PIC/Pradeep Dhivar

Did you ever in your wildest dreams imagine that water would one day, be included in a menu and sold for the price of wine? We aren't talking of doomsday prophecies of wars being fought over water. We are referring to a restaurant Down Under, which is offering a diverse selection of water that costs as much as vintage wines.

Celebs swear by its efficacy and doctors can't stop gushing about it. So, what is the reason behind all the hype? The humble beverage works wonders for the skin, making it glow by flushing the system of toxins and aiding blood circulation. It is a healer of maladies and can help prevent kidney stone, apart from helping you lose weight.

Experts advise that water should be moderately consumed throughout the day, and some believe lukewarm water does wonders. Around 8-10 glasses of water a day, is a safe amount to consume on a daily basis.
Just like anything consumed in excess is harmful, you have to be careful with water too! You might do more harm than good, by increasing the work load on your kidneys.

Wine tasting ke baad, ab water tasting
Tips to follow when combining water with food:
Match the taste of the dish with the taste generated by the bubbles. Big bubbles may overpower subtle dishes, while still water might a contrast with crispy food.
Major food items of the dish should be matched with the mineral content of the water. Use sodium-free water with caviar or water with a high bicarbonate level for cheese.
Check out the acidity and alkalinity of water. Water that is neutral can go with anything. Water with a slight alkalinity may taste sweet, while waters with a very high alkalinity may taste bitter.

Personalised celeb water service
A trend that may catch up soon is personalised water. A company called Watermedia created different designs for their first customer-Formula One player David Coulthard. The designs were for his yacht in Monaco, family villa in Spain and souvenir bottles for his museum's café in Scotland. Watermedia is part of the niche, private label bottled water market. They have created corporate bottles for companies like Audi, Microsoft and Sony.

Celebs that trust in water
Kareena Kapoor drinks lots of water to flush toxins
Tanushree Dutta consumes lukewarm water as she feels it makes her skin glow
Amrita Rao starts her day with 2 glasses of warm water
Aishwarya Rai consumes warm water with lemon and honey. She has 8 glasses of water daily.
Bipasha Basu drinks 10 glasses of water daily.

Is water the new wine?
Located at Sydney's Four Seasons Hotel, Kable's offers health-conscious customers "bold" or "velvety" varieties of water, which can cost as much as some vintages.
The restaurant offers a menu of 20 types of water from around the world, with descriptions that wouldn't feel left out on a fine wine menu.

5 experts give 5 reasons to drink up
Dermatologist says
Dr Malavika Kohli, Consultant Dermatologist and Cosmetic Dermatologist, Jaslok and Breach Candy Hospital
Water hydrates your skin, gives it a healthy glow and slows down the ageing process.
Across all age groups, 8-10 glasses of water per day are essential. If you exercise, 1-2 litres more is needed.
Lack of water may lead to dryness of skin, though that may be caused by other factors too.
Whether water is lukewarm or cold makes no difference.
Sudden weight loss, by going on a diet leads to loss of fat support, which is harmful.

Ayurveda expert says
Ravi Kothari, Ayurveda Specialist
Ayurveda says that warm water consumed during meals, acts as a medicine for indigestion.
You should not have water after meals.
Warm water takes 1-1.5 hours to digest, while water at room temperature needs 4-5 hours. In comparison, cold water takes 7-8 hours to be digested.
If one consumes less water, the sugar level and blood pressure fall and there is dehydration. Lack of water leads to constipation.
All major bodily functions are governed by water.

Dietician says
Parikrama Wagh, Dietician
If you exercise regularly, you need to consume 5-6 litres of water daily.
During a workout, you should only have water when you are exhausted.
Water may be harmful for health conditions like water retention, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Oedema.
Individuals suffering from obesity, constipation and diabetes should sip water throughout the day.
Water should not be consumed during meals or had after a meal.

Nephrologist says
Hemant Mehta, Nephrologist, Lilavati Hospital
A normal person should consume 3 litres of water. In hot and humid weather, they should consume around 4 litres and during the  monsoon, they can consume 2 litres.
People with kidney stone should consume 5 litres of water. uIf you have kidney disease, space out water consumption.
There is no difference between consuming lukewarm, warm or cold water.
Inadequate intake of water leads to stone and urinary tract infection. Drinking excess water may lead to sodium imbalance.

Fitness Trainer says
Mickey Mehta, Holistic Health Guru
Water helps you detox and aids circulation.
If you consume too much water, there is an excess load on the kidney and the renal system. So, drink water only when thirsty.
You should always have warm water. Avoid cold water as it has a negative impact and cools down the body fire.
During a workout, you would get dehydrated. Hence, it is essential that you have water before, during and after exercise.
Around 4 glasses of warm water leads to weight loss.