Carpinteria, CA—May 4, 2010—Water is extremely important for human survival and physical health, making up nearly 60% of total body weight. According to the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), an organization that provides distance education to personal trainers, losing just 4% of this water can reduce muscle strength, impair motor skills, and lead to heat cramps. Losing 10-20% results in death. Replenishing the body with water, especially in a hot climate or during and after intense exercise, is imperative in preventing dehydration.

Living in a country where a person rarely needs to worry about how to obtain the next clean dose of drinking water, it’s easy to be ignorant of the water shortage and sanitation problems faced by millions of people throughout the world. It’s usually not difficult for Americans to run a tap or pick up a bottle of water, while others often face the risk of disease and death through various waterborne bacteria and viruses with just one sip of polluted or contaminated water from their only available source.

"While some struggle to obtain even one cup of clean water for sustenance," says Dr. Sal Arria, CEO/Co-founder of ISSA, "it is a disappointing reality that many people who have easy access to such a precious resource choose not to take advantage of it, instead filling their bodies with fluids such as soft drinks, or carbohydrate and sugar-packed sports drinks that are meant as an accompaniment to an active lifestyle rather than a replacement for one."

Water, paired with a balanced diet (and accounting for physical activity), is the only natural fluid that can wholly contribute to a healthy life. A positive step toward properly utilizing this valued resource is to avoid drinks containing high-fructose corn syrup and salt, opting for clean drinking water instead – after all, it is a privilege even to have that choice.

1.4 billion people lack access to safe drinking water – visit: www.thewaterproject.org