Anna Melville-James finds that Oxfordshire residents have been slow to realise that water is the staff of life

Natural mineral waters are the only waters guaranteed, by law, to be naturally wholesome without treatment and consistent in microbiogy and mineral composition. As such, a natural mineral water is unpolluted and free from harmful bacteria without the use of chemicals, making it a valuable addition to a healthy diet. The role of water in our diets is extremely important, as water makes up approximately 75 per cent of the human body, and 85 per cent of brain tissue. A lack of water can lead to mild dehydration, with side-effects ranging from headaches, lethargy, constipation and mood changes.

In its most severe form, dehydration can cause problems with renal function, cardio-vascular performance and mental functioning. And you cannot rely on thirst to prompt you when to drink - by the time you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated.

All of which is a sobering thought for the 85 per cent of people in the South East, including Oxford, who drink less than the recommended eight glasses of water per day, according to research by the Natural Mineral Water Information Service.

Worryingly, the service's research also found that one in fourteen people in the South East never drink water, prefering dehydrating drinks with a slightly diuretic effect such as tea and coffee! However, with total sales of bottled water in the UK now exceeding 600 million at retail level, according to Evian, it appears that people are finally getting the message that water is the staff of life. Britain remains one of the fastest growing bottled water markets in Europe, where its dynamic performance is in part due to a catch-up factor with the rest of the continent who have been swigging bottled water as a matter of lifestyle for decades.

Other factors involved include concern over the quality and taste of tap water, and a move toward a more health conscious society and a sporty, wholesome image for the humble clear liquid.

Those interested in maintaining a youthful appearance might also take note of the fact that water is nature's best moisturiser. Even the most expensive skin cream in the world will not do a better job than nature's "beauty juice", as sufficient water consumption will moisturise and hydrate your skin from the inside to give you that youthful, plumped-up skin glow. A regular water flow will also help to move toxins through your body, and can even help in reducing the appearance of cellulite in women.

Aside from liquid volume, mineralisation in natural mineral water, provides vital trace elements, such as calcium, crucial for bones, teeth and the nervous system, magnesium for healthy cardio-vascular functioning and potassium, which can help protect against strokes and hypertension.

Rigourous testing for quality and consistency over a two year period allows an underground source water to attain the status of natural mineral water, where it can be bottled and sent to our tables as pure refreshment from the ground, unprocessed and free from any additives.