How many times have you heard that hydration is important to your health? If you’re a senior, you probably have heard that it’s especially important for you. But do you know why? It’s one thing to say, “drink water, it’s important!” But what does that really mean?

To start: did you know clinical dehydration is one of the most common causes of hospitalization among persons over the age of 65? Or that the body of an infant is 78 percent water, but by the time we reach advanced years, our bodies have dehydrated to contain only 50 percent water. Moreover, this water shifts with age from the interior of our cells to regions outside the cells. If we fail to drink adequate amounts of pure water, the body will compensate for this lack of hydration, meaning nutritional, biochemical and energy resources that would normally be used for longevity are zapped for short-term survival. That sounds dramatic, but believe it or not, this process accelerates the aging process significantly.