Yesterday, I caught an author of a new diet book on a daily talk show, "The View". He said there are no statistics which state that we need to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day. There may not be statistics but I think we can all agree that water is one of the essential ingredients that we need to survive. Here are three reasons to drink water.

Water is 0 calories. Substituting a glass of water for a glass of fruit juice, soda or other sugared drink saves you hundreds of calories a day, which adds up to pounds saved at the end of a year. On the other hand, substituting a drink containing calories for water adds hundreds of calories a day etc.

Water helps to rid our bodies of toxins. It flushes out our kidneys so that our bodies are able to function better. Other drinks, while they obviously run through our kidneys can contain sugars, sugar substitutes or other ingredients that our kidneys need to filter out.

An inadequate amount of water, especially in the summer months, can lead to dehydration. This is an especially uncomfortable state to be in and can be potentially dangerous. It can have very serious consequences.

Do we need 6-8 glasses of water a day? It is just a measure. Use common sense. I would make it a goal to drink water between meals when you feel thirsty. A lack of hydration can mimic hunger pains. If you feel hungry between meals, have a glass of water. If you are still hungry, after a few minutes, have a snack.

I would not, however, give up drinking water because someone came out with a new "diet book". Diet books come and go. As always, think balance before making any drastic changes in your lifestyle.

Balance Always,

Connie