As our body ages, it becomes dryer. A newborn’s body is 75-80 per cent water, compared to 50 per cent after age 65 or 70. This drying out is reflected in wrinkled skin, reduced saliva flow, and stiffened joints that occur naturally with ageing. Thirst threshold increases with age; therefore, older people need to pay more attention to drinking enough water as they have decreased thirst.

Drinking surplus water is harmful for kidney and heart failure patients. Contrary to popular belief that drinking water causes bloating, exactly the reverse is true. Drinking water will decrease bloating. Salt and sodium-rich foods like preserved meats, soups and pickles etcetra, imbalanced female hormones, cardiac dysfunction, or renal disease are the most common causes for bloating.