Thank goodness this hot summer is finally coming to an end. Now is the time for taking care of your beer belly, rough skin, and unbalanced diet.

But do we really need all that expensive "all natural" "healthy" stuff and that hefty exercise equipment? Of course, that membership to the new gym you signed up for is a great thing to use to keep healthy but there's a cheaper easier way to better health. Can you guess?

In this month's issue, I'll show you the cheapest healthiest habit you can start... it's just simply drinking a ton of water. Forget the lists of nutrients and enjoy this peek into the mysterious power of water!

Why should we drink more water?

Water is needed for all body functions. Some water intake is always needed to balance the water lost due to normal body functions. When your body hasn't had a sufficient amount of water, one sign is obvious, "thirst". However, when your body needs water, it's long before you feel thirsty. Anyway, drinking "more" water than you think you need, has many healthy benefits.

Here are some of the benefits. Endocrine and exocrine gland function improves Embolism, which can end up as heart or brain infarction, is prevented Fluid retention is alleviated, as stored water is lost Kidney function improves and urinary tract infections, such as cystitis, is alleviated by the increase in urinary flow Regular bowel movements without constipation Waste products in the body are easily flushed out Drinking enough water lessens hunger almost overnight

Drinking more water keeps the fat away

Let's suppose you're on a diet. Now you watch your diet, and do a lot of exercises. You're expecting your fat to be b�rning. But what exactly burns the fat? The answer is neither your muscle nor your skin. It is your liver. And the liver needs water to function. Without s�fficient water, it is unable to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body.

On top of that, water can help relieve constipation and drinking water frequently suppresses the appetite naturally.

If you are serious about controlling your weight, a balanced diet and moderate exercise alone are not enough. Don't forget to drink plenty of water.

How much water is enough?

If you are of normal weight for your height, then the total required amount of water is 2.5 liters a day. Foods that have high moisture contents also contribute to your water supply. With the food, you absorb about 1 liter of water a day. So it means that we need to drink about 1.5 ? 2 liters of water on a daily basis.

The amount that you should drink should be increased if you are overweight, or if you exercise, or if the weather is hot and dry.

Drinking water during meals helps your indigestion and furthermore, it suppresses the appetite naturally and avoids filling up on extra calories. Bottled water is not necessary. We are lucky to be living here in Asahikawa because the tap water is well treated, disinfected, and monitored to ensure the absence of harmful organisms.

Remember, if you stop drinking enough water, your body fluids will again be thrown out of balance. Don't try to drink it all at once. Just keep drinking throughout the day.

Although drinking plenty of water daily is important, certain medical conditions such as heart or kidney disease may increase or restrict the need for water. Therefore, it is important to check with your healthcare professional to see if you have a medical condition that affects the amount of water you need daily.