Pharmaceutical and bio-pharmaceutical industries demand high purity water systems that are reliable and capable of consistently providing the required WFI and Purified Water to established standards

The pharmaceutical and bio-pharmaceutical industries demand high purity water systems that are reliable and capable of consistently providing the required Water for Injection (WFI) and Purified Water (PW) to meet the established standards of purity.

Water for Injection is usually stored in a continuously circulating system and maintained at an elevated temperature to prevent microbial growth.

Stainless steel is the preferred material of construction for the tanks, valves, pumps and process piping that make up the high purity water system and the interior surfaces are highly polished and then electropolished.

The system is necessarily designed to eliminate or minimise dead zones, thereby avoiding the growth of bacteria.

The components of a high purity water system are largely determined by the quality of the water supplied to the plant.

Pre-treatment is essential and this involves filtration, the removal of chlorine compounds present in the water and percolation through ion exchange media.

In addition, to obtain the required quality of WFI, distillation or reverse osmosis filtration must be used for the final step.

Thirty years of working with the processing industries has allowed A and B Process Systems (Stratford, Wisconsin) to gain valuable experience in the design, fabrication and installation of high purity water systems and the several unit operations involved, ie, filtration, ion exchange processes, reverse osmosis and distillation.

Furthermore, the benchmarks of this service are consistent, high quality workmanship that provides a reliable product, as well as the ability to meet design and fabrication challenges.

A and B Process Systems is renowned for providing quality of workmanship that is evident in all phases of the project --- the design, the fabrication, the incorporation of automation and computerised controls, the attention to the surface finish of the piping, equipment and all weld areas and finally the installation.

It is critically important to the pharmaceutical and bio-pharmaceutical industries that a high purity water system is reliable and able to consistently produce water that is in compliance.

This means that both the Water for Injection and Purified Water meet the specifications given in the United States Pharmacopeia (the official document listing all drugs and medical products, together with standards established for the manufacture, dispensation and use of those products).

The ability of the product from the high purity water system to remain consistently in compliance depends largely upon the design, the operating conditions and the materials of construction used.

What are the usual operating conditions to produce WFI? Water for injection is typically stored in a continuously circulating system maintained at an elevated temperature (a temperature of 80-85C is recommended).

The circulation of the purified water, under conditions that provide turbulent flow, maintains the elevated temperature uniformly throughout the system.

These operating conditions prevent microbial growth and ensure that the water meets the specifications given in the US Pharmacopeia.

Although lower temperatures may be acceptable, it becomes necessary to provide sufficient data to validate this mode of operation.

What factors are of importance to the design of a high purity water system? It is recognised that the high purity water system is a potential source of contamination, since each point-of-use valve and instrument take-off represents a possible microbial entry site.

It is therefore necessary that the piping and equipment be designed to allow the system to be drained easily and frequently sanitised.

It is also important to eliminate or minimise 'dead zones' in the system, again to avoid the growth of bacteria.

A and B Process Systems have extensive experience in the design of these systems, a result of three decades of service to the processing industries.

What material of construction is recommended? The preferred material of construction is polished and passivated stainless steel.

The interior surfaces of the piping, valves and pumps should be highly polished, to minimise the number of micropores in the metal surfaces, these being sites for both corrosion and microbial growth.

The techniques used to join piping and components can also be of concern and experience has taught the industry that it is important to minimise the number of weld beads in the system.

A and B Process Systems are nationally recognised for their ability to fabricate stainless steel process equipment and process systems.

What components are required for a high purity water system? The components of the system are largely determined by the quality of the water supply to the plant.

Pre-treatment of the feed water is essential, even when the water supply meets the standards for drinking water.

The pre-treatment typically requires multiple unit operations, including filtration through membranes of various pore sizes, the removal of chlorine and chloramines using activated carbon beds and percolation through ion exchange resins to remove soluble ionic species.

This pre-treatment sequence effectively reduces the conductivity of the water, as well as the levels of organic contaminants, suspended solids and colloidal particles present.

However, to produce the required quality of water for injection it is necessary to include either distillation or reverse osmosis filtration as a final step.

What is distillation? Distillation is simply the phase change from liquid to vapour, thus enabling the pre-treated feed water to be stripped of any residual ionic materials, particulates, colloids and non-volatile organic compounds.

Distillation also removes bacterial endotoxins.

This is crucial to the production of the water for injection.

The evaporation stage of the distillation process leaves the non-volatile compounds and large particulates in the feed water.

The presence of demisters and separation devices removes any of these materials that may be entrained in the vapour.

There are several types of distillation units in use in the processing industries, eg, single effect, multiple effect and vapour compression units.

A single effect unit consists of a series of columns within which the phase change occurs, the evaporation and subsequent condensation being considered as a single effect.

The feed water may be heated externally before entering the main evaporation column or the main column itself is heated.

Single effect distillation units are suitable for production of purified water at rates up to approximately 120 litres per hour.

For larger outputs it is necessary to use multiple effect units, in which the steam generated in the first effect is used to heat the feed water in the second effect and so on.

With both types of distillation unit the distillate is typically gravity fed to the storage tank, requiring that the outlet from the unit be higher than the inlet to the tank and, if possible, within close proximity.

In this way the need for transfer pumps or extensive piping in the system can be avoided.

In contrast, a vapour compression unit initially generates steam at a low pressure in an evaporation vessel.

This steam is then compressed, allowing it to be heated to higher temperatures, before being returned to heat incoming feed water and simultaneously be condensed to the high purity product.

The vapour compression unit relies upon the use of pumps and compressors, which results in more service and maintenance requirements than a multiple effect distillation unit, although its demand on plant utilities is lower.

What is involved in reverse osmosis filtration? Reverse osmosis is a process in which water is forced through a semi-permeable membrane and the pores in that membrane effectively reject dissolved ions, salts and organic compounds.

The process may be regarded as filtration on a molecular and ionic level.

The performance of the process is dependent upon several factors, eg, the quality of the feed water, the size of the unit, the type of membrane, the operating pressure and temperature.

The membranes are fabricated from cellulose acetate, cellulose triacetate, aromatic polyamide resins and mixtures of these materials.

The use of the non-cellulosic membranes can be advantageous, since these membranes can be operated at lower temperatures and over a wider range of pH than their cellulosic counterparts.

Furthermore, the non-cellulosic membranes are not susceptible to oxidative degradation by any bacteria in the water, eliminating the need for a disinfectant in the water undergoing the reverse osmosis process.

A reverse osmosis system typically contains several components, including the filtration units that are located before and after the modules containing the membranes, a booster pump to increase the net pressure across the membranes, storage tank(s) and a control panel.

(Note: In the case of a system to produce water for injection, the pre-treatment filtration unit will already be included).

Reverse osmosis units can be designed for industrial applications requiring production capacities ranging from 600 to 50,000 gallons per day of high purity water.

What other factors are important when installing a high purity water system? It is essential that the new high purity water system satisfy the validation process.

It is also required that any changes or additions to an existing water system also satisfy the validation process.

What is this validation process? There are three formal stages to the validation process, these being installation qualification, operational qualification and performance qualification.

Installation qualification establishes that the system conforms to the design drawings, specifications and manufacturer's recommendations.

The second stage demonstrates that the operation of the system and the equipment is as was specified.

The validation process is completed after it has been shown that the performance of the system meets all the process requirements under simulated production conditions.

Design changes to an existing high purity water system must again satisfy this validation process.

Thus it is a challenge to design, fabricate and install a system to produce water for injection for these industries.

For an organization faced with this challenge, it is beneficial to work with a company with demonstrated capability and extensive experience in the processing industries.

Is A and B Process Systems such a company? A and B Process Systems is nationally recognized for the design, fabrication and installation of stainless steel tanks, vessels, auxiliary equipment and piping, including the high purity and hygienic piping required by the pharmaceutical and bio-pharmaceutical industries.

The company's reputation has been built upon the capability to produce high quality products to meet performance requirements in a timely manner.

The A and B success is attributed to their in-house resources, ie, the design and fabrication engineers, the welder-fabricators and welder-fitters, the automation and controls group and the QA/QC professionals.

The company has four plants in Stratford, Wisconsin, with approximately 80,000 square feet of manufacturing capability.

Plasma cutting, automated seam welding, GMAW, GTAW and orbital welding capabilities are available when needed.

An extensive range of process equipment may be fabricated in these facilities to meet customer requirements.

The company also offers an experienced management team, capable of co-ordinating all aspects of a particular project, eg, site preparation, selection and scheduling of general contractors, cost estimation, delivery and installation of the new equipment.

Beer contains water

Most people have no idea how much water they should be drinking, and most Americans live from day to day in a dehydrated state. They don't drink enough water.

Without water, we would be poisoned to death by our own waste products and toxins resulting from metabolism. Can you see why dehydration is bad for our health?!

Water is vital to digestion and metabolism, acting as a medium for various enzymatic and chemical reactions in the body. It carries nutrients and oxygen to the cells through the blood, regulates body temperature and lubricates our joints (which is particularly important if you're arthritic, have chronic muscular-skeletal problems or are athletically active).

We need water to breathe; we lose approximately one pint of liquid every day just by exhaling.

If you are not in "fluid balance" you can impair every aspect of your body's physiological functioning.

Dr. Howard Flaks, Beverly Hills:
"As a result of not drinking enough water, many people encounter such problems as excess body fat, poor muscle tone and size, decreased digestive efficiency and organ function, increased toxicity in the body, joint and muscle soreness (particularly after exercise) and water retention."

Proper water intake is the key to weight loss," says Dr. Donald Robertson, Scottsdale, Arizona. "If people who are trying to lose weight don't drink enough water, the body can't metabolize the fat, they retain fluid, which keeps their weight up, and the whole procedure we're trying to set up falls apart."

"I'd say the minimum amount of water a healthy person should drink is 10 eight-ounce glasses a day," he continues, "and you need to drink more if you are overweight, exercise a lot, or live in a hot climate. Overweight people should drink an extra eight ounces of water for each 25 pounds that exceeds their ideal weight."

Your water intake should be spread judiciously throughout the day, including the evening. Dr. Flaks cautions against drinking more than four glasses in any given hour. Always check with your physician before embarking on a water intake increase program.

You may ask, "If I drink this much water, won't I constantly be running to the bathroom?" Initially, yes, because of the hypersensitivity of the bladder to increased fluids. But after a few weeks, your bladder calms down, and you urinate less frequently, but in larger amounts.

There is a difference between pure water and other beverages that contain water.

Water is water. Obviously you can get it by consuming fruit juice, soft drinks, beer, coffee or tea. Unfortunately, while such drinks contain water, they also may contain substances that are not healthy and actually contradict some of the positive effects of the added water.

Dr. Jerzy Meduski, Los Angeles, California: "Beer contains water, but it also contains alcohol, which is a toxic substance. Beverages that contain caffeine, such as coffee, stimulate the adrenal glands; fruit juices contain a lot of sugar and stimulate the pancreas. Such drinks may tax the body more than cleanse it."

Another problem with these beverages is that you lose your taste for water.

The way to interpret all of this, therefore, is that the recommended daily water intake means just that--WATER!

Remember, if you wait until you are thirsty, you are already slightly dehydrated!

NOTE: Its important to drink pure, clean water. The only way to do this in today's world is to add some kind of filtration system to your water before you use it. I personally use filters on both my drinking water and my shower. The water tastes better, doesn't smell, and the shower filter has made my skin much less dry. My hair color lasts much longer! Plus, I have the added benefit of knowing I am doing something good for my health!

Drinking Enough

Our life, our planet. Over 70% of the earth's surface is water. However, most of it—98%--is salt water. Only 2% of the earth's H20 is fresh water that we can drink, and of this, almost all is trapped in frozen glaciers.

You are not just what you eat; you are what you drink.

This is why water is so important to your health.

The Water Cure (TWC) does not sell water or purification systems or any related products. We offer insights and information; both free and in books that give you easy-to-understand scientific explanations on why water is vital to your well-being.

TWC believes promoting "water for health, for healing, for life" is an invaluable public health message. We can all change the way we drink – by drinking pure, natural water that is good for our health, our pocket book, and our environment.

No miracles. Just common sense backed by Dr. F. Batmaghelidj’s years of research and investigation into why water works so well in keeping us healthy and pain free. It can even cure illness in some people who get sick.

Water is the basis of all life and that includes your body. Your muscles that move your body are 75% water; your blood that transport nutrients is 82% water; your lungs that provide your oxygen are 90% water; your brain that is the control center of your body is 76% water; even your bones are 25% water.

Our health is truly dependent on the quality and quantity of the water we drink.

Dr. B's pioneering work shows that Unintentional Chronic Dehydration (UCD) contributes to and even produces pain and many degenerative diseases that can be prevented and treated by increasing water intake on a regular basis.

If you are committed to a healthy lifestyle, make drinking enough natural water a habit in your life. It won't take long for you to feel the benefit.

It is a free investment for your long-term health.

Bottled drinking water

"Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink" from the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner is perhaps a fitting description of the attitude of many consumers living in urban areas today who are increasingly looking toward bottled water as a means of meeting some or all of their daily requirements. As fresh water supplies are further stretched to meet the demands of industry, agriculture and an ever-expanding population, the shortage of safe and accessible drinking-water will become a major challenge in many parts of the world. In the wake of several major outbreaks involving food and water, there is a growing concern for the safety and quality of drinking-water. While bottled water is widely available in both industrialised and developing countries, it may represent a significant cost to the consumer. Consumers may have various reasons for purchasing bottled drinking-water, such as taste, convenience or fashion, but for many consumers, safety and potential health benefits are important considerations. Since such considerations are often not founded on facts, these will be specifically addressed here.

The safety of bottled drinking water

While the term bottled water is widely used, the term packaged water is perhaps more accurate. Water sold in countries for consumption can come in cans, laminated boxes and even plastic bags. However, bottled water is most commonly sold in glass or disposable plastic bottles. Bottled water also comes in various sizes from single servings to large carbouys holding up to 80 litres. Depending on the climate, physical activity and culture, the drinking-water needs for individuals vary, but for high consumers it is estimated to be about two litres per day for a 60 kg person and one litre per day for a 10 kg child.

Drinking-water may be contaminated by a range of chemical, microbial and physical hazards that could pose risks to health if they are present at high levels. Examples of chemical hazards include lead, arsenic and benzene. Microbial hazards, include bacteria, viruses and parasites, such as Vibrio cholerae, hepatitis A virus, and Crytosporidium parvum, respectively. Physical hazards include glass chips and metal fragments. Because of the large number of possible hazards in drinking-water, the development of standards for drinking-water requires significant resources and expertise, which many countries are unable to afford. Fortunately, guidance is available at the international level.

The World Health Organization (WHO) publishes Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality which many countries use as the basis to establish their own national standards. The Guidelines represent a scientific assessment of the risks to health from biological and chemical constituents of drinking-water and of the effectiveness of associated control measures. WHO recommends that social, economic and environmental factors be taken into account through a risk-benefit approach when adapting the Guideline values to national standards. As the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality are meant to be the scientific point of departure for standards development, including bottled water, actual standards will sometimes vary from the Guidelines. It should also be noted that water used for making edible ice should be subject to the same drinking-water standard and include specific sanitary requirements for equipment for making and storing ice. For water in carbouys, similar sanitary requirements for dispensing devices need to be observed.

In applying the WHO Guidelines to bottled waters, certain factors may be more readily controlled than in piped distribution systems and stricter standards may, therefore, be preferred in order to reduce overall population exposure. This has, for example, been argued for the case of lead. Similarly, when flexibility exists regarding the source of the water, stricter standards for certain naturally-occurring substances of health concern, such as arsenic and fluoride, may be more readily achieved than in piped distribution systems.

Contrary to this, some substances may prove more difficult to manage in bottled than tap water. This is generally because bottled water is stored for longer periods and at higher temperatures than water distributed in piped distribution systems. Control of materials used in containers and closures for bottled waters is, therefore, of special concern. In addition, some micro-organisms, which are normally of little or no public health significance, may grow to higher levels in bottled waters. This growth appears to occur less frequently in gasified water and in water bottled in glass containers compared to still water and water bottled in plastic containers. However, the public health significance of this remains little understood, especially for vulnerable individuals, such as infants and children, pregnant women, immuno-compromised individuals and the elderly. In regard to infants, as bottled water is not sterile, it should be disinfected - for example, by boiling for one minute - prior to its use in the preparation of infant formula.

There have also been reports of fraud in which ordinary tap water has been added to used mineral water bottles and sold as the original article. Consumers may not be able to detect this by taste alone and, if concern is warranted, should examine the closures of bottled waters carefully before purchase and insist on seeing bottles opened in their presence in restaurants and other food and beverage service establishments.

The potential health benefits of bottled drinking water

In European and certain other countries, many consumers believe that natural mineral waters have medicinal properties or offer other health benefits. Such waters are typically of high mineral content and, in some cases, significantly above the concentrations normally accepted in drinking-water. Such waters have a long tradition of use and are often accepted on the basis that they are considered foods rather than drinking-water per se. Although certain mineral waters may be useful in providing essential micro-nutrients, such as calcium, WHO is unaware of any convincing evidence to support the beneficial effects of consuming such mineral waters. As a consequence, WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality do not make recommendations regarding minimum concentrations of essential compounds.

On the other hand, in some countries, bottled waters with very low mineral content, such as distilled or demineralised waters, may be offered for sale. While a large number of people have traditionally consumed rainwater which is similarly low in minerals without apparent adverse health effects, WHO has no scientific information on the benefits or hazards of regularly consuming these types of bottled waters.

International standards for bottled drinking water

The intergovernmental body for the development of internationally recognized standards for food is the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC). WHO, one of the co-sponsors of the CAC, has advocated the use of the Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality as the basis for derivation of standards for all bottled waters.

The CAC has developed a Codex Standard for Natural Mineral Waters and an associated code of practice. The Codex Standard describes the product and its labelling, compositional and quality factors, including limits for certain chemicals, hygiene, packaging and labelling. The Codex Code of Practice for Collecting, Processing and Marketing of Natural Mineral Waters provides guidance to the industry on a range of good manufacturing practices matters. While CAC standards and recommendations are not strictly mandatory, Codex health and safety requirements are recognized by the World Trade Organization as representing the international consensus for consumer protection and any deviation from Codex recommendations may require a scientifically-based justification.

This Commission is currently developing a draft of a Codex Standard for Bottled/Packaged Waters to cover drinking-water other than natural mineral waters. Under the existing Codex Standard and Code of Practice, natural mineral waters must conform to strict requirements concerning, for example, their direct collection and bottling without further treatment from a natural source, such as a spring or well. In comparison, the draft Codex Standard for Bottled/Packaged Waters has been proposed to include waters from other sources, in addition to springs and wells, and treatment to improve their safety and quality. The distinctions between these standards are especially relevant in regions where natural mineral waters have a long cultural history. Within the CAC, the Codex Committee for Natural Mineral Waters, which is hosted by Switzerland, is responsible for the development of draft Codex Standards and Codes of Practice in consultation with other relevant Codex Committees, notably the Codex Committees on Food Additives and Contaminants and Food Hygiene. Parties interested in participating in this work of Codex should contact the National Codex Contact Point in their country.

It should be noted that neither the CAC nor WHO offer certification of any bottled or mineral water products. In this regard, WHO does not permit its name or emblem to be used in connection with any commercial purposes. While many countries have national standards for bottled waters and some have national certification schemes, no universally accepted international certification scheme now exists. Persons seeking information on bottled water certification should approach the national authorities in the country concerned.

Water for the Skin

Drinking an adequate amount of water daily is important for overall good health because water is involved in and helps improve many bodily functions. These functions include digestion, absorption, circulation, and excretion. There are other more specific benefits for drinking water as well.

Water assists in the flushing or removal of harmful toxins from the body. If the body does not have sufficient water, then metabolic wastes will not be removed as efficiently as they should. In essence, the body would be holding in toxins instead of expelling them as is required for proper health. Much of this toxin removal is performed in the kidneys. Therefore, the benefit of drinking water in this case is to allow the kidneys to perform their task properly.

Another benefit of drinking water is to carry nutrients into the cells of the body. In addition to helping nutrients get into the cells where they are needed, the benefit of drinking water in adequate amounts also helps to keep the cells well hydrated so they can function properly and efficiently.

Drinking water is also beneficial for muscles. It helps maintain proper muscle tone and prevents painful muscle cramping.

The prevention of kidney stones or at least the reduction of risk of developing kidney stones is another benefit of drinking water in the right quantities.

Drinking water helps to increase the energy level in people and helps to lubricate the joints in the body.

There is a belief that one benefit of drinking water in large amounts is that it curbs the appetite and therefore can be an effective tool for weight loss. Unfortunately, there is no solid evidence that water plays this role. Certainly, drinking water in large amounts will fill the stomach, but this is only temporary. Once the water exists the stomach, the hunger sensation returns, perhaps with even more strength.

Benefit of Drinking Water for the Skin

The benefit of drinking water in large amounts for proper skin health is a controversial area. Many believe and have stated that water is very beneficial for proper skin care. The main stated benefit is that drinking a large quantity of water keeps the skin hydrated and prevents dry skin. Claims are also made that drinking water gives the skin a radiant, healthy, younger looking complexion with no wrinkles, and allows skin to maintain its elasticity and suppleness.

However, many experts are now refuting the above-mentioned benefits. Unless the individual is severely dehydrated, drinking large quantities of water will not prevent dry skin. Basically the moisture level of skin is not determined by internal factors. Instead, it is external factors such as skin cleansing, the environment, the number of oil glands, and the functioning of these oil-producing glands that determines how dry the skin is or will become. The water that is consumed internally will not reach the epidermis. In fact, the water moves through the body system rather quickly. If the skin is dry, the best solution is to treat the skin from the outside with a suitable and dry skin moisturizer or dry skin lotion. This forms an effective barrier to water loss from the skin.

It appears there is no significant benefit of drinking water to cure or prevent dry skin. How about spraying or misting water on the skin to help reduce dryness? This once again is a treatment where there are significant differences in opinion. Some argue that misting water on the skin will help hydrate it and help prevent dryness and skin aging. Others argue that water misting has no significant hydrating effect. This latter opinion appears to be the truth. It is best to prevent moisture from escaping the skin in the first place with proper moisturizers rather than wetting the skin constantly. However, it is important that the environment is not dry. Moisture in the air will limit the amount of water escaping from your skin compared to a dry environment where water will be more readily drawn out of the skin.

Is there any real benefit of drinking water for skin health? Actually, although combating dry skin is not a benefit of drinking water, there are some other potential benefits.

As mentioned, drinking water in adequate amounts is necessary to flush out toxins out of the body via the excretory system. With inadequate amounts of water flowing through the body, these toxins can build up in the body and escape through skin pores. This contributes to acne. Therefore, by flushing the body internally with water, acne breakouts are less likely to occur due to toxin release through the skin.

Another benefit of drinking water in large amounts for the skin is in the treatment of skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis. In addition, proper hydration will help to eliminate sunken eyes and circles under the eyes. Skin plumpness is also sometimes stated as a benefit of drinking water.

Drinking Water Recommendations

The benefit of drinking water for the skin and body is determined by the amount of water consumed. Most of the recommendations in the literature suggest that eight glasses of water should be consumed per day to obtain the maximum benefit of drinking water. Some claim that the best benefit of drinking water occurs when fresh distilled water is consumed as opposed to tap water. Tap water can be inconsistent in composition and can contain unwanted minerals and additives. Spring water is also questioned by many because of the possible presence of contaminates and pollutants. However, there is no agreement on this and opinions vary widely in terms of the proper water type choice. As long as the water is clean, then it is acceptable.

The suggestion of drinking eight-8 ounce or 250 ml glasses of water per day (the so-called 8-by-8 rule) is an interesting one because it does not seem to have any basis in science. It is a rule often quoted, but difficult to trace back to a medical or scientific study. In addition to the 8-by-8 rule, recommendations often include to avoid dehydrating foods and beverages such as coffee, tea, cola, other caffeine containing drinks, and alcohol.

However, many believe that 8 glasses of water is overkill and the same benefits of drinking water can be obtained with smaller quantities. Some specialists suggest that for an average-sized adult in good health, with healthy kidneys, and living in a temperate climate, only four glasses of water is required to obtain the benefits of drinking water and to replace daily water losses.

The water does not have to be in the form of distilled water, bottled water, or tap water. Water to hydrate the body can be obtained from eating water-rich fruits such as melons, vegetables, and foods. It is believed that water in foods stays in the body longer and has a better chance of being absorbed, whereas liquid water exits the stomach quickly and gets expelled quickly before proper absorption is able to occur. Beverages such as milk and juice also contribute to the daily water intake total. Even beverages that are said to dehydrate are useful according to research. Caffeinated beverages, do dehydrate the body to some extent, but this is more than compensated for by the amount of water in the beverage. A cup of coffee actually adds about two-thirds of a cup of hydrating fluid. Therefore, drinking a cup of coffee will add to your water intake total.

Alcoholic beverages when consumed result in a net loss of water in the body. One drink may not make too much of a difference, but several will cause noticeable dehydration. If consuming alcohol, it is best to drink water as well to keep hydrated.

Because of all the uncertainty about the benefit of drinking water and how much water should be consumed daily, there is no clear course of action. The best strategy is to be reasonable. Be aware of what your body is telling you. If you lack energy, are constantly thirsty, and have dark urine then this could be a sign that you are not getting enough water. Thirst is the body’s way of signalling a need to increase water intake. So pay attention to this warning sign. If you are running to the bathroom every hour then perhaps you are drinking too much. An average healthy person should be passing urine 3 to 4 times per day. If this is the case, then the body is likely to be well hydrated.

When exercising and sweating there is a need to replace the lost water regularly in order to prevent dehydration and heat sickness. The same is true when residing in hot climates. In these situations, the benefit of drinking water is obvious. Certain illnesses also require extra hydration. The benefit of drinking water in larger amounts than normal also extends to pregnant and breastfeeding women, which are conditions where the body requires more fluid intake.

For older individuals, drinking more water is a good idea, since dehydration is more likely to occur due to physiological changes in the body and general lack of awareness when it comes to hydrating the body.

Drinking water for the proper health of individuals is not universal. For some it may actually be dangerous. For people who have trouble eliminating fluids (diabetics taking anti-diuretic hormone), the excess water intake cannot be eliminated and water intoxication may develop. Signs of water intoxication include mild headaches, confusion, coma, seizures, and maybe death. Individuals taking this medication should consult with their physician prior to increasing their water intake significantly.

Drinking excessive amounts of water may also lead to hyponatremia (too little sodium in the blood). Elderly individuals, athletes such as marathon runners, and people with congestive heart failure and cirrhosis of the liver are most at risk for suffering this rare condition.

In summary, for the average healthy person, there is a benefit of drinking water in elevated amounts. Most of the benefits are for the proper functioning of organs such as kidneys and for cellular health. It is also useful for expelling toxins from the body, which leads to overall good health. However, one benefit of drinking water that has been exaggerated is the effect on dry skin.

Water we drink

Drinking Water for Good Health

The human body is a water machine‚ designed primarily to run on water and minerals. Every life giving and healing process that happens inside our body… happens with water. In just the last decade medical science has begun to focus more on the tremendous healing ability our body has and how much that ability depends on water. Our body instinctively knows how and strives to sustain youthful longevity‚ and in its every effort… water is the key.

The human body is made up of over 70% water. Our blood is more than 80%‚ our brain … over 75%‚ and the human liver is an amazing 96% water!

The function of every cell in our body is controlled by electrical signals sent through our nervous system from the brain. Our nerves‚ in reality‚ are an elaborate system of tiny waterways. If the fluid inside our nerves thickens due to dehydration‚ or is contaminated with synthetic chemicals or toxic heavy metals like lead‚ the vital signals can get distorted. Many experts now believe that the distortion of these signals may be the root cause of many degenerative diseases and neurological illnesses like Attention Deficit Disorder‚ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome‚ anxiety‚ depression and even Alzheimer’s disease

Considering the major role that water plays in the function of our brain and nervous system‚ its purity is possibly the most basic and essential key to healthy longevity. Proper digestion and nutrient absorption depend on a healthy intake of water. In order for our body to get the nutritional value from our foods and supplements‚ we must consume plenty of good water. Since sugars and carbohydrates are absorbed more rapidly‚ even a slight degree of dehydration can cause us to get the caloric intake without the nutrition from the foods we eat.

Our energy level is greatly affected by the amount of water we drink. It has been medically proven that just a 5% drop in body fluids will cause a 25% to 30% loss of energy in the average person… a 15% drop in body fluids causes death! Water is what our liver uses to metabolize fat into useable energy. It is estimated that over 80% of our population suffers energy loss due to minor dehydration. An increased intake of healthy water will help metabolize and shed stored fat… resulting in more energy and less fat.

Detoxification is probably the single most important component to long-term health… and one that relies almost exclusively on an adequate intake of good water. Water is our body’s only means of flushing out toxins‚ the key to disease prevention. In our industrialized‚ chemical society‚ we are exposed to literally hundreds of harmful substances daily. Our air‚ our foods and everything we touch… contain traces of harmful chemicals. Unfortunately we can’t keep toxins from getting into our body‚ but we can help our body to get rid of them by drinking plenty of healthy water. The more water we drink… the more we allow our body to purify itself. Almost all-degenerative disease is the result of toxins building up in our body.

The quality of the water we drink is equally as important as the amount. If water already contains chlorine and other chemicals‚ it has less of an ability to carry toxins out of our body. If we consume water that contains traces of synthetic chemicals‚ then we force our liver and kidneys to be the filter… ultimately damaging or destroying two of our most vital organs. With an abundant intake of clean‚ healthy water we allow our body to perform all the healing processes that it is naturally capable of.