s food plays a very important role for our body-mind quality, water is also equally important for us to lead a stress free healthy life. Most of us believe that we feel thirsty whenever our body needs more water. While this is often true, researches show that there are several other indicators of inadequate water in some or all parts of the body. Ignoring these indicators can lead to major dis-eases that medicines may cure but not treat. Almost everyone know that drinking adequate water is good for health. But most of us do not understand why this is so. Upto 70% of the total body weight is due to water. Although it is present in all parts, but more in organs such as lungs and brain, fluid such as blood, lymph, saliva and secretions by the organs of the digestive system.

Important functions of water in the body are :

• Necessary for all chemical reactions in the body. Just as water helps a seed grow into a tree, it also helps our body grow from birth to adulthood.
• The flow of water inside and outside the cells generates energy. The energy is stored in body along with other chemical sources of energy in the body.
• The energy generated by the water in the cells helps transmit impulses in the nerves.
• Helps transport the chemical substances produced by the brain that carry its messages to different parts of the body. Chemical substances of the brain are transported in the 'water lanes' along the length of the nerves.
• Water also forms a particular structure pattern and shape that seems to be employed as the adhesive material in the bondate of the cell architecture.
• Water content in the body influences the functions of the various proteins and enzymes that are dissolved in it.
• It helps maintain the moisture of the lining of the internal organs of the body.
• Water maintains normal volume and consistency of fluids such as blood and lymph.
• Water regulates body temperature.
• Water removes "poisons" or "toxins" from the body through urine, sweat and breathing
• Water is essential for regulating the normal structure and functions of the skin.

The body looses about four litres of water every day. It is therefore necessary to replenish this volume by drinking at least the equivalent amount of water every day. Inadequate intake of water can lead to dehydration. It is desirable that you drink water on empty stomach or three hours after food and one to one and half hours before food.

One of the way to ensure you are drinking adequate quantity of water is to observe the colour of your urine. If it is clear, it means that all parts of your body are hydrated. Yellowish tint in the urine indicates that the kidneys have to work harder to remove the waste products because of inadequate water in the blood.

Water intake properly has had good results in cases of Dyspepsia, Joint Pains, High Blood Pressure/Cholestrol, Obesity, Asthma and Allergies, Diabetes, etc.