More Healthy #03: Miracle Drink

What would you say if I told you that a miracle drink exists? This drink promises to improve your health. And it will help you save money. The impact is so immediate that you will notice a difference in your health and budget starting this week. 

So what is this miracle drink? In Sweden, it is known as vatten, but you're probably more familiar with its English name ... water.

Stay with me. Don't check out. I get it — we've all heard how water is good for us. But so many of us don't take the facts seriously. We either think we are already drinking enough water to receive the full benefit or we think that we get enough water through other beverages. I mean, water is the first ingredient in all soft drinks, right?

The amount of water we need varies for each person. The common rule is to drink in ounces half your body weight. If you weigh 150 lbs, you'll want to drink 75 oz each day. A good indicator of body hydration is to check the color of your urine. If it is anything darker than a pale yellow, you need more water.

Drinking water as an ingredient is not the same thing as drinking water as a beverage. Our bodies crave pure water — and lots of it. We are continually losing water through breathing, sweating and digestion. So we need to be continually replenishing the supply. If our bodies experience only a 5% water loss, we can start feeling muscle weakness, dizziness, headaches and decreased concentration. At a 7% body water depletion, there is a good chance we will collapse. 

Why don't we drink water? I would guess the #1 excuse is "it doesn't taste as good as [name of your favorite beverage]." I can relate to that expression because I use to say the same thing. However, logically, that excuse doesn't hold much water (pun intended). 

If we know something is beneficial for our health, it is readily available (for most people) and it costs less than all of its competitors, then we owe it to our health and our budgets to give water another try.

So where do you start? Grab a cup, turn on the water and drink. That might be the easiest health plan ever. At first, don't worry about how much you drink. If you don't "like" the taste of water, start small. Begin each morning with an 8 oz glass of water. Then start adding more water throughout your day. As someone who has called water my primary beverage of choice for a few years now, I can confirm that you'll eventually reach the point that water tastes good.

Go get a drink of water right now! Do it for your health — your body and budget will thank you.