Did you know that we should drink water and more of it? But most of us are not and so we remain in a constant state of mild dehydration resulting in all kinds of physical symptoms of illness and pain.

If we know the right thing to do why do we not do it? One reason is deception. Many of us are drinking other liquids (coffee, milk, juice, colas) which make us feel hydrated but they are not and do not have the powerful, positive effects of water.

I will keep this message very simple. By the time you are finished reading this email you will be more sure and motivated that clean water is vital to your health and you will begin to practice the habit of drinking sufficient water, everyday of your life. J

NOTE: This article is a review of an article written by Dr. Don Colbert in Joyce Meyer's Enjoying Everyday Life April issue ( www.joycemeyer.org ).

Water Facts:

· Humans can live for 5-7 weeks without food but no more than 5 days without water.

· Your body is nearly 50 – 75% water

· Your muscles are nearly 75% water

· Your brain cells are nearly 85% water

· Your blood is nearly 82% water

· Your bones are nearly 25% water

Could you be suffering unnecessary physical pains due to not drinking enough water? It may surprise you to know that the number one reason behind headaches, back pain, arthritis, skin problems and digestive problems is dehydration. Doctors report that many of their patients experience relief and even reversal of these physical problems just by starting to drink clean, natural water!

Dr. Colbert explains that when the human body becomes dehydrated, it is like a drought. The limited water supply becomes more precious and must be rationed and directed to the most “needy” areas. Your body begins to work overtime, pulling water from “less” important areas such as the skin, digestive system and joints and redirects it to the vital organs: the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys and liver. Therefore, if you are experiencing skin problems, digestive disorders, joint pain, arthritis or high blood pressure, your first step, before even taking medications, should be to pay attention to how much water you are drinking.

Major Signs of Dehydration:

1. Joint Pain or Arthritis : The smooth, protective surface covering your joints, cartilage, is composed of almost 80% water. Being dehydrated affects your cartilage, increasing the friction on joints leading to premature degeneration and the development of arthritis. Similarly, dehydration leads to back pain because it dries the disks between the vertebrae of your spine, which are full of water.

2. High Blood Pressure : Mild dehydration may restrict blood flow to “non-essential” areas in order to concentrate on supplying water to the body's vital organs. This builds “inner pressure” and forces your heart to work harder to circulate your blood throughout your body. How many of you know that when we work too hard for too long we burn out? Same with your heart: pressure leads to breakdown.

3. Digestive Problems : Every fluid required by your body for digestion, including saliva, bile, stomach acid and pancreatic juices, is water-based. Not drinking enough water interferes with your entire digestive system and may be the major culprit behind such pains as heartburn, indigestion, constipation, hemorrhoids, ulcers and even weight loss.

Why Should You Drink Water?

1. Lose Weight : If you have been struggling to lose weight, dehydration could be the reason. Dehydration triggers your body to secrete the hormone aldosterone, which triggers water retention. As you increase your water intake, your body will begin to release stored water reserves and you may lose 2 – 5 pounds of retained water!

Also, water will clean your system, flushing out toxins that interfere with weight loss.

2. Speed your metabolism : More water will improve digestive function and metabolic burn power.

3. Curb your appetite : Water will make you feel fuller.

4. Improve your memory : Your brain is constantly active and thus requires much water to sustain this high level of energy output. Dehydration will cause mental fatigue and slow-down of thought processes and their efficiency. What you may keep referring to as a “senior moment” may be your body saying, “water please”!

5. Slow the Aging Process : High levels of water are critical for the balance of water inside each cell of your body. When you are dehydrated, water leaves the cell creating an imbalance leading to cell deterioration and death, also know as the “aging” process. So, put your credit card back in your wallet and the expensive cream back on the shelf and reach instead for a bottle of water!

Water: Your Free Prescription to Better Health!

Unfortunately, we don't believe in “free” things. Don't get me wrong, we like them, we just don't believe they work. We associate the effectiveness of a thing with high price. But, as the cliché goes: the best things in life are free. And this could not be truer than with water. So, do yourself and your loved ones a favor. Take this simple, free, step to improve your health, appearance and well-being:

Drink at least 1 ounce of water for every 2 pounds of body weight.*

Replenish your body with that which it requires most, and you will not have to spend your money trying the latest medications, expensive creams and other “band-aid” solutions. Just think: you may never get another headache again! Drink up! To your health! J

*Example: 150 pound person should drink a minimum of 10, 8-ounce cups of water, daily. (150 / 2 = 75 pounds / 8 ounces = 9.37 cups ~ 10 cups)

Past Newsletters:

July 24 - Learn to Slow Down

July 31 - Get Motivated

August 7 - Fire up your Metabolism!

August 21 - Code Red - Stress Alert

September 4 - 6 Real Ways to De-stress!

September 18 - All Carbs Are Not Created Equal!

October 2, 2006 – Is Your Protein Powerful Or Pitiful?

October 16, 2006 – Fat: Fact or Fiction?

November 13, 2006 - 5 Life-Changing Principles of Eating

November 29, 2006 – Reprogram Yourself For 2007

December 11, 2006 – Make IT Doable & You Will Do It!

January 8, 2007 – Count it ALL…Joy!

January 22, 2007 – Tri Something New!

February 5, 2007 – The Power of a “Meaningful” Touch!

February 19, 2007 – The Anatomy Of Life!

March 5, 2007 – Organics: Go or No-go?

March 19, 2007 – Spring Cleaning!