Hydration comes in many forms

Hydration is an important aspect of a healthy lifestyle. You need to drink the equivalent of at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day.

Water is one of the building blocks of life. Water covers 72% of Earth’s surface. 82% of your blood is water. 55-80% of your entire body is water.

Obviously, you need water to survive. But you also need to consume enough water for your body and mind to function properly. But many of us just aren’t hydrated enough. Drinking straight-up water is obviously a great place to start. It has no calories and it’s free.

What not to drink

People often reach for soft drinks and energy drinks, but the hydration they are getting can often carry lots of unnecessary baggage.

According to Harvard University’s Nutrition Source website, many sugar-rich, nutrient-poor drinks people reach for can lead to many health problems, including diabetes. Anytime you are ingesting a lot of sugar calories, you should practice moderation.

Artificially sweetened beverages, since their effects are unknown, should also be limited, according to the site.

Other natural sources

There are many natural sources of hydration in a balanced diet. Watermelon is 92% water by weight. Tomatoes are 93-95% water.

If you are drinking fruit and vegetable juices, it is important to monitor and limit your daily sugar intake. Be aware that some reconstituted (not fresh) vegetable juices contain excess salt, which is also unhealthy.