We're all heard about drinking eight glasses of water a day. You may wonder if it's really necessary. How can something so simple transform our health and existence?

Your body consists of 70% water. Almost every part of your body relies on water to function. Water aids the circulation of our blood. It helps us digest the food we eat, and convert it into energy. Water helps our bodies to flush out toxins and acidic waste.

Have you ever driven a car that overheated? In the past, I've driven a clunker car that started to shake and shut down. I remember the first time it happened. So embarrassing! I called my dad, who recommended adding some water to the radiator.

Anyway, I had to look in my instruction manual to locate my radiator. When I found it, I added some water. My car slowly returned to normal. I couldn't believe it! My car was drive-able again.

Water does the same thing to our bodies. It helps us to cool down. Water regulates your body's temperature, much like a car uses water in the radiator.

What about drinking coffee or Diet Coke, isn't that good enough? Actually, it is difficult for the body to get water from any other source than water itself. Tea, coffee, carbonated soft drinks, beer, alcohol, cow's milk, and store-bought juices drain tremendous amounts of water from the body. Some of these drinks are so concentrated that they must be diluted with water inside the body in order to be digested. That's right, carbonated soft drinks, sport drinks or any caffeinated beverage or added sugars actually dehydrates the body.

If you don't drink enough water, you may suffer from chronic cellular dehydration. When your body's cells don't get enough water, they become weak and vulnerable to disease. Your immune system becomes susceptible to chemical, metabolic, nutritional and pH imbalances.

Most people assume that summer is the only time that dehydration occurs. Surely, we're more likely to get dehydrated if we're working up a sweat, or it is hot outside. Actually, dehydration can occur anytime, anywhere, year round. In the winter, we turn on the heating, which makes the air dry. This can quickly dehydrate the body. A number of diseases are caused by dehydration, including diabetes, stroke, asthma, arthritis, depression, hypertension, and cholera.

When the human body begins to get dehydrated, it initiates a drought management system that seeks to conserve water. In other words, don't wait until you're thirsty to drink water. Thirst perception is not an accurate indicator of the need to drink water. If possible, drink a galloon of water every day

The next time you're in the grocery store, grab a case of bottled water. Take water with you wherever you go. Drink up; your body will thank you for it!