10. Present day habit of taking water
As the civilization has advanced man learnt to add taste to whatever he eats or
drinks. Even the fruits, vegetables, leaves, nuts and roots are modified by way of
cooking according to the needs of the taste buds. Since we are used to tasty food we
are averse to natural foods. Yet we drink water, which has no taste. For the last 15-
20 years some people are rejecting even the taste of natural water. When their
34
tongue has developed such tendency they are not interested in the natural water.
We may be inclined to take water at least when we sweat. There is no sweat either
these days. People take water just like that but not with any interest. The tendency
is such that they add sugar to water and spice to buttermilk. If this situation
continues a day may come when we have to add salt or something to water, store it
and then drink it. Many in urban areas might have already got this idea by this time.
Earlier, guests were given a welcome with a glass or vessel of water. Now we treat
the guests with tea, coffee or some soft drink. Rich people are not taking water
outside their homes. They fear that the water we offer may be contaminated and
they carry water wherever they go.
Now a day we are used to bed coffee and whenever we are thirsty we take soft
drink, beer and juice instead of water. There are 10% of people who take two or
three glasses of water per day and there are 60% of those who take five or six
glasses of water or even less. 15% may be taking two liters of water. 10% take
between two to three liters of water. 5% take between three and four liters of water.
Those, who take 5-6 liters of water a day, are very rare. Those who take less water
frighten those who take more water by saying that kidneys will have to bear more
loads and everything goes out along with urine and the blood gets diluted.
Even those who take less water suffer from nausea and allergy. There are people
who take limejuice instead of water or add pepper to water. Elders take less water
and discourage children who to take more water. Children generally drink more
water. Parents feel that children do not take food and milk properly if they consume
more water. These days many take bottled water. If you ask them to take 5-6 liters
of water they raise the pertinent question of the cost involved for the whole family.
I enquired during the last 7-8 years from several people about their way of taking
water. Those who take more water brush aside the difficulties. Those who cannot
take more know the difficulty better. Some cannot take more water because of
health problems and yet others are averse to take more water by birth. Different
tastes lead to varying behaviors. The difficulty to take more water is part of it. If we
change the existing habit of taking water and take water according to the needs of
the body health will improve. If you are mentally ready to take more water it
becomes tasty. If you start thinking that we are not taking water for its taste but for
health there won’t be any difficulty.