By Tami Rupe

You’ve all heard the saying, “Drink eight glasses of water a day.” That’s 64 ounces minimum, and even more if you perform strenuous exercise or work in intense heat. But what does water really do for our bodies?

The benefits are numerous. Water:

• Boosts your metabolic rate, which boosts energy to burn up to 3% more calories

• Makes you feel full, thus decreasing the amount you eat. Drink a glass of water 15 minutes before meals

• Moisturizes and “pumps up” your skin, making it look younger and more toned

• Hydrates your body to help your muscles and organs work more efficiently

Despite these numerous benefits, many people still don’t drink enough water because they don’t like the taste. But rather than turning to high-calorie, caffeine-filled drinks, you can add some flavor to your water with a slice of lime, lemon or cucumber, or ready-to-go powders like Crystal Light. There is a new calorie-free liquid flavor enhancer called MIO that also adds flavor. There are plenty of drink additives available, just make sure to read the labels for calories and serving size.

Besides taste, some people don’t like increasing their water intake because of the increased trips to the bathroom. What’s really happening in the first few days of drinking more water is your body flushing itself of the water it is used to storing. As you continue to drink water, your body gets rid of the excess fluids. Eventually, the flushing of the body ceases and it begins to normalize, reaching the “breakthrough point.”

If your health goal is weight loss, eliminating soft drinks can make a major difference. A 12 oz. can of soda has about 155 calories. On average, it takes 25 minutes of walking to burn those calories. Therefore, eliminating high-calorie drinks from your diet can make a big difference throughout the year. Even diet soda is bad for you because it contains artificial sweeteners that make you crave sugar.

Overall, water is a dietary tool that can easily be incorporated in your life and make you healthier.

***Statics found on ehow.com, WebMD & weightlossforall.com