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WATER THE ESSENCE OF LIFE~
Without a doubt, water may be the world’s most precious commodity. We often don't realize the importance of water on a global and individual basis.
According to the Culligan Water Corporation, "Many experts speculate that the shortage of water could lead to major political conflicts around the world or even war. Twenty-two countries depend on the flow of water from other nations for much of their supply. Often, river basins are shared by nations hostile to each other. American intelligence services have identified 10 potential areas where war could break out over water, including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, China, and several locations in the Middle East. The Middle East is particularly worrisome. A recent article in U.S. News & World Report points out, for example, that water shortages in Gaza could fuel unrest among young Arabs, while Egypt is building a canal to divert water from the Nile and its neighbors."
Talk about an important nutrient! Water is essential and without it, we cannot survive. Water deprivation kills faster than lack of any other nutrient. In fact without it, a person will be dead within 5 days.
Water serves as the body's transportation system. Water is the means by which other nutrients and essential elements are distributed throughout the body. Another vital function of water is its ability to remove waste material from the body. Water is a lubricant. The presence of water in and around body tissues helps defend the body against shock. The brain, eyes and spinal cord are among the body's sensitive structures that depend on a protective water layer.
Water regulates body temperature. Our health and well-being are dependent on keeping body temperature within a very narrow range. The human body, which is made of 60-75 percent water, serves this function quite well. Evaporation of water from body surfaces also helps cool the body. Sweat loss that is barely noticeable occurs every day and night. Individuals may lose up to a pint of water each day in this manner. In hot, humid weather or during exercise, increased sweating and losses of water are more visible.
The quality and quantity of the water we drink will directly impact our bodies' life-supporting functions. Proper hydration is extremely important to maintain optimal health.
HOW MUCH DO WE NEED?
There isn't a "recommended daily allowance (RDA)" for daily water intake. Part of the reason is the difference in individuals related to the climate in which you live, physical activity, age, present physical condition, and body size. Healthy adults require at least eight to ten cups of water each day. Often, we replace fluids by consuming beverages such as milk, fruit juices, coffee, tea, and sodas. Our bodies will extract the water from these sources through digestion and metabolism.
Ordinarily, thirst lags behind the need for fluids because a person must first recognize the thirst signal, pay attention to it, and take the appropriate steps to get a drink.
Usually, by the time action is taken, dehydration has already set in and damage may have occurred. Physical signs can range from feelings of dizziness and vertigo to a more serious state where the body becomes flushed and stops sweating. According to Dr. James A. Peterson the easiest way to determine if you are hydrated is to check the color and quantity of your urine. "If your urine is very dark in color and limited in quantity, you need to consume more fluids." The best way to counter the possibility for dehydration is to frequently drink plenty of water. It is also of great importance to make sure that you drink the highest quality of water available to you.
For healthy people under normal circumstances, thirst is a reliable mechanism to indicate the body's need for more fluid. "However, your thirst doesn't tell you exactly what to drink. It just tells you that you're thirsty," says Kenneth G. Berge, M.D., associate medical editor of Mayo Health Oasis. "Of course, billions of dollars are made by persuading you to reach for a soft drink or something like that, when really the best choice usually is water."
You may have heard that you need at least eight glasses of water per day. This quantity won't hurt a healthy adult. But Dr. Berge says such one-size-fits-all answer fails to tell the whole story about the body's necessary balance of fluid intake and loss. Humans normally lose about 10 cups (2.4 liters) of fluid a day in sweat, urine, exhaled air and bowel movements. What is lost must be replaced to maintain a fluid balance. Dehydration poses a particular health risk for the very young and the very old.
Caffeinated and alcoholic beverages are actually dehydrating because they increase urine output, so don't count these as fluid replacements.
ATHLETE’S AND WATER
Of all nutritional concerns for athletes, the most important is adequate water intake. The athlete's immediate need for water is to control body temperature and to cool working muscles. Lack of water, above all other nutrients, has the ability to effect performance in a negative manner and lead to serious complications. Studies show that during vigorous exercise, an important amount of fluid reserves may be lost before you are aware of thirst. Make sure you are sufficiently hydrated before, during and after exercise.
Again, water should be your first choice. For example, fluid loss of two to three percent of body weight by sweating impairs performance. Fluid losses of seven to 10 percent of body weight result in heat stroke and death.
Two to three percent fluid loss in a 150 pound individual represents three to four and a half pounds of body weight or one and a half to two quarts lost water. Marathon runners and other long distance athletes may lose up to three quarts (or six pounds) of sweat per hour. Even exercise in cold weather results in sweat production and requires adequate fluid replacement.
Sports drinks are generally not necessary unless you are exerting yourself for 90 minutes or more (60 minutes if the activity is particularly intense or temperatures are very hot). During exercise, it's recommended to replenish fluids as often as possible. Many athletes think the extra electrolytes and sugar in sport drinks provide an edge in competition. Unfortunately some of these special drinks are too concentrated with sugars, electrolytes and flavoring agents and may hinder water absorption.
During exercise or athletic events thirst is not always a reliable gauge of fluid needs. The best approach is to go into the event with adequate fluid intake. The following are six steps for remaining hydrated during sports activities.
Six Steps to remain hydrated: 1. Drink cool water (40-50°F is best). 2. Plain water is best. Sugar and electrolytes in fluids may slow emptying from the stomach. 3. Don't depend on thirst. Keep your body hydrated. 4. Drink water prior to the event. Two-three cups of water about two hours before an event is important. About 20 minutes prior to the event drink another cup of water. 5. Sip water during an event (1/3 to 3/4 cup every 10-20 minutes). The body cannot absorb more than about one cup every 20 minutes. 6. Weigh before and after a sporting event or heavy workout. Drink at least 16 ounces of fluid for every pound lost.
According to the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), sales of bottled water have increased by 400 percent over the last decade with consumption per capita increasing 15 fold and approximately 1 in 15 household’s use bottled drinking water. Bottled-water companies and public water systems often battle over the relative merits of their products. EPA regulates public water systems. FDA regulates bottled water that crosses state lines.
Public water systems generally are disinfected with chlorine. Bottled water is commonly disinfected by ozone treatment. Ozone is a high-strength oxygen that quickly reverts to normal oxygen. It is a strong oxidant, like chlorine, but does not add taste like chlorine does. The length of time chlorine and ozone remain active in water depends on many factors, including temperature. Chlorine usually provides residual disinfection throughout the public-water distribution system. Ozone provides a residual disinfection for a limited time.
However, bottled water may be in distribution for several weeks and storage conditions, especially temperature, may adversely affect quality. In terms of bacterial content, it is questionable as to whether bottled water is better than most municipal tap water.
Bottled water often is purchased for its good taste. However, taste does not always indicate safeness. At the concentrations present in drinking water, most harmful substances (including some disease-causing microorganisms, nitrates, trace amounts of lead and mercury, and some pesticides and organic materials) have no taste. Differences in taste among bottled waters generally are due to differing amounts of carbon dioxide, calcium, iron compounds, sodium, and other minerals and mineral salts. Differences also may be due to the amount and type of processing.
There are several different varieties of bottled water. Water is classified as "bottled water" or "drinking water" if it meets all applicable federal and state standards, is sealed in a sanitary container and is sold for human consumption. Bottled water cannot contain sweeteners or chemical additives (other than flavors, extracts or essences) and must be calorie-free and sugar-free. Flavors, extracts and essences--derived from spice or fruit -- can be added to bottled water, but these additions must comprise less than one percent by weight of the final product. Beverages containing more than the one-percent-by-weight flavor limit are classified as soft drinks, not bottled water.
In addition, bottled water may be sodium-free or contain "very low" amounts of sodium. Some bottled waters contain natural or added carbonation. The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) product definitions for bottled water are:
Artesian Water\Artesian Well Water: Bottled water from a well that taps a confined aquifer (a water-bearing underground layer of rock or sand) in which the water level stands at some height above the top of the aquifer.
Distilled Water: Water that has been turned into steam so its impurities are left behind and the steam is condensed to make pure water. Due to its purity, distilled water is used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical and liquid drug prescriptions and is universally accepted as a standard for biomedical applications.
Mineral Water: Bottled water containing not less than 250 parts per million total dissolved solids may be labeled as mineral water. Mineral water is distinguished from other types of bottled water by its constant level and relative proportions of mineral and trace elements at the point of emergence from the source. No minerals can be added to this product.
Sparkling Water: Water that after treatment and possible replacement with carbon dioxide contains the same amount of carbon dioxide that it had at emergence from the source. (An important note: soda water, seltzer water and tonic water are not considered bottled waters. They are regulated separately, may contain sugar and calories, and are considered soft drinks.)
Spring Water: Bottled water derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface of the earth. Spring water must be collected only at the spring or through a bore hole tapping the underground formation finding the spring. Spring water collected with the use of an external force must be from the same underground stratum as the spring and must have all the physical properties, before treatment, and be of the same composition and quality as the water that flows naturally to the surface of the earth.
Well Water: Bottled water from a hole bored, drilled or otherwise constructed in the ground that taps the water of an aquifer.
The Safe Drinking Water Act gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the responsibility for setting national drinking water standards that protect the health of the 250 million people who get their water from public water systems. Other people get their water from private wells which are not subject to Federal Regulations. Since 1974, EPA has set national safety standards for over 80 contaminants that may occur in drinking water.
While EPA and state governments set and enforce standards, local governments and private water suppliers have direct responsibility for the quality of the water that flows to your tap. Water systems test and treat their water, maintain the distribution systems that deliver water to consumers, and report on their water quality to the state. States and EPA provide technical assistance to water suppliers and can take legal action against systems that fail to provide water that meets state and EPA standards.
How do I know my bottled water is safe?
Consumers can trust that bottled water is safe for many reasons. The first is that bottled water is strictly regulated on the federal level by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and on the state level by state officials. This ensures that all bottled water sold in the United States meets these stringent standards. In addition, members of the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), who produce about 85% of the bottled water sold in the United States, must meet strict industry standards established by the association.
Is bottled water regulated?
The bottled water industry is regulated on three levels: federal, state and trade association. U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations, coupled with state and industry standards, offer consumers assurance that the bottled water they purchase is stringently regulated, tested and of the highest quality. The IBWA has been a long-standing proponent of additional federal regulations for bottled water and is active at all levels of the local, state and federal government assisting in the development of such regulations.
Is bottled water regulated differently from tap water?
Yes. Bottled water is regulated by FDA as a food product and must meet all applicable food packaging regulations. Tap water is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is regarded as a utility.
How long can bottled water be stored and what is the proper way to store bottled water?
The Food and Drug Administration has not established a shelf life for bottled water. Bottled water can be used indefinitely if stored properly. Bottled water should be stored in a cool (i.e. room temperature), dry environment away from chemicals such as household cleaning products and away from solvents such as gasoline, paint thinners and other toxic materials.
Now that we’ve seen how important water is—how our very lives depend on it, make it a top priority to drink plenty of it. As the well-known jingle goes, "Hey Culligan Man!"
Water is an odorless, tasteless, transparent liquid at room temperature.
Water covers about 70 percent of the earth's surface in the oceans, lakes, rivers, and glaciers.
Ninety-seven percent of the water on the planet is in the form of salt water. Only 3 percent is fresh, and two-thirds of that is ice.
Chemically, water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen, its molecule consists of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen - H2O.
The water molecule is not linear but bent in a special way. As a result, part of the molecule is negatively charged and part positively charged.
Water is colorless in small amounts, but exhibits a bluish tinge in large quantities.
When cooled to its freezing temperature (0°C., 32°F., under standard pressure), water changes to a colorless, crystalline solid (ice).
Unlike other liquids, water expands in freezing.
When water is heated to its boiling point (100°C., 212°F., under standard pressure), it vaporizes to steam.
Water power is of major economic importance.
Mineral water contains a great variety and quantity of minerals (usually a compound of calcium, magnesium, or iron).
The US withdraws 339 billion gallons of ground and surface water a day.
The US uses three times as much water a day as the average European country, and many times more water than most developing nations.
Stay Strong~~!!!
IPL
According to the Culligan Water Corporation, "Many experts speculate that the shortage of water could lead to major political conflicts around the world or even war. Twenty-two countries depend on the flow of water from other nations for much of their supply. Often, river basins are shared by nations hostile to each other. American intelligence services have identified 10 potential areas where war could break out over water, including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, China, and several locations in the Middle East. The Middle East is particularly worrisome. A recent article in U.S. News & World Report points out, for example, that water shortages in Gaza could fuel unrest among young Arabs, while Egypt is building a canal to divert water from the Nile and its neighbors."
Talk about an important nutrient! Water is essential and without it, we cannot survive. Water deprivation kills faster than lack of any other nutrient. In fact without it, a person will be dead within 5 days.
Water serves as the body's transportation system. Water is the means by which other nutrients and essential elements are distributed throughout the body. Another vital function of water is its ability to remove waste material from the body. Water is a lubricant. The presence of water in and around body tissues helps defend the body against shock. The brain, eyes and spinal cord are among the body's sensitive structures that depend on a protective water layer.
Water regulates body temperature. Our health and well-being are dependent on keeping body temperature within a very narrow range. The human body, which is made of 60-75 percent water, serves this function quite well. Evaporation of water from body surfaces also helps cool the body. Sweat loss that is barely noticeable occurs every day and night. Individuals may lose up to a pint of water each day in this manner. In hot, humid weather or during exercise, increased sweating and losses of water are more visible.
The quality and quantity of the water we drink will directly impact our bodies' life-supporting functions. Proper hydration is extremely important to maintain optimal health.
HOW MUCH DO WE NEED?
There isn't a "recommended daily allowance (RDA)" for daily water intake. Part of the reason is the difference in individuals related to the climate in which you live, physical activity, age, present physical condition, and body size. Healthy adults require at least eight to ten cups of water each day. Often, we replace fluids by consuming beverages such as milk, fruit juices, coffee, tea, and sodas. Our bodies will extract the water from these sources through digestion and metabolism.
Ordinarily, thirst lags behind the need for fluids because a person must first recognize the thirst signal, pay attention to it, and take the appropriate steps to get a drink.
Usually, by the time action is taken, dehydration has already set in and damage may have occurred. Physical signs can range from feelings of dizziness and vertigo to a more serious state where the body becomes flushed and stops sweating. According to Dr. James A. Peterson the easiest way to determine if you are hydrated is to check the color and quantity of your urine. "If your urine is very dark in color and limited in quantity, you need to consume more fluids." The best way to counter the possibility for dehydration is to frequently drink plenty of water. It is also of great importance to make sure that you drink the highest quality of water available to you.
For healthy people under normal circumstances, thirst is a reliable mechanism to indicate the body's need for more fluid. "However, your thirst doesn't tell you exactly what to drink. It just tells you that you're thirsty," says Kenneth G. Berge, M.D., associate medical editor of Mayo Health Oasis. "Of course, billions of dollars are made by persuading you to reach for a soft drink or something like that, when really the best choice usually is water."
You may have heard that you need at least eight glasses of water per day. This quantity won't hurt a healthy adult. But Dr. Berge says such one-size-fits-all answer fails to tell the whole story about the body's necessary balance of fluid intake and loss. Humans normally lose about 10 cups (2.4 liters) of fluid a day in sweat, urine, exhaled air and bowel movements. What is lost must be replaced to maintain a fluid balance. Dehydration poses a particular health risk for the very young and the very old.
Caffeinated and alcoholic beverages are actually dehydrating because they increase urine output, so don't count these as fluid replacements.
ATHLETE’S AND WATER
Of all nutritional concerns for athletes, the most important is adequate water intake. The athlete's immediate need for water is to control body temperature and to cool working muscles. Lack of water, above all other nutrients, has the ability to effect performance in a negative manner and lead to serious complications. Studies show that during vigorous exercise, an important amount of fluid reserves may be lost before you are aware of thirst. Make sure you are sufficiently hydrated before, during and after exercise.
Again, water should be your first choice. For example, fluid loss of two to three percent of body weight by sweating impairs performance. Fluid losses of seven to 10 percent of body weight result in heat stroke and death.
Two to three percent fluid loss in a 150 pound individual represents three to four and a half pounds of body weight or one and a half to two quarts lost water. Marathon runners and other long distance athletes may lose up to three quarts (or six pounds) of sweat per hour. Even exercise in cold weather results in sweat production and requires adequate fluid replacement.
Sports drinks are generally not necessary unless you are exerting yourself for 90 minutes or more (60 minutes if the activity is particularly intense or temperatures are very hot). During exercise, it's recommended to replenish fluids as often as possible. Many athletes think the extra electrolytes and sugar in sport drinks provide an edge in competition. Unfortunately some of these special drinks are too concentrated with sugars, electrolytes and flavoring agents and may hinder water absorption.
During exercise or athletic events thirst is not always a reliable gauge of fluid needs. The best approach is to go into the event with adequate fluid intake. The following are six steps for remaining hydrated during sports activities.
Six Steps to remain hydrated: 1. Drink cool water (40-50°F is best). 2. Plain water is best. Sugar and electrolytes in fluids may slow emptying from the stomach. 3. Don't depend on thirst. Keep your body hydrated. 4. Drink water prior to the event. Two-three cups of water about two hours before an event is important. About 20 minutes prior to the event drink another cup of water. 5. Sip water during an event (1/3 to 3/4 cup every 10-20 minutes). The body cannot absorb more than about one cup every 20 minutes. 6. Weigh before and after a sporting event or heavy workout. Drink at least 16 ounces of fluid for every pound lost.
According to the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), sales of bottled water have increased by 400 percent over the last decade with consumption per capita increasing 15 fold and approximately 1 in 15 household’s use bottled drinking water. Bottled-water companies and public water systems often battle over the relative merits of their products. EPA regulates public water systems. FDA regulates bottled water that crosses state lines.
Public water systems generally are disinfected with chlorine. Bottled water is commonly disinfected by ozone treatment. Ozone is a high-strength oxygen that quickly reverts to normal oxygen. It is a strong oxidant, like chlorine, but does not add taste like chlorine does. The length of time chlorine and ozone remain active in water depends on many factors, including temperature. Chlorine usually provides residual disinfection throughout the public-water distribution system. Ozone provides a residual disinfection for a limited time.
However, bottled water may be in distribution for several weeks and storage conditions, especially temperature, may adversely affect quality. In terms of bacterial content, it is questionable as to whether bottled water is better than most municipal tap water.
Bottled water often is purchased for its good taste. However, taste does not always indicate safeness. At the concentrations present in drinking water, most harmful substances (including some disease-causing microorganisms, nitrates, trace amounts of lead and mercury, and some pesticides and organic materials) have no taste. Differences in taste among bottled waters generally are due to differing amounts of carbon dioxide, calcium, iron compounds, sodium, and other minerals and mineral salts. Differences also may be due to the amount and type of processing.
There are several different varieties of bottled water. Water is classified as "bottled water" or "drinking water" if it meets all applicable federal and state standards, is sealed in a sanitary container and is sold for human consumption. Bottled water cannot contain sweeteners or chemical additives (other than flavors, extracts or essences) and must be calorie-free and sugar-free. Flavors, extracts and essences--derived from spice or fruit -- can be added to bottled water, but these additions must comprise less than one percent by weight of the final product. Beverages containing more than the one-percent-by-weight flavor limit are classified as soft drinks, not bottled water.
In addition, bottled water may be sodium-free or contain "very low" amounts of sodium. Some bottled waters contain natural or added carbonation. The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) product definitions for bottled water are:
Artesian Water\Artesian Well Water: Bottled water from a well that taps a confined aquifer (a water-bearing underground layer of rock or sand) in which the water level stands at some height above the top of the aquifer.
Distilled Water: Water that has been turned into steam so its impurities are left behind and the steam is condensed to make pure water. Due to its purity, distilled water is used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical and liquid drug prescriptions and is universally accepted as a standard for biomedical applications.
Mineral Water: Bottled water containing not less than 250 parts per million total dissolved solids may be labeled as mineral water. Mineral water is distinguished from other types of bottled water by its constant level and relative proportions of mineral and trace elements at the point of emergence from the source. No minerals can be added to this product.
Sparkling Water: Water that after treatment and possible replacement with carbon dioxide contains the same amount of carbon dioxide that it had at emergence from the source. (An important note: soda water, seltzer water and tonic water are not considered bottled waters. They are regulated separately, may contain sugar and calories, and are considered soft drinks.)
Spring Water: Bottled water derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface of the earth. Spring water must be collected only at the spring or through a bore hole tapping the underground formation finding the spring. Spring water collected with the use of an external force must be from the same underground stratum as the spring and must have all the physical properties, before treatment, and be of the same composition and quality as the water that flows naturally to the surface of the earth.
Well Water: Bottled water from a hole bored, drilled or otherwise constructed in the ground that taps the water of an aquifer.
The Safe Drinking Water Act gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the responsibility for setting national drinking water standards that protect the health of the 250 million people who get their water from public water systems. Other people get their water from private wells which are not subject to Federal Regulations. Since 1974, EPA has set national safety standards for over 80 contaminants that may occur in drinking water.
While EPA and state governments set and enforce standards, local governments and private water suppliers have direct responsibility for the quality of the water that flows to your tap. Water systems test and treat their water, maintain the distribution systems that deliver water to consumers, and report on their water quality to the state. States and EPA provide technical assistance to water suppliers and can take legal action against systems that fail to provide water that meets state and EPA standards.
How do I know my bottled water is safe?
Consumers can trust that bottled water is safe for many reasons. The first is that bottled water is strictly regulated on the federal level by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and on the state level by state officials. This ensures that all bottled water sold in the United States meets these stringent standards. In addition, members of the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), who produce about 85% of the bottled water sold in the United States, must meet strict industry standards established by the association.
Is bottled water regulated?
The bottled water industry is regulated on three levels: federal, state and trade association. U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations, coupled with state and industry standards, offer consumers assurance that the bottled water they purchase is stringently regulated, tested and of the highest quality. The IBWA has been a long-standing proponent of additional federal regulations for bottled water and is active at all levels of the local, state and federal government assisting in the development of such regulations.
Is bottled water regulated differently from tap water?
Yes. Bottled water is regulated by FDA as a food product and must meet all applicable food packaging regulations. Tap water is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is regarded as a utility.
How long can bottled water be stored and what is the proper way to store bottled water?
The Food and Drug Administration has not established a shelf life for bottled water. Bottled water can be used indefinitely if stored properly. Bottled water should be stored in a cool (i.e. room temperature), dry environment away from chemicals such as household cleaning products and away from solvents such as gasoline, paint thinners and other toxic materials.
Now that we’ve seen how important water is—how our very lives depend on it, make it a top priority to drink plenty of it. As the well-known jingle goes, "Hey Culligan Man!"
Water is an odorless, tasteless, transparent liquid at room temperature.
Water covers about 70 percent of the earth's surface in the oceans, lakes, rivers, and glaciers.
Ninety-seven percent of the water on the planet is in the form of salt water. Only 3 percent is fresh, and two-thirds of that is ice.
Chemically, water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen, its molecule consists of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen - H2O.
The water molecule is not linear but bent in a special way. As a result, part of the molecule is negatively charged and part positively charged.
Water is colorless in small amounts, but exhibits a bluish tinge in large quantities.
When cooled to its freezing temperature (0°C., 32°F., under standard pressure), water changes to a colorless, crystalline solid (ice).
Unlike other liquids, water expands in freezing.
When water is heated to its boiling point (100°C., 212°F., under standard pressure), it vaporizes to steam.
Water power is of major economic importance.
Mineral water contains a great variety and quantity of minerals (usually a compound of calcium, magnesium, or iron).
The US withdraws 339 billion gallons of ground and surface water a day.
The US uses three times as much water a day as the average European country, and many times more water than most developing nations.
Stay Strong~~!!!
IPL