One of what would seem to be one of the easiest nutrients for people to get is one that 75% of Americans are falling short of getting enough of...even kids are deficient in it.

          The reason it is considered essential is that it helps regulate our body temperature, keeps our joints lubricated, helps to prevent infections, delivers other nutrients to the cells, and keeps our organs functioning properly.

          Even a minor loss of just 1 to 2% of the amount the body needs can cause:

¨ Problems concentrating, focusing, and remembering

¨ Feeling low in energy… drained

¨ Slow metabolism

¨ Hunger and/or cravings

¨ Skin may look “old”

¨ Dry mouth

¨ Difficulty recovering from workouts

And more. When recovering from an injury or surgery, the body has to have enough of this to heal and recover.

Have you guessed what nutrient we are talking about? Water. The reason it’s essential for healing and recovery is that when you are dehydrated (not getting enough water) your body will pull or steal from your muscles and skin to protect your organs. And if it takes the water you have to serve your organs, you then don’t have the water needed for your healing and recovery.

Some signs of dehydration include:

¨ Excessive thirst — and in fact, by the time you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated.

¨ Dry Mouth

¨ Bad breath

¨ Headache

¨ Dry Skin

¨ Dizziness/Lightheaded

¨ Muscle Cramps

¨ Nausea

¨ Vomiting

¨ Hard and fast heartbeat

So how much water should an adult drink in a day? For years it was said to be eight 8-oz glasses a day. Now some experts say it should be a gallon a day. We suggest keeping track of how much water you drink in a day, and if you are having problems like those linked to not enough water, try drinking more. And as always check with your health care provider for guidance.

One recommended method to determine how much water you need in a day is to go by your weight… drinking one-half to one ounce of water per pound of body weight. If you weigh 197.8 pounds you would drink 98.9 to 197.8 ounces per day. If you weigh 170.6 pounds you would drink 85.3 to 170.6 ounces per day.

However, we urge you to determine how much you should drink based on how your body works at different levels. And again, get your health care provider’s input. Drinking far more than you need, and more than your body can deal with, can be harmful—we are talking about ridiculous amounts, not the amounts mentioned here. But keep in mind that too much is not a good thing and can be harmful.

Other important roles of water include that it has been found to help reduce brain fog, joint pain and metabolic issues and also found to prevent headaches; prevent crankiness, make skin glow, and to improve “executive function” like planning and strategy development.

Regarding metabolic issues... studies found drinking 16 oz of water can raise your metabolic rate by as much as 30%.  

Regarding the impact on brain function, it's been found that when you’re not sufficiently hydrated your brain shrinks in volume. This shrinking is what causes “dehydration headaches”.

Even mild dehydration can alter brain function and mood.  But within 20 minutes of drinking water, those effects were reversed.  Cold water hydrates faster than warm or room temperature water, so for fastest results, drink ice cold water, unless there is some medical reason not to drink it cold.  

Your entire body suffers when you’re dehydrated. Even mild dehydration can produce an imbalance in the body’s equilibrium. Long term dehydration can lead to increased cholesterol levels,rapid heart rate and/or breathing, low blood pressure, and signs of premature aging, such as dry “parched” skin. 

And dehydration is not just an "adult problem"... a Harvard study found more than half of American children are dehydrated. About a quarter of American children don’t drink water on a daily basis. It’s said a good part of the reason children are dehydrated is due to their being more likely to drink sweet drinks like soda or fruit juice than water. 

Here's a tip… kids tend to love Willard’s Water (WW) and even kids who would never drink water have come asking for more WW. And adults who “never drank water” find a love for it too.  

Also Dr .Willard said one of the benefits of Willard’s Water was better hydration. Other experts have agreed. So if you’re drinking WW you may hydrate better with less WW than you might need of regular water. Cheers!