Why We Should Drink 50 Ounces of Water Each Day:

How are you doing on the water aspect of this challenge?

I had never really paid much attention the amount of water I drink before this challenge, but I can tell a huge difference in how I feel when I get at least 50 ounces of water each day.

There are many varying recommendations about how much water we should drink. Two common ones are to drink 8 eight-ounce glasses a day, or to divide your body weight in half and drink that many ounces. Because we actually get about 20-50% of our water from food (depending on the kinds of food we eat), we may not need to drink as much. The goal is to have clear urine, not to be running to the bathroom 10 times a day. 50 ounces is an achievable goal to keep our bodies hydrated without going crazy. Here are some benefits of staying hydrated:

1. Drinking Water Helps Maintain the Balance of Body Fluids. Your body is composed of about 60% water. The functions of these bodily fluids include digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature.

2. Water Can Help Control Calories. For years, dieters have been drinking lots of water as a weight loss strategy. While water doesn't have any magical effect on weight loss, substituting it for higher calorie beverages can certainly help. Water-rich foods include fruits, vegetables, broth-based soups, oatmeal, and beans.

3. Water Helps Energize Muscles. Cells that don't maintain their balance of fluids and electrolytes shrivel, which can result in muscle fatigue. During exercise, they recommend that people start drinking fluids early, and drink them at regular intervals to replace fluids lost by sweating.

4. Water Helps Keep Skin Looking Good. Your skin contains plenty of water, and functions as a protective barrier to prevent excess fluid loss. You can also help "lock" moisture into your skin by using moisturizer, which creates a physical barrier to keep moisture in.

5. Water Helps Your Kidneys. Body fluids transport waste products in and out of cells. When you're getting enough fluids, urine flows freely, is light in color and free of odor. When your body is not getting enough fluids, urine concentration, color, and odor increases because the kidneys trap extra fluid for bodily functions.

6. Water Helps Maintain Normal Bowel Function. Adequate hydration keeps things flowing along your gastrointestinal tract and prevents constipation. When you don't get enough fluid, the colon pulls water from stools to maintain hydration -- and the result is constipation.

(Info from here)