should drink each day.

Water regulates the body temperature and aids the liver and kidneys in processing body toxins. Water is necessary for nutrient and oxygen transport in your body, and for absorption and utilization of vitamins and minerals. If you don't drink enough water, you can become constipated, dehydrated and very, very ill!

When you're exercising, make sure you drink before, during and after your activity. Although you do get water from foods and other fluids, we recommend drinking at least 8 glasses (8 oz. each, or 64 oz. total) of water daily. Some beverages, such as no-sodium-added club soda and herbal tea may count toward your water intake, but coffee and tea, which contain caffeine, are "dehydrating," and cannot be counted as water.

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