Most people don’t drink enough water or realize it’s crucial to their health. A human being can live weeks, sometimes months without food. That same human deprived of water would be lucky to survive 3 days. Depending on body-weight and age, water makes up approximately 50-70% of total body-weight.
Every system in our body depends on water. Every chemical reaction in your body takes place in a fluid medium. Water helps with digestion, flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells, provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues. It lubricates our joints and helps regulate our body temperature. The list goes on and on.
Lack of water can lead to dehydration, a condition that occurs when you don’t have enough water in your body to carry on normal functions. Even mild dehydration, as little as a 1 – 2 percent loss of your body weight, can take away your energy and make you tired. Dehydration is more dangerous for the very young and the very old.
Signs and symptoms of dehydration include:
- Excessive thirst
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Little or no urination
- Muscle weakness
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
Formula for Water Consumption
Divide your body weight in half. This is approximately the total number of ounces you should drink daily.
Drink more water if: you are pregnant or breast feeding, have an illness or health condition such as fever, vomiting or diarrhea, eat a high protein diet, live in a hot climate or engage in endurance exercise
Drink water throughout the day to avoid even mild dehydration
