In any stress management regime, the emphasis on water intake is always mentioned. But why is water so important? What happens if we don’t take in the standard eight-ounce glasses every day? Is it really going to do that much harm? Read on for some important facts on good ol’ H2O.
1. Lack of water is the number-one trigger of daytime fatigue.
2. Seventy-five percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
3. Dehydration has been linked to allergies, depression, irritability, and short-term memory loss.
4. In 37 percent of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.
5. A mere 2 percent drop in body water can trigger fuzziness, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.
6. Even mild dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism and stop the elimination of toxins.
7. One glass of water shuts down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100 percent of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.
8. Preliminary research indicates that eight to ten glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80 percent of sufferers.
9. Drinking five glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45 percent, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79 percent, and one is 50 percent less likely to develop bladder cancer.