According to Reuters, the study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who drink water tend to eat a diet higher in fiber and lower in sugar and calorie-dense foods.

According to researchers involved with the study, the findings do not prove that drinking water makes people eat healthier. Rather, it suggests a connection between the two.

Health experts recommend staying hydrated with water as an important part of a proper diet since it is calorie-free and can help make the stomach seem full.

Some claim alkaline water is an even better choice. According to ImmuneSystemRemedies.com, ionized alkaline water is a powerful antioxidant, effective detoxifier and superior hydrator, compared to conventional drinking water. In addition, it can help with weight loss, allows for better absorption of the nutrients from food and can make skin appear healthier through effective hydration.

Insufficient water intake may cause individuals to experience routine fatigue, dry skin, headaches, constipation and a decrease in normal bodily functions.

Scientists from the University of Alabama at Birmingham reached this conclusion based on a larger study which aimed to uncover the source of differences in bladder cancer rates across the U.S.

The researchers compared bladder cancer incidence and mortality rates for men and women to levels of cigarette smoking, solar UV radiation and well water as a source of drinking.

The results reaffirmed that cigarette smoking is directly associated with bladder cancer incidence and mortality rates, and found that well water intake is directly associated with bladder cancer incidence in women and mortality rates in both sexes.

Moreover, exposure to solar UV radiation is inversely associated with the risk.

"Cigarette smoking is a well-known risk factor associated with bladder cancer but sources such as the patient’s water supply are coming to light as potential unmonitored risk factors," says Dr. J. Brantley Thrasher, a spokesman for the American Urological Association.

To explain the results, the researchers hypothesize that increased risks may arise from pesticide contamination, which may be present in drinking water from unmonitored domestic wells.

Those concerned about the quality of the water they drink may turn to the alkaline water.

It has a higher pH level, and there is evidence it may help neutralize stored acids and toxins and facilitate their removal from the body.

To help ensure their water supply is safe Americans have a range of options including boiling, using filters, UV lamps and other disinfection techniques.

In underdeveloped countries, where a child dies every 15 seconds from a waterborne disease, the best hope is to develop educational programs to target positive ideas about safe water and storage that include clarity, taste, good health, affordability and ease of use.

"Building Safety Week is about providing individuals and families with the tools to live safely, and that includes the basic need for safe water," says Rick Weiland, president of the board of governors of ICCF.

"Nothing is more critical than a ready supply of safe and potable water to essential function in day-to-day living," he adds.

Once we ensure our water supply is clean and safe, it may also be a good idea to add the alkaline water to the daily diet.

This type of water has a higher pH level, and there is evidence it may help to neutralize stored acids and toxins and facilitate their removal from the body.

Some also believe alkaline water can help resist disease and slow the aging process.