During the most hot and humid months, the longest a person can survive without water is as few as two days, and that's if you are in good health! We need to remember that we are losing water all day long—through urination, defecation, respiration, and perspiration. Even relatively sedentary people lose water through their skin from ordinary expenditures of energy. This means our bodies are in a constant flux of dehydration/rehydration. We must always match what we are letting out with what we are taking in. We recommend 8 to 12 eight-ounce servings of water a day. But this is only a guide. Listen to your body! Many factors—a hard workout, too much caffeine, a humid or windy day—can dehydrate the body quickly, and may require that you increase your daily intake.

Every system in the body is designed to flow (blood flow, lympahtic flow, air flow, digestion, etc.). Stagnation equals disease. Your body is 75% water if you are chronically dehydrated your body systems like blood cannot flow properly due to inadequate blood volume. Many people are medicating symptoms (joint pain, headaches, blood pressure issues, etc.) that are simply your body crying for water.

The sight test
If your urine is uncolored or if it looks like lemonade, you're well hydrated. If it looks like Mountain Dew or Orange Juice, it's time to drink some water! (Note: certain vitamins and medicines can change the color of urine.)

Remembering to Drink—Tips

Many of us would like to drink more water, but we get busy and forget. Here are a few tips for keeping “water on the brain”:

•  Include a glass of water in your morning rituals. At home leave an empty glass near the sink or toaster to remind you.

•  Bring a water bottle with you to work or when traveling in the car, and put it in a prominent place where it is a constant reminder.

•  Set an alarm on your wristwatch or computer to remind you to drink at set times of the day.

•  Whenever you take a break from your work, begin it with a glass of water.

•  Put a sign on your refrigerator that says: HAVE YOU HAD YOUR 8-12 GLASSES TODAY?

•  Make a point of drinking a glass of water with every meal, and before and after your workouts.

•  When you are about to reach for that second cup of coffee of the day or a sugary soft drink, open up a bottled water instead.

•  When ever you feel hungry have a glass of water.

•  Start a new glass every hour you are awake and drink it within the next hour up to 2 hours prior to bedtime.

F. Batmanghelidj, M.D., Water: For Health for Healing, for Life (New York: time Warner Group, 2003), p. 85