<To & Liane] Are you drinking enough water?

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Hi ,

I bid you a very warm welcome and big Hugs to you & to you, (((Liane))), for inviting you.

Thanks so much, for all your Health articles...very clear, precise & concise!

With Deepest Respect,

Alice

----- Original Message -----

From: the Dharmacist

Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 10:26 PM

Subject: [] Are you drinking enough water?

Are you drinking enough water?So why is water so important?Water is vital in order for our bodies to function; it lubricates eyesand joints, flushes out toxins and waste, and keeps our skin healthy.Our bodies contain a large amount of water; in fact about two-thirdsof our body weight is water. However, we need it all - losing just onepercent of our body weight due to fluid loss can cause dehydration andany more than that can lead to serious medical complications. Andremember we're constantly losing water, by sweating or urinating, soby drinking we're keeping our supplies topped up.How can I tell if I'm dehydrated?The easiest way to is to look at the colour of your urine. If it'spale you're probably ok, if it's any darker than the colour of straw,you're probably not drinking enough.Symptoms of dehydration include headaches, loss of concentration andtiredness, dry eyes and skin. Ongoing dehydration can cause problemswith, among other things, your kidneys, liver, joints and muscles.Many people are unaware that they're dehydrated; they've simple becomeused to not feeling 100 per cent. If you ever feel thirsty, you'reprobably dehydrated. You should drink throughout the day, rather thanwhen your body cries out for liquid.From a vanity point of view - hydrated skin looks younger as itsplumper; dehydrated skin looks sallow, saggy and older. Just bydrinking more water you could look years younger!How much do we need?The Food Standards Agency and The British Dietetic Associationrecommend that people living in the UK (or a country with a similarclimate) drink six to eight glasses of water every day. That's aboutone and a half to two litres; or a big bottle of water. Children willnot need as much water as adults.Remember that this advice is based on an average day in Britain; whenthe weather heats up, or you've done a lot of exercise you'll need todrink more. Remember to stick to the daily recommended limit asdrinking too much water can be just as damaging. Too much water couldlead to water intoxication, which can be fatal.To find out a more accurate water intake, try our online hydrationcalculator. It calculates the amount of water you need to drink basedon your weight and the amount of exercise you do each day.What if I don't like water?The most efficient way to drink enough and stay hydrated is to drinkplain water; a fizzy drink only contains about 65 per cent water.If you really don't like water, try diluting it with a little purefruit juice. The Food Standards Agency also recommends drinkingsemi-skimmed milk.If you're also drinking tea and coffee it's worth remembering that thecaffeine in them acts as a diuretic, which means you'll want tourinate more, so drink a little more to compensate. And while we're atit, alcohol doesn't count as it dehydrates you. So if you're knockingback the booze you'll need to up your water intake.How can I drink more?- Start each day with a glass of water - adding a squeeze of lemon orlime to give your digestive system a boost- Keep a bottle of water on your desk and drink as you work- Carry a small bottle of water in your bag with you- Eat more fruit and vegetables - they've got a higher water contentthan most other foods- Drink a glass of water at set points in the day - one before lunch,one before you leave work, one as you get home etc- Have a glass of water every time you drink a cup of tea or coffeeand every time you eatBottled or tap?Bottled water is big business these days. Many of us find that thewater that comes from our taps doesn't taste very nice, so buyingbottled water seems like a logical solution. There are two types ofbottled water, spring water and mineral water. Spring water comesdirectly from a spring - where it meets the ground, and it must bebottled at source. It can be treated in order to meet hygienestandards. Mineral water comes from under the ground, it flows overrocks before it's collected which means it has a higher mineralcontent. Mineral water can't be treated - except to remove dirt and grit.Bottled or tap cont...In the UK bottled waters are regulated so that the labels helpconsumers understand what they're buying. This means that minerallevels must be listed, and it should be clear whether you're buyingspring or mineral water. There are no known benefits to drinkingbottled water over tap water, but if you prefer it, then you're likelyto drink more, which is unarguably the healthier option.Another option is to invest in a water filter. The filtering processlowers the lime-scale content of water, plus it reduces othersubstances that can affect the smell and taste of water; such as chlorine.Hydration tipsFeeling intimidated by the thought of drinking more water each day?Read below for tips on increasing your daily intake and recognisingthe signs of dehydration.How do I increase my daily water intake?Start the day with a cup of hot water with a good squeeze of freshlemon. This will give your digestive system a real boost.Instead of caffeine and alcohol, drink water. Caffeine and alcohol actas diuretics and cause the body to lose water.Throughout the day have water constantly available; keep a waterbottle on your desk so you can top up your glass throughout the dayand carry a bottle of water with you when you are on the go.Create a daily schedule; drink a glass after breakfast, one beforelunch etc. You may want to track your water intake, why not downloadour pop up and screen saver to ensure that you drink enough water!If you are cold, drink warm water instead of coffee or tea which candehydrate you.Ask for a glass of water to go with your coffee and tea in Cafes.Drink a glass of water before and during each meal.Don't forget to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables as these have ahigh water content and will contribute to your daily water intake.Feeling peckish, snacking all the time?Have a glass of cold water when you start to feel hungry. People oftenconfuse mild feelings of thirst with mild hunger.Eat more fruit and vegetables each day. They are good for you and are80-90% water by weight.Feeling incomplete?Your body is 50-60% water. Drinking 6-8 glasses a day helps your bodyfunction properly.Unable to concentrate?When you are dehydrated your attention and concentration can decreaseby 13% and short term memory by 7%. Drinking 6-8 glasses a day helpsto improve your concentration.Are you getting enough?Drink water even when you don't feel thirsty; by the time you feelthirsty your body has lost between 2 and 5 cups of water!A handy way to check if you are drinking enough water; pinch the backof your hand whilst resting it on a flat surface. When you release thepinch, the skin should snap back into place. If it is slow in doingthis, you are probably dehydrated.Another simple way to check that you are drinking enough fluid is tocheck the colour of your urine. The more transparent it is, the morehydrated you are. You should seek to produce urine that is 'very paleyellow', 'pale yellow' or 'straw coloured'.Enjoy doing a lot of exercise?Drinking water before any physical activity will help keep your heartrate and body temperature lower.Like to sing or talk a lot?Drinking water helps to preserve your voice function and quality.Is water a beauty product?Water is the ultimate beauty product; dehydrated skin looks older thanit is.Drink lots to keep your skin looking younger and more vibrant.Looking forward to summer?When the weather gets hotter your body loses more water.You should drink additional water each day to compensate for this loss.Trying to lose weight?Water can help with dieting. Drinking water often curbs the appetiteand it is calorie free.Enjoy drinking coffee and tea?Caffeine is a diuretic and can lead to dehydration and reduce yourstimulus to drink. As a guide caffeinated drinks should not count aspart of your daily fluid intake requirement. Why not drink a glass ofwater with your tea or coffee?How much water should I drink every day?The amount you should drink each day depends on several factorsincluding climate, physical activity and diet. The UK Food StandardsAgency recommends that "in a moderate climate, such as the UK, we needto drink at least 6/8 cups/glasses of water (or other fluid) toprevent dehydration. In hotter climates your body will need morefluids. This means approximately 2.5 litres a day for the averageperson." Why not have a go at our hydration calculator to work out howmuch you should be drinking?Water in food also contributes to your daily water intake. Fruit andvegetables are 80-90% water by weight so are a must in your daily routine.Is drinking water the only way to meet my daily water needs?No. Drinking water is a low-cost, calorie-free way of increasing theamount of water available to your body. It is also kind to teeth.However, water also comes from the food that we eat and other drinkswe consume. Fruit and vegetables are particularly good as a source ofwater so make sure that you include them in your daily diet.Suffering from heartburn?Drinking 1-2 glasses of tap water is a simple and effective treatment.Can I really drink too much water?Drinking too much water can lead to a condition known as waterintoxication. Water intoxication is most commonly seen in infantsunder the age of six months and sometimes in athletes. The kidneys ofa healthy adult can process fifteen litres of water a day so you areunlikely to suffer from water intoxication, even if you drink a lot ofwater, as long as you drink it over time as opposed to drinking anenormous volume at one time.The key is to ensure that you remain well-hydrated but not over hydratedNeed more convincing?Question: What's the difference between a plum and a pruneAnswer: WaterWaterPrune, a slang term for an elderly person, due to the resemblance ofwrinkled skin to a dried pruneskinHave a look at our dehydration and you section to see how too littlewater can affect you.http://www.colonic-association.co.uk/The%20Importance%20of%20Water.htm

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