Pass the water, please.

Facts about water:

• 97% of all the earths water is in the oceans leaving only 3% consumable for humans.


• Our body's are made up of approximately 70% water.


• By the time you feel thirsty, your body has already lost up to 1% of its total water.


• Water aids in digestion, respiration and thermoregulation.


• Water helps to flush out debris (dead/injured blood cells) and waste out of joints and organs via urine and sweat.

How much water should I drink daily?

The jury was out on the old 8x8 myth and ruled that it is indeed just that...a myth. Turns out, everybody's body is different. While some of us do indeed need those 64 oz daily, others of us are filling our daily water quota via alternate sources such as foods and tea.

The best way to judge whether you are getting enough agua is taking a gander at your urine. If it is emitting an odor or looking similar to the apple juice your kiddo drinks, then it is likely that you need to up your intake.

Can drinking water help me lose weight?

The short answer is no. The less short answer is that substituting water for sugary beverages such as soda can help you cut down on ingesting processed sugars which can lend to weight gain.

Maintaining an adequate intake of water is important for the health of your organs, joints and muscles by helping to transport much needed oxygen to these vital body parts.

Water is an important part of your journey towards a healthy lifestyle. If you are increasing your exercise, then you are probably sweating more and need to ingest more water to compensate for the loss.

How do I know if I am dehydrated?

Subtle signs of dehydration include chapped lips, headaches and dry skin. If the problem persists, it can lead to loss of concentration, constipation and fatigue. If it becomes chronic, it can lead to more severe health problems such as kidney stones.

You can drink too much water, known as water intoxication. It is a condition where an individual consumes an abundance of H2O, leading to a swelling and--if it is severe enough, bursting of cells. This swelling of cells can cause a loss of sodium which will manifest itself in the form of nausea, swelling and dizziness. If the condition is severe enough, it can lead to fatality, however the cases are few and far between.

If you are an athlete or participating in endurance sports, it is important to up your consumption of water to balance out your volume of sweat. If you are at it for longer than one hour, add electrolytes to help balance your carbs, sodium and water levels. Try consuming the unsweetened kind such as Pedialyte to avoid artificial coloring or sugars.

Is bottled water better than tap water?

Not necessarily. Some bottled waters come from the same source as the water you use daily to brush your teeth. On top of it all, the plastic bottles from bottled water are rapidly filling up our landfills and increasing our dependence on oil for their production.

In most cases, the water running from your tap is safe to drink, but you should do your research first. Contact your water company and ask for an annual report containing notices of violations in your supply. You can also obtain a home test kit which will tell you what contaminants are lurking around in your water. If you are still not impressed with what you find, water filters can often do the trick to remove some contaminants such as lead.

So how much are you getting daily? Do you find that you forget to drink water throughout the day and end up drinking a ton at night, causing frequent am-I-dreaming, I-just-tripped-over-the-dog trips to the bathroom at night (not that I do that!)??