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  These beverages are not foods, but most people don't drink the amount of water they should because they fear they'll have to go to the bathroom too often. Let me encourage you to drink plenty of water anyway because this remarkable resource performs so many vital tasks for the body: regulating body temperature, carrying nutrients and oxygen to the cells, cushioning joints, protecting organs and tissues, and removing toxins from the body.

  How much water should one drink? A good rule of thumb for minimum hydration is a half ounce for every pound of body weight, and an additional 16 ounces of water per hour of exercise. So a person who weighs 110 pounds, should drink 55 ounces of water a day when they don't exercise and 71 ounces when they exercise for an hour (seven to nine 8 ounce glasses of water a day).

  Some people think that if they drink that much water, they'll gain weight because they'll "retain" water. Unless there is an underlying medical problem, the opposite occurs. If you're trying to lose weight, you want to drink more water then ever before because drinking fluids both flushes out toxins in the digestive tract and dampens late morning and late afternoon hunger pangs. Drinking a glass of water ten to thirty minutes before mealtime will take the edge off of stomach growls and give you less of a reason to raid the fridge or pillage the pantry.

  F. Batmanghelidj, MD, and author of You're Not Sick, You're Thirsty!, contends that you'll lose weight if you drink a glass of water thirty minutes before you eat and two glasses two and a half hours later. "You will feel full and will eat only when food is needed," he says. The volume of food intake will decrease drastically. The type of cravings for food will also change. With sufficient water intake, we tend to crave proteins more than carbohydrates. If you think you are different and your body does not need eight to ten glasses of water each day, you are making a major mistake," notes Dr. Barmanghelidj," who believes that many people confuse hunger with thirst, thinking they're hungry when actually they're dehydrated.

  Please note that as women age, they are prone to dehydration, so make sure you stay ahead of the curve and drink enough water. One way to now if you're drinking enough water is by looking at the color of your urine. If your urine is consistently dark yellow, you're not drinking enough water. Clear or light yellow urine is the best indicator that you're properly hydrated.

  Don't overlook teas and herbal infusions, which can increase energy, enhance the immune system, improve digestion, and even help you wind down after a long day. I recommend a cup of hot tea and honey with breakfast, dinner, and snacks, but you can also drink freshly made iced tea Please note that tea cannot be substituted for water. While tea provides many great health benefits, nothing can replace pure water for hydration. You can safely and healthfully consume two to four cups of tea and herbal infusions daily, but you still need at least eight glasses of pure water.