Hydration:

75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. Even mild dehydration slows metabolism, causes fatigue, reduces short-term memory, and increases existing health challenges. Drinking the right water is even more important than drinking more.

Dehydration:	Possible symptoms:
1%	increase body temperature
2 - 4%	typical loss during intense physical activity
3%	impaired performance
5%	heat cramps, chills, nausea, clammy skin, rapid pulse, 20-30% decrease in endurance capacity
6-10%	gastrointestinal problems, heat exhaustion, dizziness, headache, dry mouth and fatigue
>8%	severe, potentially fatal level
>10%	heat stroke, hallucinations, lack of sweat and urine, swollen tongue, high body temperature and an unsteady walk

Water is Cheap Insurance

One of the easiest ways to help the body function optimally and remain disease-free is to keep it well-hydrated. In drinking sufficient water throughout each day, we assist our body’s ability to flush toxins and metabolic waste. Most healthy adults need not worry about over-hydration.

Dehydrated cells are inefficient cells: when the cell is dehydrated, its membrane becomes convoluted and the distance across the membrane increases. Substances that must traverse the membrane of a dehydrated cell are met with greater resistance. Oxygen and nutrients will not enter as readily; metabolic waste cannot leave as easily. When the cell is not functioning optimally, now can the body?

Research has shown chronic dehydration to be the root cause of many diseases associated with aging (e.g. arthritis, G.I disorders, senile dementia). To complicate the situation, our "thirst signals" decline as we become accustomed to being dehydrated and as we age. Don’t count on coffee or sodas to achieve a daily hydration goal. Because of the caffeine in coffee and most sodas, you need to consume at least the same amount of water just to break even. Sugar content in sodas exerts great osmotic pressure; water is lost from the blood to make the soda dilute enough to leave the stomach.

Every breath we exhale is always 100% humid. It does not matter what the relative humidity is that day; generally in air-conditioned buildings , the air is about 10% humid. The difference comes from our water reserves. Perspiration is not always noticed in dry climates because it is wicked away before it can bead on your skin. Even though you may not see it, be assured that you are certainly losing fluid reserves through sweating.

How do I maintain adequate hydration levels?

• Drink pure water whenever you can; thirsty or not, drink a lot and drink often.
• Have a water bottle handy at all times! Keep one on your desk at work and in your car.
• Don’t depend on fruit juice - its high sugar content can dehydrate you just like soda! Mixing equal parts juice and pure water will do the job better.
• Some people simply don’t like plain water; this is a very good reason to use a quality sports drink like Tough. Also try a mint-tea bag or squeezing a wedge of lemon or lime into your water bottle.
• Make efforts to consume the watery fruits and vegetables: watermelon, kiwi fruit, tomato, orange, etc. These can significantly improve your hydration status.
• After a single exercise session (or a nights sleep, for that matter) any reduction in body weight is attributable to water loss: 2 cups of water + one pound.

How do I tell if I am sufficiently hydrated?

The 3 Cs: You will know you are sufficiently hydrated when your urine is Clear, Colorless, and Copious! That is truly the best (and easiest) way.

Hydration levels are especially important for malnourished children, the elderly or athletes. Blood tests are accurate but not practical, while electromagnetic impedance is not sensitive enough. Changes in radio wave absorption measured by a small radio-frequency absorption
device on the wrist can noninvasively measure the typical 2 to 4% loss of body weight due to dehydration during intense physical activity. Average loss in body weight is about 0.78 kg after 30 minutes of exercise, and 1.59 kg after 60 minutes, indicating dehydration of 1 to 2.5%, with a definite correlation between weight loss and absorption of radio waves.

D S Moran et al. 2004 Physiol. Meas. 25 51.

:Surface-Tension:

Water has surface tension because the molecule is polar. Surface tension is an indicator of water's capacity as a solvent and wetting agent. Tap water typically has a surface tension of 73 dynes/cm as measured with a tensiometer. The water around our cells is about 45 dynes/cm, so the body has to lower the surface tension of typical drinking water to help nutrients pass through cell membranes. When we drink fluids with surface tensions below 60 dynes/cm we are nurturing ourselves with water that assist digestion and absorption as well sa cellular uptake and utilization.

Water/Surfactant:	Surface tension: (dynes/cm)
Carrot juice after two hours (24 hours with ionizing juicers like Green Power)	76
Tap water (25�C)	73 to 76
Tap water (50�C): hot water is wetter, hence cleans better	66
Urine	66
Royal Body Care's HydraCel	59
Urine containing bile (Hay test: sprinkle sulfur powder on urine: sinking is positive for jaundice)	55
Digestive juices (drinking water with or after meals elevates this excessively)	45 to 60
Extra-cellular fluid (E.C.F.)	45
Tri-Vortex Charger (double blind tests at Virginia Tech University: Mass Spectrometer consistenly shows 140% increase in oxygen in treated fluid)	44.8 in 3 seconds
Fresh pressed carrot juice	40
Laundry detergent in tap water: hence even cold water cleans with detergent added (reference point, not a remedy)	40 (in 10 to 40 seconds)
Disinfectant: S.T.37 (reference point, not a remedy)	37

"If you don’t take care of your body, where will you live?"

Water

Microwater