Water is an important
structural
component of skin
cartilage, tissues and organs. For human beings, every part of the body
is
dependent on water. Our body comprises about 75% water, the brain has
85%,
blood is 90%, muscles are 75%, kidney is 82% and bones are 22% water.
The
functions of our glands and organs will eventually deteriorate if they
not
nourished with good, clean water.
The
average adult loses about 2.5
liters water daily
through perspiration, breathing and elimination. Symptoms of the
body’s deterioration
begin to appear when the body loses 5% of its total water volume. In a
healthy
adult, this is seen as fatigue and general discomfort, whereas for an
infant,
it can be dehydrating. In an elderly person, a 5% water loss causes the
body
chemistry to become abnormal, especially if the percentage of
electrolytes is
overbalanced with sodium. One can usually see symptoms of aging, such
wrinkles,
lethargy and even disorientation. Continuous water loss over time will
speed up
aging as well as increase risks of diseases.
If your body is not sufficiently
hydrated, the cells will
draw water from your bloodstream, which will make your heart work
harder. At
the same time, the kidneys cannot purify blood effectively. When this
happens,
some of the kidney’s workload is passed on the liver and
other organs, which
may cause them severely stressed. Additionally, you may develop a
number of
minor health condition such as constipation, dry and itchy skin, acne,
nosebleeds, urinary tract infection, coughs, sneezing, sinus pressure
and
headaches.
So how much water is enough for you?
The minimum amount of
water you need depends on your body weight. A more accurate
calculations, is to drink
an ounce of water
for every two
pounds of body
weight. |