The Importance of Water in Overall Health

The human body is made up of more than two thirds water, and our brain alone is made up of 95% water, followed by the lungs at 90% and blood at 82%.  Just a small drop in the water supply of our body can cause signs of dehydration, such as trouble focusing on small print, basic math difficulty and fuzzy short-term memory.

Water is extremely important to the organ and cell functions of our bodies.  Some of the most critical ways water helps us as humans include metabolism regulation, the formation of the base of our saliva, constipation alleviation, body temperature regulation, joint lubrication and more.

Some of the other important health benefits of water:

• Flushes out toxins through the kidneys
• Fills you up and prevents overeating
• Reduces soreness during exercise
• Decreases tendency to retain fluids
• Helps the intestines absorb nutrients
• Helps maintain muscle tone
• Naturally moisturizes the skin

It is recommended that most people drink eight to ten glasses of water a day and to begin drinking before thirst sets in.  This is important because the body loses water faster during activity in sweat than it can absorb into the digestive system.  Depending on how active you are, you may need to modify your water intake.  According to the Mayo Clinic:

If you exercise or engage in any activity that makes you sweat, you need to drink extra water to compensate for the fluid loss. An extra 400 to 600 milliliters (about 1.5 to 2.5 cups) of water should suffice for short bouts of exercise, but intense exercise lasting more than an hour (for example, running a marathon) requires more fluid intake. How much additional fluid you need depends on how much you sweat during exercise, the duration of your exercise and the type of activity you're engaged in.

Concerned about how much water you are taking in? Consult a dietitian or a doctor, as they can help you figure out the amount of water that's most appropriate for you.