by Somphorn Thammasouk, B.Sc., N.D. (Cand.), R.B.T.

The general recommendation is to drink eight 8 ounce glasses of water throughout the day, but that may not be enough. Certain conditions will increase your need for water, so use the color of your urine as an indicator to determine how much water you should be drinking. The color of your urine should be very light, almost clear yellow unless you are taking Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), which turns urine bright, fluorescent yellow. Deep yellow colored urine likely signals that you are not drinking enough water.

Other tips: Coffee, tea, alcohol, and caffeine-containing beverages and pop do not count as water. Drink the majority of your water away from meals, since drinking too much water during meals can prevent your body from digesting foods completely. Get used to drinking water when you are not thirsty. Drink water when you feel fatigued, when you are constipated, when you are reaching for food but know you should not eat.

Drink to your health—but water only!

Dr. Somphorn Thammasouk is a Naturopathic Medicine doctor and runs her private practice in Toronto, Canada.