The human body is made up of approximately 70% water, the brain is 75% water and our blood is 83%. We are continually losing water over the day through urine, sweat and in our breath as vapor. This water has to be replaced, as the body cannot store water. In fact, the human body can last weeks without food but only days without water; water is absolutely essential to life.
Essential Functions of Water
· Acts as a delivery system, taking nutrients to cells and removing waste
· Forms the base of many bodily fluids such as blood and saliva
· Helps regulate body temperature
· Forms fluid surrounding joints
· Needed for digestion, softening and dissolving food components
· Essential for normal bowel movements and preventing constipation
· Keeps skin hydrated
· Useful in cellular function of body
· Allows organs to maintain vitality and functionality
Energy and Exercise Performance
Dehydration is one for the fastest routes to low energy; a drop in body water of just 1 or 2 percent can result in your energy levels dropping significantly. And it’s not just physical energy, its mental energy too; ability to think clearly, mood, concentration and memory all suffer when we are dehydrated. If you feel your energy or concentration is flagging, a glass of water may be all you need to perk up. Water is also essential for exercise performance, as your muscles cannot function properly without adequate fluids.
Appetite and Weight
The feeling of being thirsty is often mistaken for hunger, particularly as we get older as the thirst mechanism declines with age. Therefore, drinking plenty of water can actually help with appetite control.
Water ‘pre-loading’ (drinking water before meals) can help you to eat less and is a relatively easy habit to implement if trying to lose weight. A 2015 study for example, found that simply drinking 500ml of water 30 minutes before each meal, helped overweight adults lose an extra 1.3kg in 12 weeks. Foods with high water content will also help keep us feeling full and help appetite control; fruit and vegetables, porridge and soups are especially good for this.
Detoxification
Water is important to remove waste products from the body and to help the body process and get rid of any toxins. The kidneys require plenty of water to filter and remove impurities and waste from the blood. The liver, your body’s main detoxification organ also needs water to neutralize harmful substances so they can be safely removed from the body. Adding a squeeze of lemon to your water will further stimulate the liver’s detoxification pathways.
Skin
Dehydration causes the skin to become dry, and look dull and even makes wrinkles look worse. Staying well hydrated is essential for your skin to stay radiant, to help prevent acne and to generally look and function at its best. Fluid retention also occurs when the body is short on fluids, as it hangs on to the precious water it does have – this can make skin look puffy and can make you feel bloated all over. When we drink plenty of water, it helps the body rid itself of excess sodium and ironically reduces water retention.
Water plays very important role from cellular activity to organ functioning. Thus Water Matters..
Image credits- byjus, essenceofwater
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