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Water is considered to be a nutrient and it is vital for human health and for life. It is also vital for animal, plant, and bird life.
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Although experts recommend that people consume 8 glasses of water a day, it does not all have to be in the form of water. There is water in fruit, vegetables, and some other types of foods, as well as being in every beverage that one drinks.
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The food with the highest water content is the cucumber. It is 96.7% water.
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Iceberg lettuce is 95.6% water; celery is 95.4% water; radishes are 95.3% water; tomatoes are 94.5% water; and green peppers are 93.9% water.
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Other foods high in water content, that contribute to daily hydration requirements include cauliflower, watermelon, spinach, strawberries, and broccoli.
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It is estimated that approximately 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. This isn't necessarily because they don't drink enough liquids, but because of the amount of caffeinated drinks, alcohol, and salty foods people consume which offsets the body's ability to remain hydrated.
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Dehydration occurs when the body does not have enough fluid.
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One sign of dehydration is being tired at midday. Even mild dehydration can result in fatigue.
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Once you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated. It is the body's way of warning you to drink. Thirst can be triggered when the body is only 1% to 2% dehydrated.
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Dehydration will result in impaired cognitive function. This means that if you are dehydrated you might experience problems concentrating, a decrease in short-term memory, irritability, and even anxiety.
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Drinking cold water can help boost the metabolism by as much as 30%. This means that the body will burn more calories because it has to heat up the cold water. Some studies however say that cold water is not good for the stomach.
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People who are chronically dehydrated have a higher chance of developing kidney stones.
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Sometimes people mistaken thirst for hunger. To be sure its hunger, drink a glass of water and wait ten minutes. If the hunger is gone it was just the body telling you it wanted more water.
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It's important to drink water when exercising as needs increase because of water losses due to sweat.
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When someone is overhydrated they have a condition called hyper hydration or water intoxication. This is dangerous and can even be deadly. But it is rare in normal circumstances.
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