Water Facts Symptoms of Dehydration Difficulty concentrating, impatience, headache Bloated feeling and fluid retention Dry mouth Fatigue Source: Morris County Woman, Rockaway, NJ (2002) Ideal Water Clear, odor-free, colorless, sodium free, low mineral content, balanced content and no unpleasant aftertaste. Key is consistency, taste and quality. Waters with high (inorganic) mineral or iron content can taste metallic. High bicarbonate water can taste salty. High hydrogen sulfide content can produce a taste like eggs. Use of low quality plastic in cooler receptacles or interiors, or bottles, generates a plastic taste and can be hazardous to your health. Reasons to Drink Spring Water 75% of people are regularly dehydrated 37% believe they are experiencing hunger when they are actually thirsty Dehydration, even when mild (3%), slows the metabolism down Lack of water is the number one cause of daytime fatigue Mere 2% drop in your body’s water levels results in short term memory impairment, trouble with basic math and difficulty focusing (such as computer screen or printed page) Children, who are more susceptible than adults to dehydration and need water to grow properly, may not be drinking enough and may be substituting unhealthy beverages and food to satisfy their thirst. Cornell Medical Center links such behavior to obesity and reduced height. Exposing children to great tasting spring water reduces craving for sweets. For exercise, dehydration affects performance, concentration and endurance, and can produce muscle cramps, overheating and other ailments. Dehydration is the number 1 reason for hospitalizing people over 65 years old. Water cannot be stored by the body and must be replenished regularly Long term, excessive exposure to chlorine and fluoride, found in many municipal sources, has been linked to certain types of cancer and damage to teeth. Municipal water quality and safety is a source of increasing concern to the public. Source: Iowa State University, PM 1813 (March 2000)