A Humble Nutrient Called Water!
We all know that water is essential for life. All living things require water to survive. Such is the importance of water. But do we know water has a role to play in many other functions in our body? It helps in improving the status of our health.
Now let’s understand how water is our best friend! Up to 60% of human adult body is composed of water. Water is present in and outside the cells, all our tissues, organs and blood. Babies and kids have more percentage of water in their bodies as compared to adults. Even a slight decrease in water content of the body, is enough to initiate the symptoms of dehydration such as loss in concentration- getting distracted, feeling fatigued, heavy headedness gradually leading to headache and feeling dizzy.
Major Functions of Water:-
1. All cells in the body contain water. A cell cannot come into being without water. Thus it is helps in formation of our body.
2. Water regulates body temperature by releasing heat through perspiration and cools the skin after releasing sweat. In a colder climate less sweat is released and thus heat is restored in the body.
3. It’s a component of fluid that helps in lubricating joints and thus we are able to carry out movements.
4. Aids in Digestion: — It’s the major component of saliva and thus helps in digesting and lubricating food in mouth while chewing. As the food is swallowed it helps in easy transport of food from the mouth through the esophagus to the stomach.
5. Aids in absorption of water soluble vitamins such as the Vitamin B group, Vitamin C and water soluble minerals — which perform important functions in the body such as aiding the process of energy production, building DNA, RNA, scavenging the harmful free radicals etc.
6. Helps in circulation of oxygen and various other nutrients throughout the body being an important part of blood.
7. It aids in flushing out the waste and toxins from the body through urination and sweat.
8. It’s the basic requirement for the formation of enzymes and hormones and to carry out various chemical reactions in the body.
9. It acts as shock absorber for our central nervous system i.e. brain and spinal cord and also for fetus.
Some interesting facts:
1. Water and Weight Loss: — Water has no calories. Always prioritize water over any other drink to keep yourself hydrated. Drinks such as aerated beverages, soft drinks, sherbets, energy drinks and packaged juices contain a large amount of added sugar in them. These unnecessary add up to the calories and neither are good for health.
You will notice a good reduction in your weight if you are a regular with the above mentioned beverages and replace their intake with plain and humble water!
Also keeping yourself well hydrated with water is a healthy approach since brain may not recognize the signal between thirst and hunger and you may end up overeating instead of drinking which may lead to double problem of increase in weight as well as dehydration!
2. Water and Constipation: — People suffering from constipation are advised to increase their fiber intake through diet or supplements. Thus it’s important for them to increase his/her water or fluid intake for fiber to swell up and become smooth and form soft stools which are easy to pass from the intestine and rectum and discarded from the body.
3. Water and Gout: — Gout is a condition where in there are crystals of uric acid formed in the joints leading to pain and thus affecting movement. It is recommended by doctors that drinking plenty of water and diet modifications help in getting rid of these uric acid crystals and flushing them out from the body.
References:
https://water.usgs.gov/edu/propertyyou.html
https://www.nestle-waters.com/healthy-hydration/water-body
https://water.usgs.gov/edu/propertyyou.html
http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water-education/water-health.htm
