Why bother with Water? Isn't soda mostly water? I drink plenty of that, so I should be getting my daily Water needs - right?

WRONG!

Each person should be drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day. Soda drinks don't do us any good as the body intakes sugar, color, caffeine and carbon. Just plain water is the best thing for health benefits.

By the time you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated to some extent and need to replenish your body's store. If you don't drink the right amount of water your body starts looking elsewhere for the water it needs decreasing your body's blood volume - causing you symptoms like headaches, fuzzy short term memory, mental fatigue, muscle cramps - to name just a few. Below are some of the amazing benefits of drinking the correct amount of water daily.

Drinking water:

• Lubricates your joints and eyes
• Moisturises your skin , giving you a better complexion
• Helps maintain good skin and muscle tone
• Better sleep and digestion
• Eliminates toxic wastes (helps keep cellulite away)
• Prevents constipation
• Gives you more energy
• Transports nutrients around your body and supports the central nervous system, which in turn reduces stress.
• Normal brain function (having a clearer sharper mind and less headaches)
  

The short-term effects of dehydration include nausea, fatigue, lethargy, headaches and fainting. The long-term effects can be even more serious, including kidney disease.

Bottled spring water has become more and more popular. It's great knowing what you're drinking doesn't have any harsh chemicals in it. Or is it?

"Over the last few years people's teeth are getting weaker and weaker. It's so popular to drink bottled water now that children and adults alike aren't getting the fluoride they need for strong healthy teeth. Tap water may have a bad reputation, but it's essential to the strength and development of healthy teeth." Dr Aka Bartelazo (Normanhurst Ward, Greenwich Stake, Australia - Dentist NYC)

The AWWA (American Water Works Association) comments on the levels of fluoride in tap water. "American water supplies have low concentration levels of fluoride…Despite fluoridation's benefits to dental health, exposure to high levels of fluoride can cause dental fluorosis, a condition which leads to mottled tooth enamel, tooth discoloration, and in some cases erosion of effected teeth to the gumline."

So it seems that in most areas just plain tap water is better than any filtered or bottled water. Take a look at your local water source and check with your local government or community group to see what the chemical analysis is in your area.

"Most large cities in the United States use surface water, and most small towns use groundwater. Some water suppliers buy treated water from others (wholesalers) and then provide water to their customers, often without further treatment". American Water Works association www.awwa.org

Information sources:

www.Aloevera.co.uk
www.livingnow.com.au
www.awwa.org

WATER

"I’ve heard that drinking lots of water is a good way to lose weight! You know, I had an epiphany the other day about water. I think the dehydration and obesity in adults is partly a learned behavior. Have you ever heard a parent say to their child at a meal… “Quit drinking & start eating!!” I’ve made a conscious choice in my family to never “force” my kids to eat. I try to get them to eat a variety of foods and I let them drink as much milk & water, as they want to. We have snacks during the day & they know that if they don’t eat at a meal when I offer them food they have to wait until everybody else snacks/eats again (no snacks between snacks!) I’ve never been much of a drinker period so it’s hard for me to drink much but it is important (especially while I’m nursing Hyrum-my 5mo. old son) so I force myself to drink. But, I just came up with a way to make sure I get enough to drink…I fill a 64 oz container with water & try to drink 1/2 of it in a day. I find that having it sitting out on the counter is a reminder to drink & it makes it easier." (By Maria Castaneda, Kalamath Falls, OR, special to Mormonchic.com)

FACTS ABOUT WATER

• 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
• In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.
• Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.
• One glass of water shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.
• Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
• Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.
• A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory,
  trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a
  printed page.
• Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.