The Importance of Water: Your Body's Lifeline

Water is essential, going beyond just satisfying thirst. It’s a basic part of what makes life possible. Your body needs it to perform many important jobs. Consider that the average man’s body is about 60% water, women’s bodies are around 50%, and the brain is about 75% water. It’s definitely true that we can’t live without water for very long.

Every day, your body loses water when you urinate, sweat, and breathe. You need to replace this lost water regularly to stay healthy. If you don’t, you could become dehydrated. Here’s a quick look at what happens when you’re dehydrated to different degrees:

• 1% dehydration: You start to feel thirsty and have trouble focusing.

• 5% dehydration: You get hot and tired, and your performance decreases.

• 10% dehydration: You may experience confusion and blurry vision.

• 20% dehydration: This level can be life-threatening.

This shows how important water is for survival. It’s not just something that’s nice to have; it’s essential.

The Roles of Water in Your Body

Water has many important functions for your health. Let’s take a closer look at some of its main roles:

1. Transporting Nutrients: When a substance dissolves in water, it can be transported more easily. Your blood, which is 83% water, carries oxygen, nutrients, and waste products from cell to cell. Even urine, which is mostly water, helps remove waste from your body.

2. Moistening and Protecting: Water keeps your mouth moist, washes away dirt from your eyes, and lubricates your joints, helping them stay flexible.

3. Maintaining pH and Electrolyte Balance: Your body’s pH level needs to stay around 7.4. Water helps keep this balance. It’s also important for controlling electrolytes, like sodium and chloride, which are necessary for nerve signals and muscle contractions.

4. Participating in Chemical Reactions: Water is essential for many processes in the body, from digesting food to providing energy for your muscles and organs.

5. Regulating Temperature: Water helps your body maintain a stable temperature.

6. Reducing the Risk of Health Issues: Staying hydrated can lower your risk of kidney stones, some types of cancer, and constipation.

7. Ensuring Adequate Blood Volume: Water is a major part of your body fluids, which are needed for good circulation.

Properties of Water

Water has some special properties that make it essential:

• Boiling point: 100 degrees Celsius

• Freezing point: 0 degrees Celsius

• pH level: 7 (neutral)

• Polarity: Water is polar, meaning it can dissolve many substances.

• Conductivity: Pure water doesn’t conduct electricity, but it does when mixed with other substances.

• Density: At 25 degrees Celsius, water has a density of 1 gram per cubic centimeter.

Water as a Solvent

Water is very important in your body’s chemical processes. It’s a solvent, which means it dissolves other substances. When substances dissolve in water, they become ions called electrolytes. These electrically charged particles are essential for nerve communication and muscle contraction.

Types of Water

There are different types of water, depending on where it comes from and how it’s processed. Here’s a quick overview:

• Hard Water: Contains a lot of minerals like calcium and magnesium, usually from low-lying sources.

• Soft Water: Has higher levels of sodium, typically from high-altitude or deep underground sources.

• Potable (Drinking) Water: Safe for people to drink, often treated before use.

• Bottled Water: May sometimes be better than tap water, as some brands get it from the same sources.

• Artesian Water: Comes from a well that taps into a confined rock formation.

• Groundwater: Comes from underground sources and doesn’t come into contact with surface water.

• Mineral Water: Contains at least 250 parts per million of dissolved solids.

• Purified Water: Has had all minerals removed, often called distilled water.

• Sparkling Bottled Water: Naturally contains carbon dioxide.

• Spring Water: Flows naturally to the earth’s surface from underground formations.

• Well Water: Comes from rock formations.

Water Intake Guidelines

How much water do you need each day? A good rule is to drink when you’re thirsty and stop when you’re not. However, these guidelines can help:

• Aim for 1 to 1.5 milliliters of water for every calorie you use each day in normal conditions.

• During exercise, replace about 500 milliliters of water for every pound you lose.

  
  

Remember that your body loses water through sweat, breath, urine, and feces. Staying hydrated is very important, especially during intense physical activity or hot weather.

In short, water is essential for your body. It’s not just about satisfying your thirst; it’s about making sure your body works as well as it can. So, drink up and stay hydrated—it’s one of the easiest ways to improve your overall health.

Share your thoughts in the comments below! How do you make sure you drink enough water each day?

All content of this blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this blog.

Kelly Sherman, MS, NC, CGP, CPT, is a licensed nutritionist specializing in empowering women to reclaim their health by cutting through misinformation and ditching the diet culture. She has a master’s degree in nutrition and is degreed in exercise science as well as a certified personal trainer. With over 20 years of experience in the field, she combines the best of both nutrition and exercise sciences to best help her clients reach their potential. To nourish is to flourish!