Nutrition

Educated physical trainers will pinpoint nutritional intake as being far more crucial than the exercise itself, which merely acts as a stimulus for exercise specific adaptation. Nutrition determines your vitality and thus the body's ability to response to exercise stimulus.

"It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver."
Gandhi

Related » Anthropology ¦ Water Bottles

Hydration

Water, monopolised, industrially delivered and polluted as hell
Irena Salina - Flow : For Love of Water » Documentary Film

Alcohol »
Used as a social lubricant for thousands of years, alcohol may play a significant cultural role. However it's an addictive, toxic, diuretic, no matter what form of ethanol alcohol is consumed. Many point to the anti-oxidant qualities of reservatrol in particular. When assessed as a whole it is more negative than positive.
Water »
We can survive without food for weeks, but perish without water after a matter of days. Dehydration symptoms generally become noticeable after 2% of one's normal water volume has been lost. Athletes may suffer a loss of performance of up to 30% at this level.
The average adult male is 60% water, of which 40% is is intracellular and 20% extra cellular. We require a regular replacement rate in order to detoxify the body and provide the necessary solute for all the chemical reactions occurring within the body.
Thermo-regulation has been key in man's evolution. Most of the energy generated by the body is lost as heat. Approximately 60% of the calorific energy from food is lost as heat from ingestion to ATP (the intermediary molecule used to power muscle) generation. An additional 5% is lost as heat when the ATP is metabolized during the actual mechanical work of muscle fiber contraction. Thus only 25% of the calorific energy we consume is actually used to power the muscles.
Our ability to cool down rapidly during ATP metabolization through sweating & vaso-convection allowed man to hunt down animals (lacking this capacity) over long periods. Added to this, the fact we're 70% water, and the myriad of chemical reactions produced in our bodies rely on this fact. You can see why hydration plays such a vital role.
Although virtually impossible to blanket prescribe, many suggests daily intake @ bodyweight (lb) / 2 = ounces of water. The mineral balance (hardness) of water is important, as it it affects the internal functioning of cells dramatically. The mineral & glucose supplementation found in "energy drinks" is generally not necessary.
The water supplies approved for domestic use invariably contain traces of chlorine, fluorine, disinfectants, medication introduced via the sewage system, solvents, herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, heavy metals, petrochemicals. Domestic water filters are recommended for all and a especially important for those suffered from compromised immune systems, such as cancer sufferers.
There are many forms of water filtration systems (EI-Resource ¦ Health and Goodness), a combination reverse osmosis and ceramic filter system the most recommended, but this also removes the natural mineral content of the water which must then be reintroduced. Reverse Osmosis Systems are attached to either the mains or a tap.
David Getoff - Whats in your water? » Underground Wellness interview.
Mains are definitely preferable since more chlorine is potentially absorbed through the skin (approx. 25% permeable to this) or inhaled whilst showering. Reducing water temperature limits the amount of toxic chemical released amongst the water vapor. Shower head filters are perhaps a more practical alternative however.
The skin absorbs much of what is is surrounded by, salt water pools are thus are far better option than chlorinated pools, where possible.
Fluoride » Here are the facts (Fluoride - The Missing Link ¦ Fluoride NO MORE (save yourself and others) ).
For bottled and filtered water suppliers (click).