Why it's still worth building a habit of drinking fluids

Lately there is more and more talk about the importance of taking in fluids, and not only because it's summer, but because dehydration has become the disease of our age. We can survive far longer without food than without fluids, scientists tell us, and various doctors have confirmed this with certain types of fasting. It's worth asking, then: where does the mistake lie? In our hurry we often fail to recognise the voice of our body; we become thirsty but don't consider it important enough to take a pause of a minute or so to honour it, and instead carry on with what we have started. Time passes, and our body begins to ask for fluids in another way – “it's time to eat something”. It's as though we have a stronger urge for food than for drink.
Why is it still worth building a habit of drinking fluids?
Depending on the degree of dehydration, the symptoms can be: dryness of the skin and the mouth, thirst, headache, dizziness, exhaustion, weariness and fatigue, an acetone smell on the breath, dark-yellow urine, and, if we do not respond, far more serious ones. Healthy habits sometimes do not come by themselves but are a process of learning and of changing one's way of life. Let's take care to drink enough. Doctors recommend taking in 2-2,5 litres of fluid a day, some even more. Heavier sweating, physical activity and heat call for greater hydration of the body. With children it is especially important to make sure they drink enough, because they tend to get carried away in play and don't notice that they are thirsty.
Some scientists claim that only water fits the bill; others say that teas, soups and pressed juices are just as good. I think it is important, in any case, that we take in enough fluids.