India will soon have its hi-speed bullet train and this will speed up our already fast lives. Speed has its advantages no doubt but it has seeped into our lives and is making us dizzy. Our food is fast, our communication is fast, our relationships are fast and brittle, and we are paying a high price for it. Sensibly enough, a new trend called `slow food’ is striving to keep the balance. But we should also have `slow water’. We seem to have forgotten the manner in which water should be consumed; we have it anytime, anywhere, in any form. Our parents and grandparents knew the right ways to drink water no doubt, but we have not imbibed their knowledge.Here are some tips on how to consume water:1) Eat or drink: When you are eating, just eat, and when you are drinking just drink. Like the pot which requires a fire underneath to cook it, the stomach too has its own internal fire to `cook’ the food one is consuming. Now what would happen if you threw water over the pot in which the food is being cooked? Naturally, the fire would die out. Similarly, by drinking water when you are eating, you put out the digestive fire in your body. As a result, your food is poorly digested and this could lead to various problems. It’s a good idea to wait for half-an-hour to have water after your meals.2) Drink only when thirsty: Your body is the most perfect instrument in the world, and it has a perfect feedback mechanism. When it’s tired, it sends you a signal; when it is hungry, your stomach starts to growl; when it’s thirsty your body sends you a message. In the rush-rush of our lives, we tend to ignore these signals. It’s absolutely important to not postpone thirst and drink your glass immediately when your dry mouth sends you a message.On the other extreme, there are new fads which advise you to consume endless quantities of water. Some will tell you to have at least 15 glasses, some will say maximum 12; as if they knew your body better than you do. Drink only when you are thirsty. Drinking more water than the body needs can lead to water intoxication, which upsets the electrolyte balance. Too much water reduces sodium in the blood and this could result in serious health conditions.3) Cold is not gold: The temptation to drink cold water, particularly in the summer, should be controlled. Cold water affects the digestive system by contracting the blood vessels and thereby restricting digestion. It also makes the absorption of nutrients difficult.One of the main reasons to avoid drinking chilled water is because it has serious implications on your digestion. Chilled water as well as some cold beverages contract the blood vessels and also restrict digestion. The natural process of absorbing nutrients during digestion is hindered when you consume chilled water. Cold water also makes the nasal mucous thicker, it is said, and makes it difficult to pass through the respiratory system. Of course, we all know that it results in a sore throat.4) Sit and sip: Standing and drinking water makes it difficult for the body to benefit from the water because it rushes down with pressure to the lower stomach and harms the nearby areas. Over a period of time, it could upset the entire digestive tract. Also, in the standing position the water rushes through to the lower stomach without any filtration as a result of which water impurities settle in the bladder and this could damage the kidneys.5) Slow and steady: Life is fast-paced but drinking water should be slow-paced. In our hurried lifestyle, we tend to do everything fast, but sipping water slowly is highly advisable. Instead of gulping it down, have it sip by sip. This makes it possible for the water to be absorbed properly. In fact, there is also a view that instead of sipping one glass of water slowly and continuously instead of gulping it, sipping it over a period of time is even better than sipping it continuously. This could save you the number of trips to the loo. One good way of checking if you are having enough water is to check the colour of your urine: it should be lemon yellow. If it is the colour of water, then you are having too much.We seem to have forgotten the very basics that would keep us healthy and happy. The simple joys of a glass of water are many but perhaps they are better appreciated by people who don’t have easy access to drinking water.Authored by: Dr Hansaji Yogendra, The Yoga Institute