If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a million times: staying hydrated is key to a healthy body – and never is this more true than while juice cleansing. Our bodies are about 75 percent water and 25 percent solid matter, and the brain is about 85 percent water. This makes water essential to the very functioning of the body at a fundamental level. In fact, water is even considered to be a nutrient – it has a dominant role in all physiological functions in the body – which is why the simple act of staying hydrated cannot be overlooked, and why water can even be used therapeutically.

Just like water is needed to wash our car, our dishes and virtually everything else in our lives, water is needed to wash toxins from the body as well. Without it, everything becomes stagnant, nothing can be eliminated and no energy can be generated. That is why the most common ailments folks face can be addressed by simply drinking adequate amounts of water. Fatigue, constipation, asthma and allergies, kidney stones, hypertension, peptic ulcers, inflammation and hormone imbalance are all conditions that are improved by water. Making sure that you are drinking enough water – which is more than simply preventing thirst – is imperative.

To use water as a therapeutic tool, and for cleansing the body, it is necessary to drink water even when you are not thirsty. Research is now uncovering that the sense of thirst is often an inaccurate signal for determining optimal hydration levels in the body, which means you may be dehydrated even before you feel thirsty. Therefore, it is necessary to rely on water consumption goals based on your bio-individual needs. In many cases, the consumption of water alone is not enough. If there are mineral deficiencies, accelerated water loss due to illness, or high levels of toxins present in the body, it is often necessary to supplement your water to promote absorption in order to be properly hydrated. Water must overcome many obstacles in order for a cell to become hydrated, including the absorption through the gastrointestinal tract, the capillary walls, the connective tissue and, finally, the cell membrane itself. Fortunately, staying hydrated no longer means that you must drink water and water alone. From coconut water to aloe vera juice, here are a few of our top hydrating recommendations to keep in mind while on your cleanse and beyond…

Drink Half your Weight in Ounces of Water: Each person requires a different amount of water in order to hydrate the body, which is based on size, environment, lifestyle habits (the consumption of dehydrating caffeinated beverages), and exercise. To determine the minimum amount of water needed for a day, take your weight in pounds, divide that number in half, and that is the number of ounces necessary to drink in one day. If you are live in a dry, hot environment, consume any caffeinated beverages, or exercise, then it is recommended to increase your allotted amount of water from there.

The Form: Filtered water, stored in glass bottles

Drink Aloe Juice: One of the main features of aloe is its high water content. It contains between 90-99 percent water, making it a hydrating liquid. Aloe contains properties that promote the transfer of water into the cells, by moving water through the GI tract, so that it can be used efficiently by the cells, thus improving hydration levels.

The Form: Pressed Juicery’s Aloe Vera h20

Drink Chlorophyll: Chlorophyll, also known as the green blood of plants, is a naturally occurring molecule that gives plants their green color. Chlorophyll closely resembles our red blood cells, known as hemoglobin, and is virtually identical in molecular structure. As a result, chlorophyll is effective in increasing the oxygen content of the body, as well as the water content.

The Form: Pressed Juicery’s Chlorophyll h20

Drink Minerals: Minerals are important for the hydration of fluids and cells in the body, and when deficient, dehydration can occur more easily. Therefore, making sure that you have proper levels of minerals in the body is key. Coconut water is naturally rich in minerals such as sodium, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium, making it an easy way to boost hydration, and ensure daily mineral intake.

The Form: Pressed Juicery’s Coconut h20