Water How much is enough?

Most People have no idea how much water they should be drinking, and most Americans live from day to day in a dehydrated state. They don't drink enough water.

With out water, we would be poisoned to death by our own waste products and toxins resulting from metabolism.

Water is vital to digestion and metabolism, acting as a medium for various enzymatic and chemical reactions in the body. It carries nutrients and oxygen to the cells through the blood, regulates body temperature and lubricates our joints which is particularly important if you are arthritic, have chronic muscular-skeletal problems or are athletically active.

We need water to breathe and lose approximately one pint of liquid every day just by exhaling.

1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (Likely applies to half world population)

2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.

3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.

4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a U-Washington study.

5. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

A water intake rule of thumb

One half gallon, 64 ounces as a base plus an additional 8 ounces for every 25 pounds of excess weight

Please note that the following discussion is about WATER. Soda, coffee, tea, fruit juice, beer, and other liquids not only do NOT replace the water but may act as diuretics (specificly caffeinated beverages) and increase the need for water. The same goes for cranberries and cranberry juice. Alcoholic beverages will also dehydrate you, since the liver uses about 8 ounces of body water to process 1 ounce of alcohol. The measure for water is in addition to any other liquid one drinks.

Body Weight	100	110	120	130	140	150	160	170
Quarts	1.6	1.7	1.9	2.0	2.2	2.3	2.5	2.7
8oz Glasses	6.3	6.9	7.5	8.1	8.8	9.4	10.0	10.6

Body Weight	180	190	200	210	220	230	240	250
Quarts	2.8	3.0	3.1	3.3	3.4	3.6	3.8	3.9
8oz Glasses	11.3	11.9	12.5	13.1	13.8	14.4	15.0	15.6