We, as human beings, as very dependent on water. We are roughly 70% water and we cannot live without it. In fact, we can go weeks without food, but just about three days without water.

One of the sad things about the Western diet is that a great deal of people no longer drink water. They have completely replaced water with sugary soft drinks, which of course contain enough water but also contain too much sugar or sugar substitute.

The first step that these people have to take in order to be back on track is to give up this silly, childish habit and start drinking plain water again. It has been worked out that about two-thirds of individuals do not drink enough water, which is saying that they are in a permanent condition of partial dehydration.

Water has a number of important functions in our bodies, but one of the most important ones is to flush out toxins. It is worth realizing that if you feel thirsty, your body has arrived at a state where it is crying out for water. In other words, it has already passed the state where it requires water, so endeavour not to wait until you are thirsty before you take a drink.

Another point is that tea, coffee and alcohol (some of our most popular adult drinks) are diuretics, which is to say that they force urination, often more than they replenish. So you can put 250mm in but you may lose 270mm. This is obviously not the point of drinking if you are thirsty

Exercise is another reason why we lose water. In fact, merely by being alive, we lose water due to body heat and evaporation, but while we are actually doing something, we lose water quite rapidly. You might get worried about drinking water before going to bed, but if you can do it, it is a very good thing.

If you wake up a bit groggy every day and have to have breakfast, tea or coffee before you can actually wake up, it might be because of dehydration, not because you have problems waking up. Being dehydrated causes drowsiness and lack of concentration.

In fact, dehydration is a major killer in the Third World. This is not because there is no water, but because the water is contaminated. This contaminated water causes diarrhoea which causes dehydration. It is vital to continue drinking if you are sick even if you do not feel like eating.

It is suggested that we drink at least eight glasses of water (say, of 250mm each) a day. More if you are exercising or sick. It sounds like a lot of water, but most individuals are awake for around 16 hours a day, so eight tumblers works out to only one every two hours.

It is more of a problem to get into the habit of drinking water regularly than it is to really do the drinking, but once you have acquired the habit, you will feel better on a day-to-day basis. It will not prevent you from falling sick, but your general degree of health will improve, because you are getting rid of toxins.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on a variety of topics, but is now involved with Sundance hot tubs. If you would like to know more, please visit our site at Hot Springs Spa Parts