Water is probably one of the most important factors for our good health.  Almost 60% to 70% of our weight is made up in water running through our arteries, capillaries, veins, incorporated into chemical structures of compounds that form cells and tissues, and contained within our body’s organs.  Like vitamins, water is needed for many chemical reactions.

Water is our body’s cleansing agent, lubricant, transporter, solvent and helps maintain our body temperature.  It is essential for the growth and maintenance of our bodies.  Water dissolves amino acids, glucose, minerals and other substances needed in our cells.   Simply put, we need water to live and function optimally.  We need to drink water daily to replenish fluids lost through exercise, respiration and urination.

Experts vary on how much water we should drink daily.  Growing up, the most common advice we heard was to drink at least 8 eight-ounce glasses per day, or 64 ounces of water.  Now that there is more research available, many nutritionists believe that we should take our body weight and divide it in half, which will then give us the number of ounces to drink, and if you exercise, drink alcohol, coffee, tea and energy drinks, live in an arid climate, or travel by air, you need to drink significantly more water.