Water is by far the most abundant substance on earth and in our bodies. Water is not only abundant, but is also essential to life, as all metabolic processes occur in a water medium. Putting the subject of hydration into perspective as a nutrient, the International Life Sciences Institute has developed a monograph, Hydration: Fluids for Life.

The monograph provides readers with an overview of current knowledge related to the functions of water; methods of determining hydration status; sources of water in the diet; and specific considerations for infants, children, physically active individuals, and elderly individuals. The monograph also covers the recommended intakes, as specified by the Institute of Medicine’s Food and Nutrition Board in the 2004 Dietary Reference Intakes for water.

The monograph can be obtained free of charge by sending an email to hsteele@ilsi.org or you can access it online as a PDF file at www.ilsina.org.