Water's Connection To Your Body
- Aswan Harris
- Jun 18, 2019
- 3 min read
Did you know water conservation levels decrease in our body as we age? You read that correctly. An infant has 75% water in their body, an adult has 60% and it drops to 50% in seniors.
What does it all mean? Well . . . . As we age the body losses its ability to hold as much water at it once did in our more youthful year. It’s important to stay hydrated daily to fight the aging process as well as to make sure our main organs continue to function properly. Our major organs and the cells in the body are comprised of water. Our brain, kidney, lungs, heart and liver can contain up to 85% water. Even our bones contains approximately 31% water.
Here's a little food for thought. A lot of vegetables and fruits that we eat also contain a lot of water in them, so adding certain foods such as watermelon, lettuce, cucumbers, celery etc; can also add to your water consumption. I would still aim towards drinking the appropriate amount of water just to be sure you are giving your body it's much needed level of hydration, so it can be sure to thrive and keep you healthy.
If you're an adult male you should be consuming a minimum of 3 liters of water per day. If you're an adult female you do not need to consume as much water. Your daily intake should be at least 2.2 liters of water.
For all the die hard gym-goers and athletes, your water intake should dramatically increase. Male athletes should consume between 1-2 gallon of water per day, which equates to 16-32 cups depending on your level of strenuous activity or exercise intensity. For female athletes I would stay around the 1 gallon range or 16-20 cups of water daily. Drinking cold water during physical training is recommended by many doctors, as it helps regulate your body temperature.
Warning
If you are a smoker or you drink alcohol I would recommend following the gym-goer or athlete daily intake requirements, as smoking and drinking acts as a diuretic and causes dehydration.
Water plays a major factor in how we feel, how our body functions, and age. Without the proper hydration levels we can become irritable or confused, and it can lead to dehydration. If you have ever been admitted to the hospital, you might have noticed one of the first things they do is use Intravenous Therapy or in layman's terms give you an IV, to make sure you are hydrated.
Signs of Dehydration
Dizzy
Dry skin
Muscle cramps
Dark pee (Urine)
Headache
Thirsty
Dry mouth
Benefits of Drinking Water
Works as a transportation vehicle for nutrients
Flush waste out of your body (urination)
Joint lubrication
Body rids itself of toxins
Eat less
Regulates internal body temperature
Forms a protection layer for the spinal cord, brain and fetus
What it All Boils Down To
Water is vital to our livelihood; Quite frankly we need it to survive, without proper hydration some of our bodily functions will shut down on us. Staying properly hydrated is a key to our overall health and well-being. Consume sports drinks if you maintain a high level exercise regime and be sure to include high water content fruits and vegetables into your diet to aid your water intake levels.
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