Including soil moisture and ice caps, to the cells inside our own bodies, water is practically everywhere. The average human is between 55-60 percent water, depending on factors such as location, fat index, age, and sex.
Human babies are much wetter at the time of birth. They are swimmingly similar to fish, being 75 percent water. But by their first birthday, their water composition would drop to 65 percent. So what part does water play in our bodies in order to remain healthy, and how much do we really need to drink?
The H20 acts to cushion and lubricate joints in our bodies, regulate temperature, and nourish the brain and spinal cord. Water isn’t in our blood alone. The brain and the heart of an adult are about three-quarters water. The amount of moisture in a banana is approximately equal to that.
At 83 percent, the lungs are more comparable to an apple . And even the apparently dry bones of humans are 31 percent water. Why do we really need to drink so much if we are simply made of water and surrounded by water? Well, we lose two to three liters every day through our sweat, urine, and bowel movements, and also through breathing too.
Although these functions are necessary for our survival, we need to offset the loss of fluid. In order to prevent dehydration or over-hydration, maintaining a healthy water level is necessary, both of which can have devastating effects on general health.
Sensory receptors in the brain’s hypothalamus signal the release of antidiuretic hormone at the first sense of low water levels. When it reaches the kidneys, it creates aquaporins, special channels that enable blood to absorb and retain more water, leading to concentrated, dark urine.
Increased dehydration can cause notable drops in energy, mood, skin moisture, and blood pressure, as well as signs of cognitive impairment. A dehydrated brain works harder to achieve the same amount as a normal brain and, due to its lack of fluids, it also shrinks temporarily.
Over-hydration, or hyponatremia, is typically caused within a short period of time by overconsumption of water. Because of the challenges of controlling water levels in severe athletic environments, athletes are frequently the victims of over-hydration.
Whereas the dehydrated brain amplifies antidiuretic hormone production, the brain that is over-hydrated slows down, or even ceases, releasing it into the blood. In the body, sodium electrolytes become diluted, causing swelling of cells.
The kidneys can not keep up with the resulting amounts of diluted urine in extreme cases. Then water poisoning occurs, likely causing headache, vomiting, and seizures or death, in rare cases.
But that situation is pretty extreme. Maintaining a well-hydrated system is easy to maintain on a regular, day-to-day basis for those of us lucky enough to have access to clean drinking water.
Conventional wisdom has suggested for a long time that we need to drink eight glasses a day. That estimate has been fine-tuned since then. The opinion now is that the amount of water we need to drink is largely based on our weight and the environment.
The recommended daily intake for men ranges from 2.5-3.7 liters of water and around 2-2.7 liters for women, a range that whether we are safe, active, aged, or overheated, is pushed up or down. Although water is the healthiest hydrator, fluids are often replenished by other drinks, including those with caffeine like coffee or tea.
And water in food accounts for around a fifth of our daily consumption of H20. There is over 90 percent water in fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, cucumbers, and even broccoli, and it can complement liquid intake while supplying essential nutrients and fiber.
Drinking well can have multiple long-term advantages as well. Studies have shown that adequate hydration can reduce the possibility of stroke, help control diabetes, and potentially reduce the risk of some cancer types.
No matter what, it makes a lot of difference in how you feel, think, and work every day to have the right amount of liquid.
