Reduce Fatal Heart Attack Risk By 50%

What's the "magic" potion to reducing your risk for a fatal heart attack? A 2002 study in the American Journal of Epidemiology said it's water. That's right, water.

Drinking five or more glasses of water a day-versus two or less-can reduce your risk by 50%. Here's why: Water helps thin the blood, making it less viscous and less likely to clot or damage blood vessels.

Dr. Kenneth R. Kensey, in his book The Blood Thinner Cure (Contemporary Books, 2001), says most of us go through life in a dehydrated state because we rely on our sensation of thirst as our guide for when to drink water. He goes on to say that by the time we're thirsty, we're already dehydrated and our blood is too thick.

He believes thick, sticky blood and its turbulent flow are a primary cause of hardening of the arteries, heart attacks and strokes. The need then, he says, is to drink enough water so that we never experience thirst.

How much is that? Approximately 12 cups (96 ounces) each day, more if we're exercising.

While some would disagree with Dr. Kensey's strong position on the importance of hydration and arterial health, inadequate daily water consumption is clearly a problem for most of our society and may be a major contributor to our number one cause of death-heart attacks.

The bottom line is this. When we're properly hydrated, our heart and blood vessels- as well as all other bodily functions-work much better. As a result, we think better, our strength and endurance are better, we feel better, we are healthier and we will live longer. Adequate hydration also has the added benefit of helping us eat less by giving us a satisfied feeling, which is a key ingredient to achieving and maintaining a lean healthy lifestyle.

So work hard to develop the habit of keeping adequately hydrated every day. Start carrying a water bottle with you wherever you go, and keep sipping that water.