Believe it or not, most people function in a chronic state of dehydration. Whether it is due to your busy schedule or simply not having fresh, clean water on hand when you need it, it is likely that you are not drinking the amount of fluids your body truly needs.

As your body becomes accustomed to this chronic dehydration, you lose sensitivity to water deprivation and stop feeling thirsty when you need water. This can become a major problem, as water comprises over half of your body mass in the form of intracellular fluid, interstitial fluids, cerebrospinal fluid, and others. These fluids unite your various organs and physiological systems into one coherent organism, allowing for many of the body’s most critical communications.

Of your body’s fluids, none are more life-sustaining than blood itself, as blood is your body’s vehicle for delivering nutrients, oxygen and vital components to your tissues through the arterial and capillary system. The same blood is also used to carry carbon dioxide, byproducts and waste products through the venous system to discharge them through the lungs by exhalation or through sweat, stool or urine.

So what does this have to do with your water intake? Water comprises roughly 83 percent of your blood volume, so dehydration can cause major problems for overall health. Attempting to function without enough water is similar to running a car without enough oil to lubricate its system.

The solution is simple: Drink more water—just be wary of where it comes from. While it seems that bottled water is the wisest choice, there is far less oversight of the quality of bottled water than plain, filtered tap water—a fact that might come as a major shock to anyone spending top dollar on a supposedly safe, clean way to hydrate. Water quality tests for bottled products are not required by the FDA and in the past several years, bottled water has been recalled due to contamination with arsenic, bromate, cleaning compounds, mold, and bacteria. Unfortunately, that is not the only concern that comes with bottled water—the potential health-related and environmental risks of its plastic packaging are also something to consider.

In the end, tap water that is filtered through an activated carbon filter is probably your safest bet. If, however, you are still worried about potential contaminants lurking in your water, you can always consider one of the many home filtration systems available on the market today.

Finally, regular detox programs (including safe and gentle chelation) can help to ensure that your body stays hydrated and healthy throughout the seasons.