To boost mood, energy and an overall health why not go simple and try WATER !!   Hydration is the key to better health in more ways than you probably think about on a daily basis. First and foremost ‘ hydrating ’ is not sufficient from pop, juice, fizzy drinks, coffee, or many teas (unless herbal and decaffeinated). Hydration comes from WATER plain and simple clean and pure WATER. So why is hydration important? You are approx. 65% water so maintaining that is crucial for proper function Your Heart and Brain are 73-83% water, Lungs, 83-85%, Skin 64%, and Muscles & Kidney’s 75-83% according to a study by H.H Mitchell found in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. Water is the primary building block of cells Water carries oxygen to those cells and those cells then form all the components of YOU …Dehydrated cells lead to issues with skin, hair, nails, digestion, movement, cognition and more Water helps with absorption, digestion, and the dissolving of soluble vitamins, minerals, and some nutrients Water is used for the lubrication of joints so that your beautiful body can move freely and comfortably Water acts as a shock absorbed for the brain, spinal cord, and major organs Water helps remove toxins and waste from the body via urine as well as keeping stools passable Water also helps to regulate your body temperature keeping you in ‘homeostasis’ which is the optimal balance point within the body Mental and physical performance can start to become impaired at just 1% dehydration , which is typically before thirst kicks in Most of us mistake thirst for hunger which can, over time potentially lead to weight gain…remember if your stomach isn’t growling you may just need to hydrate yourself, with WATER ! A typical Male needs 3 litres of water per day for optimal performance while a typical woman needs 2.2 litres Dehydration can present in a few ways that you may want to be aware of such as: Headaches Dry mouth Low energy and mood Weakness Dizziness Constipation Dark Urine If you have been chronically dehydrated for a long time the symptoms can be more severe. Some great sources for hydration other than water from the tap or bottle are: Grapefruit 92% - Cucumber 97% - Watermelon 92% - Celery 95% - Strawberries 91% Cantaloupe 90% - Zucchini 95% - Honeydew 90% - Radishes 95% - Lemon 89% - Watercress 95% Peaches 89% - Tomatoes 95% - Asian Pears 88% - Bell Pepper 94% - Bok Choi 95% Soup, yes water based soups and even some cream based soups can really boost your hydration levels while providing vitamins and minerals (depending on your flavor of choice) *NOTE most packaged soups contain WAY too much sodium and you WILL NOT benefit from these, you may even increase your need for water due to the high sodium content! If you don't like the taste of water try adding lemon, or fruits of any choice to the water for additional flavor. There are drops out there but you run the risk of adding sugar and or artificial sweeteners to your water then. To get into the habit of drinking more water, because it is a habit, start small. Aim to drink 1 pint glass before each meal of the day for a week. Then increase it to have a glass, pint or bottle (reusable of course) between meals. By the third week you could be craving water and bringing your bottle with you but if you're not there yet just stay doing what your doing and try to remember to increase your intake by 1 extra pint or bottle each day until you're hitting that 2 litres a day. Now go get a drink of WATER and take that first really simple step to feeling so much better in no time...drink up and enjoy :)