This Rule For Drinking Enough Water May Surprise You

Half your weight may sound like a sky-high amount of water to sip, but this magic number could be the key to unlocking your body's fat-burning potential.

Dietician Julie Upton, MS, RD, of Appetite For Health recommends "drinking about half of your body weight in fluid ounces of water (or other calorie-free beverages). Cold water provides a brief shock to your metabolism, raising it by about 30 percent so that over the course of a day, your body will burn about 100 more calories." It may sound like a ton of liquid, but it's an absolutely doable amount; for example, if you weigh 150 pounds, Julie is recommending that you aim for 75 fluid ounces (or just under nine and a half cups of water) a day.

If you're a soda or juice drinker who is having a tough time making the transition to good old H2O, try these healthy water additions like lemon and mint that can amp up the flavor of your cup and double its detox power.