The Forgotten Nutrient

Water forms an essential part of our diet and is the second most important component required for survival after air. But we tend to neglect our water intake and most of us do not drink enough water (myself included). Not drinking enough water can cause more harm than we can imagine and the first step to maintaining good health is to drink enough water and incorporate exercise in our daily routine.

The amount of water we need depends on various factors such as our weight, amount of exercise, lifestyle and where we live.

The Hydration Calculator can give you a good estimate of how much water you require depending on individual needs.

Here are some tips I try to follow everyday to make sure I drink enough water:

• Keep a glass of water next to you. Have a glass of water at every transitional point of the day: when you first get up, just before leaving the house, when you sit down to work, etc.
• Drink before you get thirsty. People who drink to satisfy thirst replace only about half of what they need.
• Carry a bottle of water when you go out. This will stop you from spending money on buying beverages or other drinks when all you need is water to re-hydrate.
• Thirst masquerades as hunger. So when you get hunger pangs between meals, it’s often a request by your body for water rather than food.

Good health is indeed a favour that we take for granted. We should express gratitude to Allah for bestowing us with sound health. Allah has entrusted us with our bodies for a predestined period of time. He will hold us accountable for how we looked after and utilised our bodies and good health.

Abdullah bin Abbas (ra) reports that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “There are two bounties of Allah wherein most people are deceived, health and free time”.

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) mounted the pulpit, then wept and said, "Ask Allah for forgiveness and health, for after being granted certainty, one is given nothing better than health."(Tirmidhi).