With the holiday season upon us many are prone to tipping a glass of Cheer here and there. Although there is nothing wrong with moderation in that arena there is one "bevy" that we consume far to little of. It has been called the magic elixir of life and we take it for granted. The following will give you an outline of its magnificent qualities. Drink up!

The New Wonder Drug: Aqua vitae

Without a regular supply of it you can get headaches and joint problems. What is it? It’s not aspirin! It’s the latest new wonder drug: pure water. Surveys show that most of us don’t drink enough water.

The result is a type of dehydration that can affect important bodily functions. Proper hydration is essential for regulating your temperature, cushioning all the joints of your body, eliminating wastes and countless other essential functions.

How much water should you drink each day? Use this simple formula. Divide your weight in pounds by two. That’s how many ounces of water you should be drinking daily. For example. If you weight 160 pounds, divide by two and you should be drinking at least 80 ounces of water a day; even more if the weather is hot or dry. Sorry , I still think in ounces – you convert to litres.

Make sure you avoid beverages that contain caffeine or alcohol. They tend to act as diuretics, removing water through more frequent urination!

Your body is about 75% water. Drinking enough of it so your body can operate correctly is one of the simplest and easiest things you can do all day long to help stay well.

Good, you’re drinking enough water to give your body the fluid it needs to properly conduct virtually every bodily function. But what kind of water?

Tap water. Sure it’s convenient, but what’s in it? Unless you enjoy well water that is tested regularly, you can’t be sure what’s in today’s municipal water supplies. Besides the chemical taste that comes from using chlorine to kill bacteria, the tap water in your home can contain trace amounts of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and minute amounts industrial chemicals.

Bottled water. Usually of better quality, bottled water comes from many sources. Normally it is labeled as having come from a particular source, such as a spring, glacier, spa or even a filtered and ozonated public water supply. Even though consistent labeling regulations are not in place, read the label.

Mineral water. This is a type of spring water that means that the mineral content of the water has not been altered. Plus, to be called "natural spring water" it cannot be extracted from a spring, but must flow freely from its source and bottled at that location.

Sparkling water. This is water with dissolved carbon dioxide, either from its natural source or added during the bottling process. Interestingly, carbon dioxide is a waste product that your body removes with each breath.

Carbonated beverages (especially with added sugars!) may taste good, but aren’t very good for you.

Distilled water. This is the purest form of water that is collected from condensing the steam from boiling water. Most of the minerals and pollutants have been left behind; leaving a tasteless liquid that is the safest to drink. Some purists add some lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to give it some flavor.

Water Filtration

Water is an essential component of good health. If you’re drinking more, even during the colder winter months, congratulations! Here’s the latest in our continuing series on water. This time we clarify the options in home water filters.

If you suspect the tap water you use for drinking and cooking contains substances you’d rather not ingest, there are a variety of household water filters you may want to consider.

Carbon filters. Most of the drinking water filters available for home use are granulated activated carbon filters. Carbon has long been used to adsorb impurities and improve the taste of water. In fact, a pound of carbon has a surface area of 125 acres and can adsorb thousands of different chemicals. However, heavy metals such as lead do not bond to the carbon, making carbon filters of little value if this is your primary concern.

Reverse osmosis. Using a semipermeable membrane, particles of a certain size or smaller are allowed to pass through, keeping back larger ones. However, some contaminants can make it through the membrane. These systems can reduce heavy metals and minerals and are often combined with activated carbon filters.

Ozonation. Ozone is mainly used at public water treatment facilities and is becoming popular for those who use well water. This type of treatment "super-oxygenates" water. Since this is a process that primarily addresses bacterial contamination, it’s usually combined with carbon filtration to be most effective. It is the most expensive to maintain.

Regardless of the water you drink, drink enough each day and consider drinking it at room temperature. A cold drink slows down the assimilation process in your stomach in the same way an ice pack can reduce blood flow around an area of inflammation.

And just in case that you consume too much holiday cheer remember that the after effects are a result of dehydration….so drink up and top up on your water.