It is hard to believe that another summer has come to an end and that we are fast approaching the holiday season. Although water is a vital part of a healthy routine 365 days a year, it is especially important around the holidays.

Here are a few reasons why your body might actually need more water during the holiday season.

Increased Alcohol Consumption - With office parties and good tidings often comes increased drinking of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol, like caffeine, dehydrates the body, so you need more water. Water can also reduce the effects of a hangover.

Holiday Hustle and Bustle - The more physically active you are, regardless of the temperature outside, the harder you breathe. Since water vapor is released from the body with each breath, increased activity, such as shopping, cooking, cleaning, partying and especially shoveling snow, will cause your body to lose fluids more rapidly. Also keep in mind that dehydration can lead to fatigue, because it causes blood pressure to fall, decreasing the flow of oxygen to the brain. Without enough water, you might not have the energy to complete your holiday activities.

Hectic Schedules - Due to increased demands put on your time during the holidays, disorderly meal times (and even skipped meals) can become the norm. Since beverages are most often consumed with meals, a missed meal can mean fewer fluids for the body.

Fattening Holiday Goodies - With all the great-tasting treats and sumptuous meals around the holidays, your choice of beverage could help keep your cholesterol and saturated fat to a minimum. So the next time you reach for a glass of milk to wash down the cookies, remember that water helps the body metabolize and get rid of fat.

Pre-and Post Holiday Dieting - Water is a key ingredient in most diets because it helps create a feeling of fullness and increases the body's fat-burning abilities. In order to get into shape in time for the holidays (as well as after all that great food), keep drinking that water!

Holidays or not, your body needs water to function properly and to get rid of any toxins inside. Medical experts recommend that adults drink a minimum of eight glasses of water a day.

So this year, avoid holiday drinking problems at your house by serving high quality, great tasting drinking water with (and between) every meal. Make this the season of good will, good health and good water.