As with all foodstuffs, water is surrounded by urban myths and, like all urban myths, the Fact is very different from the fiction.

I'm rarely thirsty, so I don't need more water. Fact:Many people just don't recognise that they are dehydrated and, as we grow older, the symptoms become more difficult to spot. On average, most adults need to drink 2 litres of fluid a day - the bulk of this should be water. Drink more if you work in an air conditioned office or do lots of exercise.

- Sparkling Water gives you cellulite.

Fact: There's no evidence that sparkling water gives you cellulite. On the contrary, the more water you drink, the easier it is for your body to flush out the toxins which are one of the causes of cellulite. The best time to drink water is half an hour before each meal and half an hour after - not during your meal - this interferes with digestion.

- Too much water causes bloating.

Fact: Water retention is due to factors such as poor circulation and hormonal changes - the amount of water you drink actually has no effect on bloating.

- Water is a liquid form of health insurance.

Fact: In Britain, we cannot - by law - make health claims for specific waters, but most nutritionists, dieticians and doctors now recognise that failing to drink enough water is the cause of many problems - the most obvious being constipation in a large proportion of the population. The trouble seems to be that, whilst we've all cottoned on to the fibre message, a high fibre diet only works if that bulk is flushed through with water. In Europe and elsewhere, many people are committed to the view that natural mineral waters are one of the best forms of 'health insurance'.

- Too much water can drown your kidneys.

Fact: Water is essential for maintaining the health of your kidneys and helping to flush toxins and body wastes through them.

- Tap water is subject to more rigorous legislation than Natural Mineral Water.

Fact: Not true. Both tap water and Natural Mineral Water are governed by stringent but different regulations which reflect the different origins and methods of distribution. Natural Mineral Waters are regulated with particular care because the product must be safe to drink without treatment. As well as laws specific to these waters, they are also covered by Food Safety legislation.