Often, the simplest and cheapest solutions are the most beneficial for our health.
So simple, in fact, that we often ignore them.
A case in point ..
...
WATER!One of the most important, but also neglected, necessities for a healthy body is an adequate intake of this ubiquitous liquid.
Water is involved in virtually every process that takes place in our bodies.
It is present in every one of our cells.
There is an old truism that a person, or animal, can survive weeks without solid food but without water we are done for after only a few days at most (paraphrased).
Water is, quite literally, the fountain of life!It's a bit of a cliché but I cannot think of a better way to describe this essential nutrient.
I am talking about unadulterated, mineral rich water free of toxic chemicals.
Of course, "Bad" water does exist in this imperfect world.
It is unfortunate that much of the Earth's water is polluted by chemical treatments, industrial waste and household chemicals but pure, filtered water or water from a clean supply is one of the most important requirements for a correctly functioning, efficiently run body.
Apart from drinking water from a glass how else can we obtain it?It's a common misconception that we can get hydrated by drinking tea, coffee, alcohol and fizzy drinks.
These are not suitable substitutes for water.
In fact, they contain dehydrating agents which actually increase our bodies need for water.
Only pure water and a diet consisting of plenty of fruit and vegetables will give your body the hydration every one of your cells requires to perform optimally.
Although opinions vary, and a cursory trip around the Internet will show this, it is generally recommended that a healthy person drink 4 to 8 12oz glasses per day (that's 1 to 2 litres).
The amount you need can be influenced by the amount of exercise you take, the climate you live in and body size etc.
Remember, much of the water your body will obtain will, and should, come from food.
Fruit and vegetables such as Melons and lettuce, for example are mainly water.
You might ask yourself "Is it possible to drink too much water?Well, the answer is yes, but it is extremely unlikely, under normal circumstances, to drink too much.
But if you do drink too much, without replacing electrolytes, you run the risk of diluting the essential electrolytes, such as Sodium, in your body.
Too much water can also lead to water intoxication but this is something you do not need to worry about unless you are obsessively drinking gallons of water per day.
You would have to drink a LOT of water to suffer any adverse consequences.
According to Dr David Katz from the Yale School of Medicine "In general, healthy people cannot drink too much water.
Normal kidneys can handle up to 12 litres per day!" An optimum, daily intake of water is one of the most important, if not THE most important, steps for you to take towards your goal of achieving optimum health.
To be sure, it is too easy to forget, or fall out of the habit of drinking water regularly.
I personally forget to carry my bottle of water with me when I go out and when I do I always kick myself.
Fortunately, it is easy to buy bottled water when you are out but it is generally preferable to get into the habit of taking your own bottle of filtered water with you whenever you leave the house.
Bottled water in certain types of plastic containers present their own problems, but that's for discussion another day!