In another study published in the New England Journal of Medicine , men who drank at least six glasses of water per day cut their risk of bladder cancer in half compared with men who drank less than one glass, regardless of how much of other liquids they consumed. Concentration and endurance begin to waver, muscle cramps set in prematurely and other dehydration-induced injuries may follow. Sports drinks are useful when consumed after or during vigorous and prolonged exercise in high heat. But most experts agree that water works better than carbohydrates or sugared beverages for moderate exercise. For instance, if you drink 12 ounces of plain water, your body will absorb 8 ounces of it within 15 minutes.
Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat.
Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits. Most drinking water in the United States is safe to drink, but it's always a good idea to check with your local water authorities and with the U.S. Geologic Survey. The US Environmental Protection Agency has detected trichlorethylene in 25 states during the last 10 years. About 100,000 pounds of the chemical has been released into water and land from steel pipe and tube manufacturing industries in Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia between 1987 and 1993, allowing possible leaching into groundwater. If your doctor has set limitations for intake of liquids due to kidney insufficiency, be sure to follow that advice first.