There's much concern about what to eat or not eat but water, an absolutely fundamental substance for bodily function and well-being, is grossly overlooked. And then there's confusion about what is the best water to drink; many believe that any liquid qualifies as hydration.
The excuses for not drinking water vary. “I’m not thirsty.” “I’ll just have to go to the bathroom if I drink all of that water.” “Water doesn’t do anything for me; I will just grab a coke.”

The Institute of Medicine determined that an adequate intake for men is roughly 3 liters (about 13 cups) and for women 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day. Some nutritionists actually advise that just because the average person needs about two liters of water a day, to replace what is lost through normal biological functions, does not mean that they need to drink two liters of water a day. In fact, you do not have to drink any water at all because you can easily get a liter or liter and a half of water just from the food that you eat, especially if you eat lots of fruits and vegetables.
Meanwhile, books and medical-journal articles have declared there's no scientific evidence for claims that "8 x 8" -- eight ounces of water, eight times a day -- can bring a wide range of benefits, from speeding weight loss to ridding the body of toxins, fighting constipation, fatigue, dry skin and hastening recovery from colds and flu. Headlines have jeered that 8 x 8 "doesn't hold water" and "water advice doesn't wash", according to the Wall Street Journal.
So what is it? All this information and misinformation about the benefits and the consequences on health of not drinking enough water, its hard to know what is correct. Let us take a hard look at the facts. Continue reading Water Consumption