Today I want to talk about water. The importance of water in our life.
These facts about water and healthy ageing is part of a tool kit prepared by the NHS for care homes. I thought it is very useful information and worth to share.

Can you name at least 5 benefits of drinking water in a regular basis?
There are many facts about water that will surprise you.

Did you know?

• Water is the main constituent of our body and forms 50-60% of body weight and around 75% of body volume. The exact amount varies with age and sex and also depends on body fat content.
• Water contains no fat, no protein, no carbohydrates, therefore no calorie.
• Water is the perfect complement for a nutritionally balanced diet.
• There are no healthy advantages to drinking expensive bottled water instead of tap water.
• Even in the absence of any visible perspiration, approximately half of water loss occurs through the operation of our lungs and skin.
• If you enjoy doing exercise to burn off fat and keep trim, there is little point working off the calories just to replace them with high-sugar energy drinks. When you exercise for an hour or less, cool fresh water is the only drink you need. A suitably balanced diet will take care of the rest.
• Remember that sugar slows down the rate at which water can be absorbed from the stomach.
• Water is one in the six basic nutrients. It is widely seen as the most important because the body requires it constantly and the important chemical reactions - such as the production of energy - take place in water.
• 10 litres of tap water cost around one penny - that can as much as 1,000 times cheaper than soft drinks, caffeine drinks and bottled water.
• Simply breathing in and out uses up to a pint of water a day. 
• Without water, you would only expect to live for around one week.
• Tap water quality in the UK is amongst the highest in the world.
• Drinking water helps keep the body flushed of waste products (detox!!).
• Strange as it sounds, drinking more water actually helps to reduce water retention.
• We each use around 150 litres of water a day, but national surveys show us that we currently drink as little as one litre - that's around half the amount we need.
• We lose lots of water when we suffer diarrhoea, sickness or infections that cause a fever. It is vital to drink more water then.
• It is recommended that adults should drink around two litres of water a daily and considerately more when exercising. 6-8 glasses of water should give you this amount.
• Being well hydrated helps medicines to work more effectively and helps combat the diuretic effect of some medicines.
• If your tap water tastes chlorine, put it in the fridge or leave it stand for a short while and the taste will go.
• Of the total amount of water on the planet, just 3% is fresh water. Much of that is currently frozen, leaving just 1% available to drink.
• When the body is not adequately hydrated, it responds by conserving its stocks, shifting water to where it is most needed causing thirst.
• Fluid loss corresponding to 2.5% of body weight has been shown to reduce an athlete's physical performance capacity by 45%.
• Water is the drink of choice for protecting your teeth and gums.   

Did it make you thirsty?
How many glasses of water have you had today?