Importance of safe drinking water in the human body
Water is a fundamental human need. Each person on Earth
requires at least 20 to 50 liters of clean, safe water a day for drinking,
cooking, and simply keeping themselves
clean, Polluted water isn’t just dirty—it’s deadly.
The Human body
weight is approximately 60 percent water, the body uses water in all its cells,
organs, and tissues to help regulate its temperature and maintain other bodily
functions.
Because the human body loses water through breathing, sweating, and
digestion, it's important to rehydrate by drinking fluids and eating foods that
contain water. The amount of water you need depends on a variety of factors,
including the climate you live in, how physically active you are, and whether
you're experiencing an illness or have any other health problems.
Water Protects Your
Tissues, Spinal Cord, and Joints
Water does
more than just quench your thirst and regulate your body's temperature; it also
keeps the tissues in your body moist. You know how it feels when your eyes,
nose, or mouth gets dry? Keeping your body hydrated helps it retain optimum
levels of moisture in these sensitive areas, as well as in the blood, bones,
and the brain. In addition, water helps protect the spinal cord, and it acts as
a lubricant and cushion for your joints.
Water Helps Your Body
Remove Waste
Adequate
water intake enables your body to excrete waste through perspiration, urination,
and defecation. The kidneys and liver use it to help flush out waste, as do
your intestines. Water can also keep you from getting constipated by softening
your stools and helping move the food you've eaten through your intestinal
tract. However, it should be noted that there is no evidence to prove that
increasing your fluid intake will cure constipation.
Water Aids in Digestion
Digestion
starts with saliva, the basis of which is water. Digestion relies on enzymes
that are found in saliva to help break down food and liquid and to dissolve
minerals and other nutrients. Proper digestion makes minerals and nutrients
more accessible to the body. Water is also necessary to help you digest soluble
fiber. With the help of water, this fiber dissolves easily and benefits your
bowel health by making well-formed, soft stools that are easy to pass.
Water Prevents You from
Becoming Dehydrated
Your body
loses fluids when you engage in vigorous exercise, sweat in high heat, or come
down with a fever or contract an illness that causes vomiting or diarrhea. If
you're losing fluids for any of these reasons, it's important to increase your
fluid intake so that you can restore your body's natural hydration levels. Your
doctor may also recommend that you drink more fluids to help treat other health
conditions, like bladder infections and urinary tract stones. If you're
pregnant or nursing, you may want to consult with your physician about your
fluid intake because your body will be using more fluids than usual, especially
if you're breastfeeding.
How Much Water Do You
Need?
There's no
hard and fast rule, and many individuals meet their daily hydration needs by
simply drinking water when they're thirsty, according to a report on nutrient
recommendations from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. In
fact, most people who are in good physical health get enough fluids by drinking
water and other beverages when they're thirsty, and also by drinking a beverage
with each of their meals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. If you're not sure about your hydration level, look at your urine.
If it's clear, you're in good shape. If it's dark, you're probably dehydrated.
Now the
Institute of Medicine sets general guidelines for total water intake. It
recommends that women consume a total of 91 ounces (that's about 2.7 liters)
per day – from all food and beverages combined. For men, it's about 125 ounces
a day (or 3.7 liters).
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