Do You Drink Enough Water or Are Some of Your Health Problems Caused by Chronic Dehydration?

We all take in water from fruit, vegetables and other foods and most of us drink tea, coffee, juice or other drinks that give our bodies water. It's easy to become dehydrated though and low-level, chronic dehydration is bad for our health.

If you exercise a lot, drink alcohol regularly, live in a hot country or keep your home heated to a high temperature you may not always be as well hydrated as you need to be for optimum health. In addition, as people age their thirst reflex becomes weaker. You cannot entirely rely on thirst to tell you when you need to drink more water.

Here are eight good reasons to drink plenty of water - every day.

Our blood is comprised of 80% water. We need water every day in order to form new and healthy blood cells.

Our bones are over 50% water. That water needs to be constantly replenished.

Our lymphatic system drains potentially dangerous waste from our body tissues. To work effectively, it needs water.

Water helps regulate the functioning of our brain and nervous system.

Water helps to maintain the delicate balance our body temperature.

Water also plays a key role in eliminating waste from our bodies through the kidneys, bladder and intestines.

Water is essential to lubricate and protect joints and reduce joint pain. Cartilage and synovial fluid help cushion joints against wear and tear. They need water.
(A friend of mine says pain from arthritis in several joints has quite dramatically diminished since he consciously started drinking more water each day.)

Water regulates our metabolism, governing the release of energy from food and the functioning of muscles and organs.