The Critical Chemical Needed for Survival

Twenty per cent of our atmosphere is oxygen. When this gas is united chemically with hydrogen gas, the result is water, our body's most important nutrient.

Water makes up 70%-80% of the body's weight and helps to maintain body temperature, to metabolize body fat, to wash toxins from the body, to make blood the right viscosity, to lubricate and cushion organs, to transport nutrients, and a host of other things needed for the body's health.

We each need at least 64 ounces of water per day. If you are active, you need even more.  When you don't get enough, you become dehydrated. Then the body takes the water from any place it can, including the blood.

One result of dehydration is that the body closes some capillaries. This makes the blood thicker, harder to pump, and more likely to clot. This in turn results in high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and possible heart disease. It has also been linked to arthritis, heartburn, and headaches.

Some have estimated that as many as 75% of Americans are dehydrated. Sometimes the body might seem to be saying, "I'm hungry," but it is really saying, "I'm thirsty." A drink of water also might temporarily eliminate hunger pangs and help to keep body weight under control by avoiding snacking.

Our bodies take in water three ways. We get it from the foods we eat, the fluids we drink, and as a by-product of metabolism. It is always better to drink pure water instead of soda, tea, or coffee. These products may actually increase your need for fluids because most contain caffeine, which is a diuretic. Diuretics force out stored water along with certain essential nutrients, a reverse osmosis of the cells.

Dehydration is a dangerous problem. Just a 2% drop in body weight caused by a lack of water affects the mind. A 5% drop can affect physical performance as much as 20% to 30%. A 10% drop will be evidenced in actual sickness and a 20% drop will bring death. With water being so important to our health, most people realize the importance of being sure their drinking water is pure.

While a lack of water is often the cause of some ailments, drinking water is likewise also the cure. Problems such as ulcers, stress, headaches, high blood pressure, kidney problems, and problems related to cholesterol are often alleviated by drinking pure water. Just 64 ounces a day of the free liquid have decreased the risk of breast cancer by 79%, bladder cancer by 50%, and colon cancer by 45%.

Perhaps your body is craving water right now and you don't even know it. So go get a glass. But be sure it is pure first. Water taken from the tap will probably have impurities. So might even bottled water. Best is the water you purify yourself through a charcoal filter like the Royal Berkey. You can trust it to help you maintain good health.

If you're interested in not only the health but savings benefits you can receive from purifying your own water, check out the Berkey Filter - the most powerful and economical personal water purification systems available.