Water is everywhere, covering the majority of the planet and making up most of your body. Water is so important that you would die within three to five days if you didn't consume any, according to Discovery Communications online. Even if you don't drink tall glasses of regular water every day, you are still alive because the beverages and food you consume also contain water. When it comes to staying healthy and hydrated, though, nothing--not even special vitamin-infused water--can beat the pure stuff.
Water in the Body
Water makes up approximately 60 percent of a person's body weight: the lungs are about 90 percent water, the blood is more than 80 percent water and the brain is about 70 percent water, says Discovery Communications online. Since sweating, breathing, urinating and defecating cause the average adult to lose a little more than 10 cups of water every day, replenishing the source is a must.
Functions of Water
Water serves a host of important functions in the body. For example, it lubricates the joints and keeps the ears, nose and throat moist. It also flushes toxins out of the body, dissolves nutrients to make them easier to absorb, prevents constipation and helps the body regulate its temperature.
Water Needs
Although some water can be absorbed through food, the Mayo Clinic says that most people should drink 8 to 9 cups of fluids per day to stay fully hydrated. The Institute of Medicine, on the other hand, advises men to drink about 13 cups of total beverages and women to drink about 9 cups per day. People who are more active may need to consume more fluids to replace additional water lost through sweat. However, as long as a person is rarely thirsty and his urine remains light yellow or clear, he should be well hydrated.
Signs of Dehydration
Exercise, diarrhea and hot environments put a person at higher risk of becoming dehydrated. Dark urine, dry mouth, extreme thirst, lightheadedness, dizziness and weakness are signs of mild dehydration. If fluids aren't replenished at signs of mild dehydration, severe symptoms, such as rapid breathing, convulsions, loose skin and sunken eyes, may occur. In extreme situations, heart failure and death may be the end result.
Bottled vs. Tap
Drinking bottled water has become increasingly popular in the U.S. due to perceptions that it is somehow less dangerous and more purified than tap water. However, bottled water isn't typically any safer than tap water, as the Environmental Protection Agency's standards for tap water are the same standards the Food and Drug Administration sets for bottled water. Because more than 90 percent of water systems in the United States meet tap water quality standards, most people needn't drink bottled water for reasons other than taste preference. A water supplier will notify all residents in areas where tap water doesn't meet standards.
Member Comments