Confused about what to quench your thirst with?

Here’s the real deal: The body is 75% water. How about a more detailed look? Consider the water contents of the body:

According to Steve Meyerowitz, author of “Water: the Ultimate Cure,” symptoms of inadequate water intake may be:

Early signs of dehydration: fatigue, anxiety, irritability, depression, cravings, cramps and headache.

Mature signs of dehydration: heartburn, joint and back pain, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, constipation/colitis and anginal pain.

Signs of Emergency dehydration: asthma and allergies, old age diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, lupus, psoriasis, etc.

Having said all that keep in mind that if you have been going for years, or decades, with too little water (and too many sodas) this doesn’t mean that with a tall glass of water you can “fix” this. Being healthy is a lifestyle. Here’s a thought – try drinking more water on a consistent basis and see what happens.

My Pilates instructor did tell people if they were experiencing cramps they needed to drink more water. Several folks who were in the class started drinking more before, and during, class and did not get cramps again. It worked for me too!

To figure out how much water you need to drink each day simply divide your body weight by 2. That is the number of ounces of water you should drink daily. For instance – if you weigh 124 pounds – you need 62 ounces of good ol H2O to keep your body functioning at it’s best.

Keep this in mind as well. When you are sick with a cold or the flu you do need a lot of liquids. Your body needs more than just water to help itself heal. You need to drink fruit juices (be sure they are consistent with the juices that are appropriate with your blood type – this does make a difference!) and electrolytes, potassium and vitamins. One of the best drink mixes I’ve found is called Emergen-C by the Alacar Company. The Emergen-C is by far better than your typical sports drinks that a lot of doctors recommend with more nutritional value. For fruit juices I highly recommend Vruit. Vruit Juice, Orange Veggie Blend and Vruit Juice, Berry Veggie Blend can be found on line and at most grocery stores that have a health food section. They come in blends that match with the blood types and are 100% veggie & fruit juice.

Emergen-C comes in boxes of 36 packets and several varieties. Two of my favorite flavors are Emergen-C Cranberry Pomegranate, andEmergen-C Raspberry, both for super energy booster. The Emergen-C Kidz is a bit sweeter than the adult versions and the vitamins and minerals are geared to kid levels. For extra energy try Emergen-C Super Orange. If you are looking for power for your joints get Emergen-C Tangerine for Joints. Fans of mixed berries will enjoy Emergen-C Mixed Berry High Calcium. I always keep several packets in my purse for a quick pick me up during the day or to add to my glass of water at a restaurant.