Our bodies consist of about 70% water, and we must remain hydrated in order for our bodies to work optimally. We have all learned that by now, and we have also been taught that hydration is a primary need, but what exactly does the body need water for?
We know that we have to drink between 1.5 and 2litres of water per day in order to maintain the balance of fluids in the body, if we are healthy sedentary adults living in a temperate climate; more if we are physically energetic and/or living in a hot climate, but what does all this water do?
5 Functions of Water in Our Body
Water is a major component of our bodies and vital organs, and renders five life-sustaining functions in our body:
1. Body Temperature Regulation
Drinking water to replace the water lost through sweating and other means is vital because water helps to limit the vagaries in body temperature. Water allows the body to expel heat when surrounding temperatures are higher than one’s body temperature. This is done via the body exuding water in the form of sweat, which then evaporates, and it is that evaporation that cools on the body very efficiently.
2. Cell Life
Drinking water regularly is necessary because water is the carrier that helps distribute vital nutrients such as glucose, minerals and vitamins to each and every cell throughout the human body. It also helps to deliver oxygen to all the cells in the body. Water helps the body’s cells to grow, reproduce and survive.
3. Chemical and Metabolic Reactions
Water gets rid of waste products including toxins that are rejected by the organs’ cells. This waste is then transported to the kidneys, bladder and colon, and dispatched via urine and faeces.
4. Lubrication
Water acts as an effective cushion that surrounds the joints, and keeps them lubricated so that they move easily. Water also acts as a shock absorber for the brain, eyes, and spinal cord, and it protects the foetus via amniotic fluid.
5. Transport of Nutrients
Drinking water helps the body with the biochemical break-down of the foods that we eat and transports the nutrients to where they are needed.
Source:
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