When we talk about the health and nourishment of the body, water is one of those important things that must always be talked about. Water is what makes our body capable of performing all its important functions to sustain life. The human body is composed of 60% water which shows how much important water is for life. Almost all organs of the body rely on water for their functioning. The composition of water in the body is as follow,
|
Body Part |
Water % |
| Brain | 73% |
| Heart | 73% |
| Lungs | 83% |
| Skin | 64% |
| Muscles | 79% |
| Kidneys | 79% |
| Bones | 31% |
Hence, it is seen that all major organs of the body without water are nothing.
What Is The Role Of Water In The Body?
Water is definitely needed to quench the thirst, but it is not limited to that only. Instead, it is an important part of life as the survival of life depends on it. If the water level in the body is not adequate body is not able to keep a healthy balance and optimum health. Role of water in health includes,
- Regulates the body temperature
- Prevents mouth, eyes, and nose from drying up
- Protects the organs and tissues
- Carries and supplies oxygen and nutrients to cells
- Lubricates the joints
- Helps kidneys to flush out the toxins from the body
- Helps nutrients to dissolve in blood and get absorbed by the body easily
- Good for skin
- Helps in weight loss
What Can Make You Dehydrated?
One can become dehydrated due to several reasons. Dehydration occurs when your fluid intake is less than your fluid output. This means your body loses more water than it actually consumes. This situation can arise because of excessive sweating, crying for a long period of time, vomiting due to GI disorders, excessive urination such as diabetes, diarrhea, intense physical activity, extreme weather conditions, and less intake of water on a daily basis.
What Happens When You Are Dehydrated?
The consequences of dehydration vary from mild to moderate and severe.
| Mild | Moderate | Severe |
| Thirst
Headache Dizziness Fatigue Weakness Tiredness lethargic |
Dry mouth
Little or no urine Sluggishness Rapid heartbeat Lack of skin elasticity |
Extreme thirst
No urine Rapid heartbeat Altered mental state Cold Clammy skin |
How Much Water Do You Need In A Day?
In a day it is advised to drink at least 8 glasses of water which makes it 2 Liters of water per day. However, the water requirement varies depending upon factors such as climate, the water content in food, physical activity, etc. In any case, water intake must be good to avoid dehydration.
Foods Are High In Water Content
Apart from drinking water itself, water can also be obtained from food sources. Some foods when added to our diet can help our body to have adequate fluid.
- Cucumber
- Tomatoes
- Apples
- Celery
- Lettuce
- Watermelon
- Peaches
- Broth
- Strawberries
- Oranges
- Skim milk
- Plain yogurt
- Bell pepper
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- Grapefruit
- Coconut
Fun Facts
By the time you feel thirsty, your body has lost more than 1 percent of its total water.
The average person could live without food for nearly a month, but we could only survive about one week without water.
Good hydration can prevent arthritis
Smile. Good hydration can help reduce cavities and tooth decay. Water helps produce saliva, which keeps your mouth and teeth clean
There is the same amount of water on Earth as there was when the planet was formed.
References