Water - One of the key factors in maintaining health

By Meghan Zbyczik

You hear it everywhere - make sure you drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. AT LEAST. Throughout the day, we will lose water through our breath, sweat, urine, and bowel movement. On average, this is about 2-3 liters of water (or approx. 68-102 ounces). A good rule of thumb is to drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water a day. So if you weigh 200 pounds, drink at least 100 ounces of water. Of course, if you are an active person, chances are you're losing more water the the average person. Up your water consumption by about 16 ounces for every hour of exercise or physical activity.

Water is our body's main chemical component, making up about 60 percent of our body weight. Every system in our body depends on water - it flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to cells, and provides a moist environment for our body. Not to mention it helps to lubricate the digestive tract and get everything, ahem, flowing. Our bodies are mostly water, so this ongoing intake of water is essential to our every function. Drink the proper amounts, and everything is much more likely to work at optimal levels.

Water is the most common nutritional deficiency in the American population. If the water content drops in our body by as little as 2% it will cause fatigue. Drops of 10% will cause significant health problems with our:
Digestive, Cardiovascular, Immune and Musculoskeletal Systems. Losses greater than 10% can result in death.

What happens when I don't drink enough water? When our intake of water isn't equal to the amount we are losing, we can experience dehydration. Signs of dehydration include:

Early Signs
Fatigue
Anxiety
Irritability
Depression
Cravings
Cramps
Headaches

Mature Signs
Heartburn
Joint Pain
Back Pain
Migraines
Fibromyalgia
Constipation
Colitis

And don't wait until you are thirsty to drink water - by this time our body is already slightly dehydrated. Prevention is the best medicine!

Avoid diuretic beverages they dehydrate
-Coffee
-Soda
-Alcoholic Beverages
-Packaged Fruit Juices
-Caffeinated Teas

If you drink an 8 oz. diuretic beverage, add 12-16 ounces of water to you daily intake.

Make sure to get adequate electrolytes.
-Electrolyte Solutions
-Unrefined Sea Salt

Also, make sure you're drinking good water. Bottled spring water and filtered water are both good options. Don't drink tap water! This should be avoided because it contains chlorine and may contain fluoride; toxic substances that, with ongoing consumption, can have dire consequences for the body. Also, stay away from distilled water because it has the wrong ionization, pH, polarization and oxidation potentials, and can drain your body of necessary minerals.

Finally, drink water at room temperature if possible. Ice-cold water can harm the delicate lining of your stomach. And don't drink that water bottle that's been sitting in your car for a week - the heat from the sun makes the plastic bottle leak toxins into your water. Try a reusable water bottle to help reduce your eco-footprint, as well.