Some people avoid making water their main beverage and others even question the benefits.

The fact is that about two thirds of your body weight is water: our muscles contain about 75 per cent; our brain tissue has about 85 per cent; more than 80 per cent of our blood is water; and even 22 per cent of our bones are water. It is important to drink plenty of it.

Water escapes from the body through the skin as sweat, from the kidneys as urine, from our breath as water vapour, as well as from our stool. Hot climates, air-conditioning, exercise, sweating and the consumption of beverages with alcohol or excess caffeine will magnify water loss.

Without water we would dehydrate and this can result in major malfunction of vital organs and even death.

ARE YOU DEHYDRATED?

The earliest signs are a dry mouth, decreased dark urine and feeling dizzy or faint. However, these signs are unnoticed in cool environments or when consuming alcohol or sweet drinks.

Later signs may include dry skin and decreased sweating, fatigue and loss of energy, headache, difficulty in concentrating and even death.

HOW MUCH WATER?

The Mayo Clinic suggests a little more than eight cups along with your normal diet. you should replace the lost water.

The Institute of Medicine recommends that men drink about three litres (13 cups) of total beverages daily while women consume 2.2 litres (nine cups) daily.

CAN YOU OVERHYDRATE?

It is possible to drink too much water. Water intoxication occurs in unusual circumstances like in marathon runners and in some cases of hormone imbalance.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Drink half-ounce of water for every pound of your body weight. Thus, a 200lb man would drink 100 ounces of water or 12 eight-ounce cups per day.

Beverages like herbal teas, coconut water and diluted fruit juices may be substituted for water.

Water-rich foods like fruit, vegetables, shakes and soups will add significantly to your overall water intake.

Drink more water if you are exercising, sweating, urinating excessively, or in an air-conditioned place for an extended period.

Water had been used effectively in the treatment of several diseases. Read The Body's Many Cries for Water by Dr F. Batmanghelidj.

You may email Dr Tony Vendryes at vendryes@mac.com, or listen to 'An Ounce of Prevention' on POWER 106FM on Fridays at 8 p.m. The programme streams live on the Internet.