Maintaining our fluid levels is very important. Water cushions our joints, keeps our eyes and mouth moist, helps us swallow, allows our bodies to absorb nutrients, helps get rid of toxins and help keeping our body temperature regular. Adults need ± 2lt of water a day, more is needed in hotter weather, exercising or if you do physically demanding work.
Adults lose ± 3lt of fluid a day, ± 1-1.5lt in urine, 0.5-7lt in perspiration, 400ml in our breath and 300ml in our faeces. If you drink coffee, tea or alcohol, you need to drink even more water. Coffee and tea contain a mild diuretic, hence you pass more urine. Alcohol on the other hand, leads to dehydration. Drinking more than your recommended daily water requirements, helps flush out toxins, leading to improved skin, hair and nails. However, drinking more water than your daily requirements, does not flush out more toxins, it will just increase your trips to the loo.
Drinking a lot of water (± 4-6lt) over a short period of time, can upset your body’s sodium balance and can lead to a condition called hyponatremia, or water intoxication. These symptoms include nausea, bloating and seizures, due to swelling of the brain.
In elderly people, dehydration is a common problem. It is vital they drink enough water, especially if they are on diuretic medication. Dehydration can lead to chronic constipation, confusion and coordination problems, often mistaken as general signs of ageing.
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