H2O (water) is also a macronutrient. Probably the most important of them all as this is the transportation system for the rest of the macronutrients and all of the micronutrients. You can survive for weeks or months without the rest of the nutrients but you would succumb to death by dehydration without water within days. Entire books could and have been written on the importance of water. Detailed discussion is beyond the scope of this publication. Some brief notes are still worth mentioning. Get it into you! And lots of it. Not only is the quantity of water important, but the quality is even more important. Pure crystal clean water is crucial for fat metabolism as well as athletic performance.

While water from other sources such as food, counts toward total volume, it is not enough. Drinking 6-8 cups should be considered the bare minimum. It is not uncommon for the average person to consume at least a litre (4 cups) 1-2 hours before exercise, another litre during their exercise routine and at least one more after their done. This varies greatly with the individual, intensity levels and their environment. Drink water before, during and after working out. Dehydration can lead to significant health problems and by the time you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated.

While tap water may suffice the hydration requirements for your plants, when you drink it, there is a lot more than simple hydrogen and oxygen compounds. Some of it good (minerals) and some of it bad (heavy metals and chemical compounds). Even a small amount of heavy metals can harm your health over a long period of exposure. While your body is pretty good at expelling toxins, it is limited and it does beg the question, why put them in your body in the first place? Once in your system, heavy metals are very difficult to remove. Small amounts consumed over a long period of time can increase the amount of concentrated toxins built up in the body and wreak havoc.

You are bargaining with your health when it comes to tap water. Check your source carefully. Look at TDS (total dissolved solids) and/or PPM (parts per million), the lower the better. This macronutrient above all else requires a level of purity that demands scrutiny. Other foodstuffs have a built in filter system. Water tends to dissolve and hide most toxins.

Drinking green tea is a great way to satisfy and add to your water requirements while getting an abundance of phytochemicals that act as antioxidants. Black tea (processed green tea) and coffee do not have the same effect. In fact, they tend to dehydrate us as they are natural diuretics. Relish a tall glass of ice water on a regular basis.

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