That got your attenton, didn’t it? We’re talking about water – not booze.

Your body is over two-thirds water.

You need proper hydration to carry all the nutrients, hormones and wastes through your body.

You may be dehydrated and not even know it.

Here’s why it’s important to stay hydrated.

Thirst pains are real.

Chronic joint pain, headaches, and gastric ulcers can often be signs of dehydration.

If you are tired, you may be dehydrated.

A study conducted by Loughborough University found that a mere 5% drop in water levels in the body could cause a 25-30% loss in energy.

Allergies & asthma can be linked to dehydration.

Chronic dehydration triggers a histamine release in asthma sufferers that leads to inflammation and bronchial constriction.

Chlorinated water can mess with our digestion.

Chlorine is a skin irritant, pro-oxidant, and destroyer of friendly micro flora and stomach acid.

Lack of stomach acid can cause acid-reflux and when our healthy gut flora is wiped out we may suffer from bloating and slower digestion.

How much water do I need?

The amount of water you need depends on your health and lifestyle choices.

A good rule of thumb is to take your body weight in pounds and divide by 2. Drink this number in ounces of water each day. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, you need at least 75 ounces of water per day.

Janell Yule is a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner.