Water is critcal for healthy life. Even a drop of just 1% or 2% of your body weight in water - since your body is 70% water - can have a serious impact on your health.

If you're out exercising, walking in the hot sun, or just not drinking the 8 glasses a day that most doctors recommend, you are putting yourself at risk of dehydration. Your body really needs that water to do its daily tasks! Every part of you has water in it - your muscles, your bones, your blood. When that water becomes scarce, your body begins to suffer.

Common signs of dehydration include:

- dizziness
- headache
- weariness
- lightheadedness

Plus of course the standard feeling thirsty and having a dry mouth.

Remember that by the time you're thirsty - you're already at a low water state! You can't go without water all day and then only drink when you're really thirsty. You have to drink slowly and regularly throughout the day. Keep a water bottle in your car if you're going on a long drive. Keep a pitcher of water at your desk at work.

If you're drinking alcohol, even though it's a liquid, it dries you out! Make sure you have a glass of water available too, and drink it along with the wine or other alcohol. It can even help to ward off a hangover!