In the body, water is the fluid in which all essential life processes occur. Every cell of our wonderful body, every tissue and organ needs water to function.



About 50-55% of women's bodies are made up of water. Ladies, the figures are 55-60% for men (because of the difference in lean body mass in the two sexes), just so you know. So, tell your man to down that aqua as you do.

Compared to most other sports, playing golf is considered a light exercise. Even so, as a golfer, you can lose a considerable amount of water through your skin's surface (perspiration) and as a by-product of your kidneys doing their job. During light exercise in a comfortable, moderate environment, an athlete can lose 500 to 1000 ml of water per hour, which amounts to one to two pounds of your daily fluid needs. During exercise, the goal is to fully replace this fluid loss.

Now, too much or too little water can have a profound effect on our health. So, what's recommended is that for each pound of water lost, you should consume about 16 ounces of fluid to maintain proper fluid balance. If you drink only enough to quench thirst, it will replace only half to two-thirds of the fluid lost. So, adjust your consumption accordingly and sip on the elixir of life as you wait around for the next putt.

Studies have shown that consumption of water every 10 to 15 minutes during exercise improves performance. And, it's important to drink about 8 to 10 ounces of water within the first 15 minutes following your golf session.

You will know if you are dehydrated. Signs of dehydration include unusual fatigue, light-headedness, nausea, headache, irritability, and dark urine or urinating infrequently (less than 4 times a day) besides thirst.

Dehydration is the major cause of poor performance, increased risk of heat exhaustion, illness, slow recovery, and increased risk of infections such as cold and flu. If you do not hydrate your body in time, chronic dehydration could lead to much more serious complications over the course of time--problems with your heart or kidneys or high blood pressure.

Besides, there are many other benefits of drinking water that are too important to ignore:

Your body will function at its best Food cannot be digested without water. It is required to break down and assimilate food. It carries essential nutrients into the blood stream.

Water helps digested food pass through the body quicker, preventing constipation. With adequate consumption of water, toxins and waste material are not given the chance to stay within the body for too long, when they can accumulate to dangerous levels.

Flushing our intestines with plenty of water allows us to maintain stable and safe quantities of yeast and bacteria, which play an important role in digestion and keep all our systems functioning optimally.

Water is essential for proper circulation. So, drink that O2 and be kind to your heart. That, in turn will rev you up for those smooth swings that will be the envy of many.

Drink enough water, and you may never know what achy joints and muscle cramps are on the golf course.

If you are prone to heat exhaustion, drinking enough water can prevent it.

Your skin will glow Remaining for long periods outdoors, where you are exposed to sun, wind (hot or cold) and other elements of the weather can take its toll on your skin. Water helps to keep our skin healthy and glowing. It helps the body to flush out fat, toxins, and unwanted substances. It keeps the skin from getting wrinkled.

Your brain will work better Plenty of water keeps our thought processes and brain function at their peak levels. You may even be surprised to notice a marked improvement in your coordination and spatial judgment. Get those holes in one, girl!

You will be less prone to headaches. Not enough water is often the cause of headaches.

What kind of water should you be drinking?

Plain water, free of chlorine and impurities, and preferably not stripped of minerals is the best.

You should also include foods high in water content--skimmed milk, soup that's not too high in sodium, fruits and vegetables, and unsweetened fruit juices--in your diet.

Fizzy drinks contain water but can cause tooth decay due to the large amounts of sugars they contain. Or if they are sugar-free, it's the artificial sweeteners that can cause havoc. Alcoholic or caffeinated beverages are not ideal as they act as diuretics, making the body urinate more than it normally would, taxing your kidneys.

Let's get the water out and drink to our health and a great game of golf!