After working out at Gold’s Gym in Venice for over ten years it was not uncommon seeing bodybuilders, and fitness buffs carrying gallon jugs of water around from machine to machine. Over the years we have all been taught to drink lots of water. Drinking water is believed to help your system burn more body fat, improve skin tone, and even expel toxins from your kidneys. At least that is what has been accepted at truth for decades.

Each of these reasons above looks like great reasons to drink at least 8 glasses of 8 ounces of water each and everyday. With all these health benefits, why not?

Not so fast! Two doctors from the University of Pennsylvania set out to investigate the health benefits associated with drinking lots of water.

The results of their study was published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), dated June 2008. After extensive research of all the scientific studies completed on water, the doctors concluded there were no health benefits from drinking lots of water. There was no clinical evidence of health benefits from normal hydrated people associated with the studies.

What was really interesting is they had no idea where these excess water myths even started.

Should you cut down on your water intake? The answer all depends how much you perspire during your workouts. It is important to replenish the fluid that is lost to maintain fluid balance, and avoid dehydration.

The reason to drink water is to maintain proper hydration so you are able to workout at an extremely high level. What you lose, you replenish. It is that simple. Don’t read too much else into water consumption. It is not some big magic fat burning potion.

The best time to drink water is before, during, and after your training sessions, that is, if you perspire heavily. Your goal should be to stay in water balance.

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