In 37 percent of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger. 75 percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated. Even MILD dehydration will slow down your metabolism as much as 3 percent, so drinking more water may provide you with more energy. Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
Preliminary
research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly
ease back and joint pain for up to 80 percent of sufferers. Now while a
general statement like '8-10 glasses of water' is OK for the general
population, I prefer a more accurate measure for those engaging in
regular exercise.
If you are a 120 pound woman or a 250 pound
man, 8- 10 glasses of water is too vague. A 'glass of water' to one
person could be a four ounce cup. To another person it might mean a
sixteen ounce glass. A much better and more precise rule of thumb is
.5-.6 ounces of water for each pound of bodyweight. So a 140 pound
woman who exercises consistently should be taking in about 70 ounces of
water daily.
A mere 2 percent drop in body water can trigger
fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty
focusing on the computer screen.
Drinking 5 glasses of water daily may decrease the risk of colon cancer, breast cancer and bladder cancer.
Source: University of Washington study, reported in Integrated and Alternative Medicine Clinical Highlights 2002 Aug 4;1(16).
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