Thirsty Tuesday

Water is the most wonderful elixir you can put into your body as far as I’m concerned. Water lubricates the salivary juices so that we can swallow. It transports nutrients through the body and lubricates around tissues to absorb shock, especially protecting the brain, eyes and spinal cord. Water also regulates body temperature by storing heat in the body and using evaporation of sweat for cooling. Without it, a person dehydrates. Signs of dehydration include dry mouth, warm skin, sleepiness, cramps, headaches and dizziness. Severe dehydration can cause fainting, heart failure, convulsions and even death! Roughly 70 percent of an adult’s body is made up of water, and at birth an infant’s body is approximately 80% water. Drinking too much water too quickly (usually during periods of intense athletic performance) can cause water intoxication, but a healthy person can drink about three gallons (48 cups) of water a day.

Now while I’m not advocating 48 cups of water a day (would people hear my body slosh, slosh, slosh as I ran past them to the bathroom every five minutes?), what I am saying is that drinking enough water can do amazingly good things for your body. It will flush out toxins, help you eliminate easier, keep you from getting excessively dry skin, stimulate the immune system, and lower incidences of urinary tract infections. Drinking a good amount of water could lower your risks of a heart attack. A six-year study published in the May 1, 2002 American Journal of Epidemiology found that those who drink more than 5 glasses of water a day were 41% less likely to die from a heart attack during the study period than those who drank less than two glasses.

So exercise your thirst quencher muscles, ladies, and drink your water! It's the closest thing we have to the fountain of youth!


1. “The Importance of Water and Human Health,” Water Education, FreeDrinkingWater.com. http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water-education/water-health.htm.