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Water, a source of wellbeing for mind and body

Opening today in Cesena is the “Water, health and wellness” Conference
Drinking calcium-rich mineral water helps maintain excellent bone health
An optimal water balance is necessary for proper functioning of the brain
A valuable resource that should not be wasted

Cesena, 6 June 2014 - Nutritionists are focusing increasingly more on the water intake in our diets. In fact, water is an essential element that plays a primary and irreplaceable role in hydrating the body, helping to keep it in a healthy condition.

Moreover, it is now widely recognised that water also plays an important role with regard to the intake of valid substances for the body thanks to its high degree of bioavailability, that is, the quantity of elements contained in water that are assimilated by the body, first and foremost, calcium.  "Mineral waters that contain at least 300 milligrams of calcium per litre and are poor in sodium must be considered an authentic food source of calcium", explains Dr.Alessandro Zanasiof the Department of the Integrated Cardio-Thoracic-Vascular Activities of the S. Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic in Bologna and director of the National Museum of Water Resources and Mineral Waters, who is the chairman and organiser of the“Water, health and wellness” Conference,promoted by the Fondazione Internazionale Menarini. "A study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has demonstrated how the drinking of calcium-rich mineral water helps maintain a condition of excellent bone health".

It is also necessary to dispel the false myth that waters rich in calcium cause the formation of kidney stones. "Calcium scale attacks our electrical appliances not our bodies", continues Dr. Zanasi. "Numerous studies have shown that a high calcium intake is not accompanied by an increased risk of kidney stones. On the contrary, some studies have demonstrated that people who have a low calcium intake are even more vulnerable to the formation of kidney stones. Increased availability of calcium in the diet makes the oxalic acid bond with the calcium before it reaches the gastrointestinal tract, significantly reducing its assimilation and as a result, its presence in the urine, and consequently there is no increased risk of kidney stones. The calcium intake time is therefore important and should take place during meals".

The mind is brilliant when hydrated

Considering that our brain consists of 85% water and that in 24 hours just on 1,400 litres flow through it, it is easy to understand how the pursuit of an optimal water balance is essential for the correct functioning of this vital organ. In fact, thanks to its liquid content, the brain amplifies its electrical conductivity and allows the electrical currents (through which the connections take place between the various area of the brain and between these and the rest of the body) to propagate at high speeds and in a smooth, continuous manner.

"Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated the existence of a direct correlation between the degree of dehydration and the levels of brain efficiency and intellectual performance", explains Dr. Zanasi. "The first signs can already be detected at dehydration values of around 2%, with the onset of headaches, fatigue, initial loss of attention and concentration, and reduced capacity and accuracy when performing tasks, even simple ones. A slowing down of reaction times can also be observed, with a reduction in visual-motor skills and in the ability to correctly carry out arithmetic calculations, and diminished short and long-term memory".

The rapport between water and the brain has recently been highlighted in a British study according to which drinking silica-rich mineral water can slow down the cognitive decline.

A valuable resource that should not be wasted

The water used each day during the processing and marketing cycle of the goods we consume, purchase and use, from food to cars and computers, is called the water footprint. A part of this water footprint is known as "green", meaning that it is rainwater that evaporates during the production stages, another part is known as the "blue" water footprint, that is, used water that does not return into the waterways it comes from, and finally, the "grey" water footprint which represents the volume of water that is polluted during the production of goods.

For example, it takes 140 litres of water to produce a cup of coffee, and 15,000 litres of water to produce a kilo of red meat.

An article published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences points out that the agricultural production is responsible for 92% of the global consumption of water, industrial production accounts for 4.4%, and domestic consumption 3.6%.

Italians are among the largest consumers of water in the world. According to the research of the Water Footprints of Nations (Unesco 2007), every Italian consumes 2,332 cubic metres of water a year, on the same level as Spain and Greece. Only the United States consume more (2,483 cubic metres). The world average is 1,243 per capita, whereas in the majority of poor countries the consumption drops to below one thousand cubic metres.

"The water crisis, caused by excessive use in agriculture, is predicted for the year 2030. We must strive to find a sustainable system to prevent a future shortage of such a precious element for the life of humanity and the earth", concludes Dr. Zanasi.

 

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