Why Drink Water --Written by Dr. Jennifer Brett    (Part 1)

What kinds of symptoms result from drinking too little water? Most common is  Constipation, dry and itchy skin, acne, nose bleeds, repeated urinary track infections, dry and unproductive coughs, constant sneezing, sinus pressure and headaches.

How does lack of water intake cause the this wide array of symptoms. Water is required by every cell in the body as nourishment and to remove wastes. When water becomes scare, the body will try to limit the amount it loses through breathing, mucous production, urination, prespiration and bowel movements.

Several cups of water are lost daily through breathing because the lungs require humid air to do their work. During the winter even more water is lost because the air is drier not just outside but also inside because of forced hot air and wood stoves. The body has to moisturize the air before it reaches the lungs and does so through the muscous membranes of the nasal passages and the bronchi. As available fluid decreases, the mucous lining becomes drier. This in will irritate the lungs, causing them to become more reactive to ddust, mold particles, cigarette smoke and other irritants, and less resistant to viruses and bacteria. The result: dry cough and bronchitis.