Good For You - But It's Tasteless!
Most Americans don't drink enough water. The average intake is only about 3.5 cups of water/day. For optimal health we need 6-8 glasses/day. Insufficient water can make you feel physically and mentally sluggish, cause dry skin, bad breath and constipation, and increase the risk of kidney infections and heat exhaustion. Keeping well hydrated especially when fighting a cold or the flu is especially important.Many people underestimate the amount of water they lose during physical activities, and quickly experience fatigue if they don't replace the water that is lost. Thirst is not a reliable guide. Experiments at Harvard show that we need about 30% more water than what our thirst tells us, and fatigue during exercise can be substantially delayed when we keep properly hydrated.
In health and in sickness, pure water is one of heaven's choicest blessings. Its proper use promotes health. Drunk freely it assists nature to resist disease. Water is best drunk between meals rather than with meals. Taken with meals, ice water will delay digestion.
Author: Winston Craig, MPH, PhD, RD.
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