Drinking water to maintain good health

Drinking water is hugely important to our quality of health. Our bodies are made up of 70 – 80% water and it is therefore vitally important that we replenish the water we use through breathing, sweating and through going to the bathroom. Research shows that we should drink at least 2 to 2.5 litres of water a day – this is for the average adult and are the safe recommended guidelines, for children it is less. If it is hot or you are working out or being physical then more is required. If our bodies are taking in the correct amount of water then our kidneys are working correctly which means our livers are not having to bale them out! With the correct level of fluids in our bodies we can operate more efficiently and with less risk of illness, infection or diseases.

How to Drink More Water Every Day?

Keep track of your daily intake of water for the first few days, so you can establish whether you are drinking the correct recommended amount. It is important to see if you are drinking less or more and whether your hydration levels are correct. If more then it is an easy fix, if less then you have to condition yourself to drink more. Carry a water bottle with you during the day and make sure you always have a glass of water next to you, at home or at work. Try setting the alarm on your watch, computer or mobile phone to make sure you remember to drink. Try using a water filter at home or adding lemons or lime to your water – both taste better than tap water. If you prefer the taste of water when it is colder, try keeping it in the fridge.

Why You Need to Drink Water?

Our bodies are made up of a lot of water. Our blood, lungs, brain and most of our organs and muscles contain mainly water. So to regulate body temperature at the same time as transporting nutrients around the body, oxygen to our cells and removal of waste, we need water. Water also adds protection for our joints and organs – the more our bodies use, the more our bodies need to replace to remain healthy and protect against illness and disease.

How much water should a person drink per day?

Different experts, tell different stories, but in taking a safe average, our daily water intake should be around 2.5 litres of water per day for an adult increasing during hotter weather and periods of physical activity and for kids, 1.5 to 2 litres per day. Energy levels and powers of concentration will increase and improve significantly with increase water intake.

Differences in drinking water?

Safe drinking water comes in many forms – tap water (faucet) is just that, water from your tap. It will contain various man-made chemicals to preserve and cleanse including fluoride and chlorine. Of our bottled water, spring water is normally bottled at source, chemical free and contains many minerals which not only make the water taste better but are also good for our bodies. Distilled water is not normally known as drinking water but more for appliances. It has been stripped of all mineral goodness and is effectively pure hydrogen and oxygen (H2O). Again with purified water, it is not normally known as drinking water as all minerals and even smaller contaminants have been filtered out prior to bottling.

What is the best way to clean polluted water?

Our drinking water quality is of utmost importance to our bodies, filtration with man made or natural methods will clean polluted water from the environment and increase our drinking water quality. Reed beds are the environmental method – allowing solids to settle and microbes in the roots to deal with toxic water contamination in the same way that conventional treatment systems provide us with water treatment.

Signs of Dehydration?

The first signs of dehydration are our body’s urge to drink more along with decreased amount of urine which becomes very concentrated, dark and quite strong in smell. As our dehydration increases we experience a dry mouth, our eyes stop making tears, we may stoip sweating, our muscles start to cramp, we feel nauseous and may vomit and a prime sign is lightheadedness.

How do you prevent dehydration?

Simply – drink water! The body needs water to function and dehydration only occurs when our water intake is less than our body’s water loss. The symptoms of dehydration range from mild to life-threatening and so invariably, prevention is the important first step in treating dehydration. The young and elderly are especially susceptible to dehydration and so we need to recognise the signs when they occur – preferably heading it off by treating our bodies correctly.

Why is drinking water good for you?

For all of the reasons above (and more), drinking water is a must for maintain our body in top contition. It adds to your body’s nutrition, helps you lose weight, makes it easier to exercise and keeps your skin in good condition. Drinking water also helps with our digestions and helps to flush out toxins from the body at the same time reducing fluid retention. Drink water or pay the consequences.

Does drinking lots of water help you lose weight?

Yes, yes, yes!!!! Our livers have the unenviable task of breaking down fats in the body. Unfortunately, if our body is starved of water, our kidneys cannot function correctly and the liver needs to step in to help. Obviously if our liver is on a mission for the kidneys, it cannot do it’s job properly. I firmly believe that livers are male. They certainly can’t multi task! ;o)

‘Processed’ water is available in different grades depending on the end use. For instance, water to be used for sanitation does not need to be treated to the highest standards and would be regarded as Utility Water, whereas for everyday use, our water is normally softened and provides the best quality water for washing and bathing. This softened water is easier to heat and is therefore more eco-friendly and produces better results from our soaps and detergents.

Our fresh drinking water on the other hand must be of the highest quality and meet stringent regulations which protect us from bacteriological and chemical contaminants.

Nowadays, we no longer need to rely on the treatment of our community water supplies to offer the best quality water for our use. We can make it the best by installing our own filtration and purification systems cost-effectively and in our own homes. Because we can do this as we need it, our water can now be treated to the desired quality without fear of re-contamination.

Tap water – can we improve it?…

Recent research indicates that most of the water coming from US taps and wells is unsafe. Toxic contaminents, chloride, bacteria and chemicals including heavy metals often seep into our supplies exposing us to extremely serious conditions like cancers and damage to other major organs such as the liver. The unfortunate fact is that whatever the source, some contamination is bound to be present. Even our bottled water has been found to contain contaminents and can also contain high levels of chemicals leeched from the plastics used to manufacture the actual bottles. Some contaminants such as chlorine and fluoride have arguments for and against and you’ll have to make up your own minds on them. We cover both sides of the arguments within these pages.

The only real answer is a good quality filter or purification system installed in our own homes. One which monitors the quality of the water we drink and which removes harmful contaminants on the one hand, while retaining the beneficial minerals on the other.

Filtered Water – some of the options…

- Carbon water filters are quite cost effective and simple to install and account for probably 90% plus of all households who are using filters. The impurities in the water are absorbed by the carbon including some of the worst including Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Charcoal filters can remain active for some months with some utilising nano-silver particles as an effective antibacterial substance to promote further protection against some 650 known and harmful organisms in our water. Charcoal filters allow the beneficial minerals which are beneficial to our bodies to remain. These filter will obviously deteriorate over time and especially during periods of non-use and so it is essential to change them regularily following the manufacturer’s guidelines.

- Ceramic water filters have a very slow flow rate which can make them unpopular. These filters are similar to some carbon filters in that they are typically a cartridge system used on your counter top. Ceramic filters are made up of fossil material with some utilising nano-silver and they can filter out extremely small particles to the point where laboratories would rate the filtered water ‘bacteriologically sterile’.

- Distilled water is widely credited as the purest of all ‘filtered’ waters but that doesn’t mean it is the best for our bodies. Much research points to this type of water creating an imbalance in the body’s minerals which can be very dangerous, in the same way as with reverse osmosis systems.

- Reverse osmosis systems filter water through a very fine mesh or membrane to create drinkable water from contaminated or even salt seawater. This process again is very slow but it creates a very pure water without the healthy minerals needed for our bodies to flourish.

- UV radiation systems sterilize water by exposing it to UV light which in turn kills all living organisms. Regular testing is essential to ensure the correct operation of the filter system and the better systems normally incorporate a type of ‘timer’ so that new elements can be installed when needed.

- Atmospheric water generators produce water from air in a similar way to that of dehumidifiers which extract humidity from our air in the form of water. This is then filtered using a variety of filtration methods including UV light and reverse osmosis to produce drinkable water.

- Water ionizers can be attached to our domestic water systems to create filtered, alkaline water for drinking and acidic water for cleaning. Connected to your own tap, the ionizer dispenses water at the same rate of flow as you have grown to expect.

Bottled Water – is it better?

Billions of dollars are spent on water every year and yet research has shown that it may be no better or more healthy for us than ordinary tap water. The big brands which sell for a premium on our supermarket shelves have also been shown to be no better than the cheapest brands. The big corporate producers predict it to be a bigger revenue stream than their fizzy drinks.

What are the main types as identified in the FDA’s standards?…

- Spring water must come from underground sources which flow to the earth’s surface naturally. When bottled, it must also retain the same qualities, properties and composition as the water flowing naturally from the spring source.

- Purified water is either distilled or deionized water or water treated using a reverse osmosis system where the bacteria and and other contaminents have been removed.

- Mineral water can have no added minerals but must be 100% natural as with spring water. The levels of minerals and trace elements must be the same as when the water left the ground.

- Carbonated water contains carbon dioxide gas through a process of ‘carbonation’. This process can occur naturally as happens with Bulgarian Mihalkovo.

Water pollution occurs when toxic substances are washed into our oceans, rivers, streams and lakes from pipework or groundwater deposits. These toxins are dissolved and are either suspended in the water or lying on the bottom. The deterioration in our water quality effects these fragile aquatic eco systems, killing off nutrients and creating un-needed environmental issues.

Discharge into our rivers from sewage works or industrial waste is the largest pollutant sources. In India for instance, only about ten percent of waste water is treated properly with the rest flowing directly into rivers and other waterways causing pollution which is highly contaminated and full of microbes which can cause serious disease.

Run-off from fields used for agriculture is another huge contributing factor to water pollution as fertilizers, pesticides, iron and other chemicals are washed into our waterways. Domestic sewage is also difficult to treat and contains bacteria, organisms and microbes that can also cause serious illness. Although the amounts are very small in proportion to other contaminants, by volume, this ’sanitary sewage’ is huge and creates large amounts of rotting impurities, vegetable and food waste, washing powders, soaps and the like, which create a significant problem in the treatment of this waste water.

The chemicals contained in all the rubbish we dump into our waterways – plastic bottles, tin cans, and household products including those of household cleaners and detergents contain a large amount of harmful synthetic chemicals including phosphates for water softening which have a detrimental effect on all aquatic life. Nitrates are also common in our ‘groundwater’ where chemical fertilizers used in agriculture ‘leech’ into our water systems.

Types of water pollution…

There are two groups of water pollutants – ‘point source’ and ‘non-point source’. The former is attributed to storm drains, pipes and ditches etc which allow contaminants to enter our water in a ‘discrete’ way. Sewage plants and factory discharge are included in this category. You can find a more comprehensive definition of ‘Point Source Water Pollution’ within the US CWA (Clean Water Act) which regulates and enforces a strict code of conduct.

NPS or ‘Non-Point Source’ water pollution covers mainly run-off situations from agricultural fields, highways and roads, construction sites, parking lots and any other ‘non-discrete’ contamination although water flowing from these sources into storm drains would still be classed as Point Source pollution.

Water pollution and the effects on our communities…

Devastation to our environment is a good place to start. Human health and aquatic life are both seriously effected and polluted water cannot be used for drinking, for industry, agriculture or any recreational use. By simply managing and looking after our water and the way that we create waste, we can minimize the amount of water polluting material released into our systems and add some valuable protection to our delicate gift of life.

Removing any dangerous substance before there is a chance of re-introduction into our waterways is paramount. Water treatment facilities in the United States for instance are governed by strict legislation governing the amounts of contaminants that can be discharged. You only have to switch on the news to see the effects of water pollution on our environment!

By simply thinking about what we do and abiding by the regulations in place, we can prevent problems and can protect and save our water from pollution. Most of us would drink to that!

Antacid medications are the primary treatments for indigestion but can cause problems with the digestion and absorption of nutrients, and potentially an increased risk of stomach cancer. Constipation is normally treated by increased water and fiber intake with laxative medications also prescribed by some practitioners.

In this study, carbonated water was compared with tap water for its effect on indigestion, constipation and general digestion. During the 30-day trial the participants all suffering with one or both of the ailments were asked to drink 1.5 litres of either carbonated or tap water with a questionnaire to evaluate their symptoms at the start and end.

Scores on the questionnaires were significantly better for those drinking carbonated water than for those dranking tap water.

For the whole story… Bastyr Centre for Natural Health

Toxins including pesticides, herbicides, prescription drugs, lead and chlorine plus chloramine which is a mixture of ammonia and chlorine which stays in the water for longer and disinfects for longer but also leeches lead from the pipes are all present. 1 in 5 Americans already receive their supplies treated this way.

Activated carbon block filters seem to be the way to go.

To read the whole story…EzineArticles.com

Our health is affected by the water we use in our daily lives for drinking, cooking, personal care, general cleansing and sanitation. This Ionized Alkaline water is said to taste wonderful, is oxygen-rich and contains anti-oxidants with no free radicals.

To read the whole story….BetterNetworker.com

It is estimated that between 60% and 80% of all cancers originate from the environment. However, we tend to overlook the benefits of drinking water that can help protect us from cancer – namely water that contains total dissolved solids (TDS), hardness, and pH. Drinking water with higher amounts of TDS and hardness results in lower heart disease and cancer mortality rates.

Of more than 700 brands of bottled water available in the US, around 80% are processed. Purchase only bottled natural spring or artesian well waters that come closest to the “healthy water” criteria, or install or use the best quality water filters for the same results.

To read the full story….Fit-Healthy-Well

Even in the deserts where cracks permeate the dried-out ground, where there are no lakes, rivers or groundwater, considerable quantities of water are stored in the air. For example, in a desert where annual average relative air humidity is 64 percent, in every cubic meter of air there are 11.5 millilitres of water.

Research scientists have found a way of converting air humidity into drinkable water. “The process we have developed is based exclusively on renewable energy sources such as thermal solar collectors and photovoltaic cells, which makes this method completely energy-autonomous. It will therefore function in regions where there is no electrical infrastructure,” says Siegfried Egner, head of department at the IGB.

The concept is suitable for various sizes of installation, from single-person units to plants supplying water to entire hotels.

To read the full story click here…: Science Daily

The water filtration capabilities of these reed beds allow solids to settle and microbes in the roots to deal with water contamination in the same way that conventional treatment systems do.

The planting excercise has been welcomed by Bassenthwaite Lake Restoration Programme bosses who feel that their aim to improve water quality, will certainly be boosted by this green solution.

To read the full story click here…. BBC News Channel