The easiest and probably one of the most beneficial add-in changes you can make is this: first thing every morning, scrape your tongue to remove toxins that have built up on your tongue and then drink at least 10 oz of water. I prefer room temperature. Keep a bottle of water accessible throughout the day, whether you are on the go or at a desk. Having a bottle of water close by will remind you to take a sip when thirsty. The first sip will usually let you know how much more water you need. A sip or two may be enough, or you may need a big glass. If you drink most of your daily water before early evening, you most likely will not be thirsty before bed. This is good, because drinking before bed and then waking to use the bathroom disturbs your peaceful night's sleep. How much water to drink? The easy rule to remember is eight 8-ounces of water a day. If you exercise and sweat a lot you need more! I think herbal teas can be mixed in and do count towards water liquid consumption. Amounts do vary according to your size, but think of 8/8 oz as a minimum amount.   

Why drink water? It's simple - water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues. Water hydrates, enlivens, revives, and just tastes sooo good. Who wants to be all dried out and pruney? We live in a country where for the most part water is clean (sorry L.A.), accessible and free. We westerners are fortunate and if there's one thing to be grateful for every day, it is drinkable water.   

If the taste of plain water is unappealing, experiment to see how you can make it tasty and drinkable. Try adding a few mint leaves, a wedge of lemon, a sprig of parsley, slices of cucumber, a twist of lime or a squeeze of orange to make water more tempting, or to jazz up your routine. I prefer flat water over fizzy, but sometimes sparkling cold Pellegrino mineral water hits the spot. Check your bottled mineral water for the mineral content. There's calcium in Pellegrino!