If you could accurately assess your body's need for water, you'd probably find that you are at least two quarts low.—Anonymous

All humans come from the water—evolving from the creatures of the sea, bathing in the uterus of the mother. Everyone is primarily made of water, which accounts for about 70 percent of our overall body weight.

Water is essential to balanced health. The body relies on it for digestion, cooling, elimination, and the circulation of nutrients to every cell. Low level dehydration is commonplace, and many people are unaware when this occurs since they do not feel thirsty. So drink up! Eight big glasses of clear pure water a day is a good recommendation to follow. Don’t assume that you are getting enough water from the foods you eat and the beverages you consume. Many water based beverages, like coffee and soft drinks, contain caffeine and sugar, which actually have a dehydrating effect. More water is required to aid in their digestion and metabolism.

Unless your system is flushed regularly from the inside out, toxins from food and air will accumulate in fat cells (everyone has them), muscles, and joints, causing pain and stiffness and various health problems. Most kidney stones, for instance, consist of urates, phosphates, oxalates, and other wastes that have crystallized from urine that was too concentrated to be excreted as dissolved solids. To protect against this kind of accretion, drink lots of water. Constipation and headaches are often the result of insufficient water in your system. If your feces are hard and small, and sink rather than float, this may also indicate that there is not enough water in your diet.

Drinking plenty of water also aids in maintaining your ideal weight, since water provides oral gratification and gives you a temporary sense of fullness. Some types of overeating may be the body’s way of compensating for the lack of water it craves.

Many urban water supplies contain industrial pollutants such as lead, asbestos, and mercury, as well as agricultural chemical pollutants from aquifer contamination and surface water runoff. These accumulate in the body over time. Consider using bottled spring water that has been tested by an independent laboratory (call or write the bottling company), or attaching a high-quality filter to your spigot.

Other Ways to Use Water for Better Health

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