WATER: THE SIP OF LIFE.

Water is one of the pillars of good nutrition. Though it has no calories or nutritive value by itself, all the nutrition is transported all over the body due to water. It is the carrier of health.

Water is the major component of saliva. It is vital for optimal digestive functioning.

Water is a solvent for many nutrients.

Water is present in fluid that surrounds the joint. Water keeps the cushion like pads around bones of joint supple.

Water regulates the body temperature through perspiration.

Water helps in eliminating waste matter and toxins and is a natural detox agent. Just as nutrients dissolve in water and are absorbed, toxins are dissolved in water and effectively transported out through the channels of elimination – urine, stool and sweat.

Water regulates metabolism. That is good news for people who want to lose weight. All weight-loss gurus insist on drinking lots of water since dehydration affects metabolism.

Blood is approx. 80% and brain is approx. 90% water.

The best treatment for skin disease apart from medicine is water. Dehydrated skin can never repair itself effectively.

How much water to consume?

Divide your weight (kg) by 30 to get the liters you need to drink daily.

Eg: 60 kg/30 = 2 liters.

This is an approximate value. The need might vary depending on body weight, climate, work environment, exercise, beverage like tea and coffee intake, and other factors.

Thirst is a mechanism warning us the water content in the body has gone down. We fill fuel in our car. The fuel gauge gives us an indication when the tank is full, half full, at reserve, etc. We are thus careful in filling up the tank to avoid a breakdown on a busy street. But thirst is an indication when the water reserve in our body is at reserve level. There is no indication of half full; thirst is the first symptom of dehydration. Keep sipping water throughout the day; you need not drink glassfuls every time. Keep a track on how much you are drinking to know whether enough is being consumed. Headaches, joint pains, constipation, dry itchy skin, weakness, difficulty in concentration might be just dehydration in disguise and not symptoms of disease.

Cheers to the best drink in the world.