Effects of Dehydration
Why is water essential to health maintenance?
According to Water Education “water makes up more than two thirds of the weight of the human body, and without it, we would die in a few days. The human brain is made up of 95% water; blood is 82% and lungs 90%. A mere 2% drop in our body's water supply can trigger signs of dehydration: fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on smaller print, such as a computer screen. Mild dehydration is also one of the most common causes of daytime fatigue. An estimated seventy-five percent of Americans have mild, chronic dehydration. Water is important to the mechanics of the human body. The body cannot work without it. In fact, all the cell and organ functions made up in our entire anatomy and physiology depend on water for their functioning (Free Drinking Water: Water Education, 2009).”
It is very important for our daily maintenance of our bodies; drinking water is a key role in the prevention of disease that can occur throughout our lifetime. Drinking eight glasses of water daily can decrease the risk of colon cancer by 45%, bladder cancer by 50% and it can potentially even reduce the risk of breast cancer.
What are the functions of water in the body?
* Water serves as a lubricant
* Water forms the base for saliva
* Water forms the fluids that surround the joints.
* Water regulates the body temperature, as the cooling and heating is distributed through perspiration.
* Water helps to alleviate constipation by moving food through the intestinal tract and thereby eliminating waste- the best detox agent.
* Regulates metabolism
Water is required for the distribution of nutrients, electrolytes, hormones, and other chemical messengers throughout the body, as well as the removal of waste products. Water is involved in cellular energy production and the maintenance of body temperature. It is also an important structural component of skin,...