Water Water, Who Wants Some Water

Water is usually the most boring beverage out there but I drink water for most every meal. Most times I'll be the first to tell you I want to splurge on Sprite, Rootbeer, or juice, but the benefits of water are real, especially for athletes like us. There is no room to skimp on hydration.

Here are just a few of the health benefits of drinking the recommended amount of water daily:

regulate appetite
increase metabolism
boost energy levels
less water retention
alleviate some headaches
help reduce blood pressure
help reduce high cholesterol
ease joint pain
decrease in risk of some cancers
less chance developing kidney stones
release toxic waste products
improves skin

More benefits in an easy to follow diagram:
All functions within the body require the presence of water. A well hydrated body enables these functions to occur quickly and efficiently. All chemical processes involve energy metabolism and drinking plenty of water will make us feel more energetic and boost our metabolic rate.

You don't only have to drink all of the 64 ounces of water, you can chew some:
Fruits and vegetables - besides being good sources of vitamins, minerals and fiber - fruits and vegetables contain lots of water. For example, oranges are 87 percent water, and cucumbers are 95 percent water. Milk, juice and other beverages also have large amounts of water. Conversely, dried fruits, nuts, grain products and baked goods generally contain less water.