Dear Lauren,

I was told by a diet instructor that I shouldn't eat watermelon because there's too much fat. Is that true?

Dear Sheryl,

Absolutely NOT true !!! Watermelon is 92 percent water. Per cup, it provides 50 calories and 0.68 gram of fat. Compare this with an average size apple, which, with the skin, provides 81 calories and 0.5 gram of fat.

Watermelon is high in beta-carotene, vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium. These are vital nutrients, making watermelon healthy calories rather than empty ones. Watermelon is a natural diuretic, stimulating urine flow. Ground watermelon seeds have been used through the ages as an herbal diuretic and kidney cleanser. The seeds can also be roasted and eaten like sunflower seeds.

Given that watermelon is 92 percent water, it is extremely satisfying in hot weather. Eating watermelon gives you a great jump start on the liquids you need to drink on a daily basis. Your body needs water to run efficiently.

Without hydration your body won’t burn fat---burning fat is a luxury not a necessity. Necessity for body to run efficiently.

YOUR WATER NEEDS

By Lauren Braun

Eight 8 ounce glasses of water may be adequate for a sedentary person, but it's probably too little if you are a more active individual. If you exercise 30 to 60 minutes in a day, you should drink twelve to fifteen 8 oz glasses of water throughout the day. Rather than count glasses of water, drink fluids with every meal, first thing in the morning, mid-morning, mid-afternoon and evening. By doing this, your water consumption becomes part of your lifestyle rather than a counting chore. And, it’s true that if you drink water before you eat you will eat less. That’s because as we go through life, we lose the ability to connect with our thirst mechanism. What we think of hunger is often thirst so if you drink before you eat, you find you weren’t really as hungry as you thought, your body was actually craving hydration.

In hot weather, drink a little more than what you are thirsty for so as to protect yourself against dehydration. If you do drink more than your body needs, you'll pass the fluid through your system.

You don't have to restrict your fluid intake to water. Almost any nonalcoholic fluid will provide you with the moisture your body needs to run efficiently. Without hydration you have no chance of burning fat. And that’s important for every body shape and size. Here are some healthy water substitute suggestions: seltzer, juice, herbal tea, lemonade, soups, skim milk, and even soft drinks (in moderation).