I think it’s safe to say that the average person at least somewhat realizes that drinking water is good for you. 

But our understanding that water is good for you is where it ends…because we’re not filling our glasses nearly as often as we should. 

Although the blanket recommendation for water consumption is eight- 8oz. glasses a day (64 total oz., and that’s a bare bones minimum), we’re falling desperately short.   

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average adult in the US drinks a mere 44 oz. of water daily, and kids and adolescents only 23 oz.    

Compounding this problem is the fact that our water is becoming increasingly contaminated, so even if you are diligent about drinking enough water for good health, you just might be undermining your health instead. 

Let’s look at what your water needs are, how our water is becoming more and more toxic, and what you can do about getting the water your body needs. 

It becomes you 

Your body is about 75 percent water, so it only follows that taking enough in every day helps make a healthier you. 

Water is the primary component of all your body’s fluids—including blood, lymph, digestive enzymes, urine, tears and sweat. 

Plus it’s involved in almost every bodily function—circulation, digestion, absorption and elimination of wastes, to name a few. 

Even your ability to heal from physical injuries depends on water!  When you get injured, your bloodstream carries its repair substances to the injury site, and that bloodstream is about 81 percent water. 

When toxins enter your body from the environment, they’re usually carried back out by your urine (95 percent water) or your sweat (99 percent water).   

And of course your skin needs water—it’s the best anti-aging skin “tonic” there is! 

How much? 

As I mentioned above, you should be drinking at least eight 8-oz. glasses of water a day, and even more under the following circumstances: 

• If you are engaging in exercise 
• If you are working outdoors in hot weather 
• If you are over age 65 
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding 
• If you are prone to heavy menstrual periods  

Another barometer that takes adult body sizes into account is to look at how many pounds you weigh and drink at least half that number in ounces of water. 

For example, a person weighing 150 pounds should drink at least 75 ounces of water a day. 

It’s becoming increasingly TOXIC 

The earth’s water is in crisis—and that’s no exaggeration.   

Depending on where you live, your municipal tap water may contain any or all of the following toxic substances: 

• Bacteria, viruses and parasites 
• Chlorine and chloramines 
• Heavy metals, asbestos, nitrates and nitrites 
• Solvents, pesticides, plastics and resins 
• Radio nucleotides such as radium and uranium 
• Fluoride—Although it’s been hailed for (allegedly) reducing cavities in children’s teeth, research links fluoridated water consumption to thyroid dysfunction, ADHD, reduced IQ in babies, bone fluorosis, increased bone fracture rates and endocrine disruption.   
  
• Medication residue--Yes, this is real.  When Nature calls for people on medications, their “products of excrement” frequently contain medication residue, which eventually can make its way into tap water supplies.  This happened in the Hudson River in New York. 

Other waters 

Note that there are other sources of water, but they too have their drawbacks: 

Well water comes primarily from groundwater supplies and can be very high in beneficial minerals such as iron, zinc, selenium, magnesium or calcium.  But it can also contain heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides and hydrocarbons (gasoline by-products).  If you have a well, be sure to get your water tested regularly. 

Spring water is the water found in surface or underground springs.  Other than maybe having some chlorine added as a disinfectant, spring water is minimally processed and therefore has a vastly different taste from tap.  Like well water, it can be a source of minerals, but also contaminants.  If you have a natural spring nearby you can grab a sample of the water to test. 

Bottled water can be derived from protected underground springs, wells or municipal supplies. Then it’s filtered through multi-barrier sources which could include reverse osmosis, ultraviolet light, distillation, micron filtration and ozonation. Water bottlers may also use chlorine for purification.  Although it’s sometimes “cleaner” than tap water, you run the risk of plastic toxin contamination from the bottle which worsens with sun exposure.    

Filtered water (or purified water) involves the removal of harmful components of water in your home by carbon filtration, reverse osmosis or distillation.  Below is a chart showing the differences between the three and the types of components they filter out: 

Content	Solid carbon filter	Reverse Osmosis	Distillation
Chlorine	Removes	Not removed	Removes
Fluoride	Not removed	Removes	Removes
Bacteria	Removes	Removes	Removes
Parasites	Removes	Removes	Removes
Pesticides	Removes	Removes	Removes
Solvents	Removes	Not removed	Not removed
Heavy metals	Possibly removed	Removes	Removes
Basic minerals	Not removed	Removes	Removes

So what kind of water should I drink? 

Clearly, it’s preferable to drink water that you either know is pure (through having it tested—such as with well or spring water) or water with some kind of filtration, whether that’s bottled or through home filtration.   

Reverse osmosis can be costly, but it’s truly worth it.  Even a simple carbon Brita filter is somewhat helpful (except with fluoride), and they’re pretty economical. 

You can also purchase a “Primo” or similar water dispenser and refillable 5-gallon bottles.  Many water stores provide options for refilling the bottles with purified water at a very reasonable price.  This is currently what I do for my drinking water and I pay just $1.25 for 5 gallons.  

That being said, in addition to drinking your water, you can also… 

Eat your water 

Fresh fruits and vegetables not only give your body much-needed nutrients, but they’re a great natural source of water (and fiber too!). 

At least half of what’s on your plate should be fresh fruits and vegetables.   

Also, commit to eating one tossed salad each day.  But note that “salad” means an assortment of greens and other vegetables—not a tired old lettuce leaf or two buried under mounds of potato and macaroni salad, cheese, croutons and bacon bits. (I can read your mind.) 

Help your body recover from tap water  

Dangerous substances you take in with contaminated water (including tap water) not only can make you ill, but they wreak havoc with your microbiome too. 

The friendly bacteria in your gut assist with digestion, house most of your immune system and keep harmful bacteria under control.  But when they are undermined by dangerous toxins, they can’t do their important jobs…and your health can suffer as a result!   

A nutritious diet is step one, but since so many other factors (like stress, medications, toxins, smoking and inadequate sleep) can throw off your microbiome balance, diet may not always be enough. 

That’s why supplementation with a top-notch probiotic formula like Super Shield can be so helpful to so many people. 

Super Shield can help your body maintain a health-supporting microbiome balance which in turn will help promote sound digestion, sharp immune function and prevention of sickness and disease.  

Get tested too! 

If you feel that your body is suffering ill effects from water contamination, see your doctor and get tested for heavy metals and other toxins. 

Note that chelation therapy is very helpful in clearing heavy metals and other toxins from your body.  It can be done via an IV solution or with oral chelators. 

If your doctor has not heard of chelation therapy or refuses to test you, find another who will. 

To your health, 

Sherry Brescia