The following is one of the best justifications I've seen for increasing our water intake. By the time most Americans feel the sensation of thirst, they are already dehydrated. It's best to drink 8 to 10 glasses of filtered or bottled water EVERY day. Drinking water in between meals rather than at meals is best. Avoid drinking water late at night to minimize nighttime trips to the bathroom, unless you make a regular nighttime trip to the refrigerator for a snack. In that case, a glass of water is better than a snack.

IMPORTANT WATER FACTS

• 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (Likely applies to half of the world's population)
• 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 U-Washington study.
• Lack of water is 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.

Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day?

Source:
Eileen Tramontana
Education & Volunteer Supervisor
St. Johns River Water Management District
P.O. Box 1429
Palatka, FL 32178-1429