If you really want to have great health, you can drink your way to it. Water is the substance of life. The majority of people on earth are dehydrated, and they don't even realize it. In fact, nutritionists report that about 80% of the people on earth are dehydrated. Before you assume that you are not in that group, because you don't feel thirsty, you need to realize that thirst really has nothing to do with dehydration.

You may also believe that you get enough water because you drink beverages that have water as an ingredient, such as coffee, tea, and sodas. Even though these beverages are made with water, when they are ingested, they actually cause us to lose water! You don't need other beverages - what you need is water. Those other beverages should be a once-in-a-while thing, not a daily thing!

Even though we can't survive under water, we are water oriented. 70% of the earth is covered by water, and two-thirds of our bodies consist of water. Approximately 83% of our blood is water, 75% of our muscles are water, 22% of our bones are water, and 74% of our brains are water. Our brains even float around in water!

With these percentages, it should be obvious as to why we require water to live. The water in our bodies is lost every minute of every day - through sweat, tears, and urination - and simply through our pores. You are losing water right now, at this very moment, and it needs to be replaced.

If you increase your water intake to eight glasses per day, in about a week's time, you will notice that you have more energy, your mind is clearer, your skin is healthier, and your food digests easier. Water will help you lose weight, remove toxins from your body, and help you absorb nutrients and vitamins.

Not just any water will do, however. You should avoid drinking tap water. Go with bottled water that has been purified or better yet, choose bottled spring water that is all natural. Tap water generally is full of toxins that you don't want in your body.

Furthermore, aside from your daily eight glasses of water, you should drink one glass of water for every cup of coffee or tea you have, as well as for every soda, and one glass of water for every cigarette you smoke - if you do smoke, and one glass of water for every glass of an alcoholic drink that you have. If you have unhealthy habits, you may find yourself drinking a great deal of water each day to combat the ill effects of those unhealthy habits!