Water
The human body can survive for weeks or even months without food, but without water we can die in days. On average our bodies are made up of between 65 and 70 per cent water, though that rises even higher in very physical people such as athletes, who have a higher proportion of muscle tissue and less fat tissue. Water is our very life source and the amount we drink is crucial to our health - yet many of us regularly drink too little. Statistics show that as many as one person in four does not drink enough water and is dehydrated.
We lose around three litres (over 5 pints) a day through urine, faeces, skin and breath. Although we absorb water through our food, we need to drink between one and a half and two litres of water (2.5 - 3.5 pints) a day to replenish that loss. Too many of us drink tea, coffee or other caffeinated drinks to quench our thirst, but large quantities of these drinks have a diuretic effect instead. One study as shown that 6 cups of coffee a day causes 3% loss in water from the body.
Ensuring that your body is well hydrated will keep your skin youthful, your eyes clear, and your digestive system working well. It will also aid in the speedy elimination of toxins from your body and deter cellulite.
In hot weather or when we exercise our bodies dispel heat by means of sweating. During intensive activity fluid loss can be more than 4.5 litres (8 pints) an hour, together with the loss of essential body salts such as potassium, calcium bicarbonate and phosphate. So when it's hot, increase your water intake. Some experts in sports medicine believe that it is a mistake to use your thirst as a guide, and that by the time you actually feel thirsty you are already dehydrated. Symptoms of dehydration are irritability and lack of concentration. Two signs that you are drinking enough water are if you urinate regularly, and your urine is a very pale straw colour.
Tip: When you are tired of drinking plain water,
you can always flavour it with a squeeze of lemon.
