The sun is scorching, your daily practices are long, and practice drills are taxing your body. So how do you keep cool and hydrated?

Drink H2O, says Barbara Levine, R.D., Ph.D, director of the Nutrition Information Center at the New York Hospital-Weill Medical College of Cornell University. "Next to oxygen, water is the human body's most important nutrient."

Although flavored waters and protein shakes promise to give you the athletic boost you need to kick butt on the field, nothing can replace a daily dosage of eight, 8-oz. glasses of water, explains Dr. Susan Kleiner, the national spokesperson for Brita, the water company. "Without water, there is no life," she explains. "It plays a part in every biochemical reaction [you have]. It's important in consumption and respiration."

Kleiner adds that since the brain is 80 percent water, if you don't have enough H2O, your brain can't function properly. And, if your brain is on the blink, it will negatively affect your thinking capability and ultimately, your overall mobility and agility on the field.

If the reason you don't get enough water is because you don't like it on tap -- and bottled water is killing your pockets -- Kleiner's got a solution: the Brita Fill and Go Bottle. All you have to do is fill it with tap water and let the built-in filter (in the cap), remove all toxins that seep from the pipes. "Now, you can have a less expensive source of fluorine water."

Are you lacking water consumption because you're short on time? If so, do as the Suntory Water Group, Inc. suggests. Develop a "hydration habit" -- drink a glass of water when you wake up, one at each meal, and one at bedtime. And, of course, keep your water bottle handy during workouts and practice.

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