THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER

You need water to regulate body temperature and to provide the means for nutrients to travel to your organs and tissues. Water also helps transport oxygen to your cells, removes waste and protects your joints and organs. Dehydration occurs when you lose more water than you take in. You lose water trough urination respiration, and by sweating, and you lose more water when you're active than when you're sedentary. Diuretics such as caffeine pills, certain medications and alcohol may increase the amount of water your body loses. Lost fluids must be replaced by the fluids in the foods you eat and the beverages you drink. Symptoms of mild dehydration include thirst, pains in joints and muscles, headaches and constipation. A strong odor to your urine, along with a yellow or amber color, may also indicate dehydration. How much water do I need? The foods you eat supply about 20 percent of the water you need. The rest comes from the beverages you drink. One method of determining you need for water is by taking your weight in pounds and dividing that number in half. This gives you approximately the number of ounces you should drink each day.