THE WEEK . JULY 13, 2014 39

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ater is an elixir, it is quintessen-

tial to life. Like airand food, wa-

ter is one of the basic require-

ments without which life is impossible'

Water is necessary for the normal func-

tioning, growth and development' the

preseivation of health and the enhance-

ment of immunity'

Drinking plenty of water should come

as a natural habit to children as their

bodies require continuous replenish-

ment because of constant physical ac-

tivity and high metabolic rate' However'

an alarming trend has been observed in

theyoungsters of today' Western emula-

tion and the trend for the sugary,ulces

and aerated drinks have brought about

a drastic decrease in children's accept-

ance of water' A study published in Ar-

chives of Diseases in Childhood claimed

that 70 per cent of preschool children

do not drink plain water' Experts believe

that this disquieting tendency is because

advertisers are "catching them young"

by promoting colas, soft drinks' iuices

and sports drinks to youngsters' A trip to

any popular food joint gives proof of this

wiere pizzaisclubbed with one cola and

burger is teamed with another' Children'

who are influenced by adult models' em-

ulate their choices and hence there is a

wide-spread preference for drinks other

than water. This inclination can have a

distressing lmpact on wellness and fu-

ture fitness. Less water intake can lead

to fatigue, weakness, attention deficit'treadaJhe and dehydration and bring

about a detriment in cognitive functions

ar"n ,t concentration, alertness andshort-term memorY in children'

e Water is used bY the body in manY

waysr ietps in digestion and facilitateschewing and swallowingo Lubricatesioints and cartilages

o Regulates bodYtemPeratureo Swlat glands lose water in the form

of perspiration to produce a cooling

effect.a Maintains electrolYte balance

r Flushes toxins and waste throughurination and PersPirationo Prevents constiPationo Blood is about 92 per cent water and

carries nutrients and oxygenthrough-

outthe bodY

As habits developed in childhood have

a lasting impact on future health' it is

mandatory to insist on the regular intake

of waterfrom an earlYage'

There is no doubt that water is indis-

water over caffeinated drinks like tea and

coffee and soft drinks' Packaged water

is agood oPtion whiletravelling'

H-owever, it is necessary to be judi-

cious in the choice of bottled water aS

not all packed drinking water is safe' The

most important aspect that everyone

should check before buying bottled wa-

ier is the authenticity and reputation of

the brand. While most brands promise

quality and carrythe lSl approved stand-

arO mark, trust only well-known brands

from organised companies like Bisleri'

Aquafini and Kinley, which strictly ad-

here to safe processes' Bottled water is

the only product that has the same MRP

acrosgall brands. lnstead of sirttling for

a substandard brand, give your child the

Lest atthe same priceand helpyourchild

sip hiswayto great health with water'

Geetanjali Chitale has a post-gradu-

ate dipioma in Dietetics and Applied

Nutrition and a masters degree in

Food Science and APP|ied

Nutritionfrom MumbaiUniversitY.

putably the most important nutrient and

ihe only one whose absence can have fa-

tal consequences within days' The cur-

rent guideiines say that one should drink

at leist 8 to 10 glasses of water a day'

Though there is no specific instruction

governing the amount of water recom-

irended for children, it is mandatory to

give them water throughout the day and

iot iust when they complain of thirst'

Do not add sugar orflavour if the child

refuses to drink plain water' Add lemon

to water if the child does not accept plain

water readily. Make water appealing by

serving it in exciting glasses' Avoid giv-

ing children sugary or carbonated drinks

aJ replacement to water because they

provide empty caloriesthat lead to child-'hood

obesity. Fresh fruits and vegeta-

bles are also good sources of water' so

add them to every meal' Moreover' set a

good example to your child by opting for