Water: The essence of life
IT is all around us. Water falls from the sky in abundance, feeding the trees and plants that nourish us. The surface of planet Earth is about 70% water. Without water, life would not exist. Everything withers and dies when deprived of water. Imagine a planet without it: A lifeless rock of empty expanses and dusty deserts.
You may think you’re solid, but you are in fact mostly liquid, roughly 60%. While we all need water, food and air to survive, food production requires large amounts of water, and 20% of our water intake comes from fruits and vegetables in our diet. So you could say water is more important than air.
Water is a pervasive part of our daily experience, even when we notice it the least. Could you imagine being on water rations? We use water to brush our teeth, take showers and brew coffee. Not to mention for wash- ing dishes and flushing the toilet. We even use it as hydropower to make the electricity that powers everything from toasters for your breakfast to digital devices for your email.
Without water, we could survive only a few days at best. First, the body seeks what fluids it can from within itself, pulling water from the intestinal tract, muscles and the brain to support vital organs. This is only a temporary solution to stave off the worst, and it doesn’t take long before severe dehydration sets in and we die from lack of water.
Do you suffer from chronic headaches, fatigue, confusion, memory loss, dizziness, muscle pain, cold fingers and toes, eczema, dry skin, brittle hair and nails or constipation?
It could be something as simple as lack of water that contributes to the cause. Lack of water also speeds the aging process and makes the skin look older, accentuating wrinkles. Water is used to flush toxins from the body, and stress on the kidneys from lack of fluids also shows in the face in the form of puffy cheeks, dark circles and sunken eyes.
Water helps to keep our brains functioning properly, enhancing focus and staving off brain fog, and keeps our digestive systems running smoothly. Water also energizes the muscles by maintaining a balance of fluids and electrolytes.
Everything that goes out must be put back in. The body uses water throughout the day for every activity, and this does not include additional strain on our water reserves caused by exercise and sweating.
We feel thirst when even 2% to 3% of our body’s total water has been lost. But the effects of this loss are felt in our performance much sooner, at around 1%. Fail to replace the fluids lost over the period of a day, and the lack can lead to some of the symptoms associated with dehydration, ranging from mild to severe.
The International Sports Medicine Institute recommends a daily intake of 1⁄2 an ounce of water per pound of body weight, and 2/3 of an ounce if you lead an overall active and physically demanding lifestyle. Be sure to drink water during and after exercise, but especially before exercise, as the body can take nearly 20 minutes to absorb it.
The idea that water helps weight loss is controversial. However, it is agreed that weight loss attempts can be aided by replac- ing higher calorie beverages with pure water. It is necessary to consume adequate amounts of fluids, water being the ideal, but keep in mind that taste is important and you’re more likely to drink it if you like the taste. That being said, high-calorie sugar laden drinks are no replacement for water.
It would be an understatement to say that water is essential to your health. Water is required for every biological function that keeps us alive, and a lack of it puts excess strain on all the vital organs. It is an essential spoke in the wheel that is your vitality and well-being.
More knowledge: Check out this article on the top 4 tips for drinking water!