In fact, water is the nutrient your body needs in the greatest amount. You could survive as long as six weeks without food, but you couldn't survive more than a week without water. The older you are, the more vulnerable you become to dehydration. Dehydration is one of the most frequent causes of hospitalization among people over age 65, and research shows that about one-half of those hospitalized for dehydration die within a year. If you make drinking lots of water part of your daily routine, you won't have to worry about depriving your body of one of its most important nutrients.
Water is especially important when the weather is very hot or very cold.
It acts as a body temperature control. Try sucking on ice chips or frozen cubes to keep your mouth moist and contribute to fluid intake. Some people who have trouble holding their water don't drink enough fluids because they are afraid of needing a restroom and not being able to find one nearby. To avoid having an accident, they simply avoid drinking fluids. But drinking fluids is so important that it is worth taking the risk.