Let's Get Hydrated !

freedrinkingwater.com

Carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamin, and mineral have been deliberately discussed on previous posts. 

Don't we forget something that has an important role in our body, either ?

Yes. WATER!

Remember that approximately 60% of out body consists of water. That is why we need to drink water a lot every single day. Imagine if we didn't drink a glass of water only in a day, would we survive ?

Water is also a major constituent of human body, which can't be produces adequately by our metabolism. As the consequences, we need enough intake of water to not to meet negative health effects. But then, a problem pops up in our society. People question how much water should they drink every day ? And how to know whether they are well hydrated or not ?

First thing first, let us know what roles water play in human body :

1. Water as a building material : water as the main part of cells and tissues in our body, this primary function leads to nutritional recommendation for water intake.

2. Water as a solvent, a reaction medium, a reactant, and a reaction product : water will solute carbohydrate, protein, water-soluble vitamins, so are easily absorbed by cells. Water is involved in hydrolysis reaction as to hydrolyze carbohydrate, protein, and lipid. At other side, body's metabolism sometimes need enzymes that are soluble in water, so water helps enzymes to catalyze some reactions in body. Last, but not least, water is produced by the oxidative metabolism of hydrogen-containing substrates in the body.

3. Water as a carrier : water helps transporting nutrients molecules to all body cells removes wastes from cells.

4. Water and Thermoregulation : water has a large heat capacity and a large vaporization capacity which contribute to limiting changes in body temperature

5.  Water as lubricant and shock absorber : water, in combination with viscous molecules, forms lubricating fluids for joints, saliva, gastric and intestinal mucus secretion. Water helps maintaining the cellular shape during running and walking.

When we were an infant, the total water in the body is higher than adults. Water content in extracellular compartments in infant is much higher than the intracellular compartments. Whereas in adults, water content in intracellular compartments is two-third of total water.

 I'm showing you the water balance in our body through this given table : 

Jequier(2010)

That's all I can share to you about the importance of water to our body.

Do not forget to drink enough water as you don't want to get dehydrated.

Thank you

Reference :

Jequier, E. and F. Constant. 2010. "Review : Water as An Essential Nutrient : The Physiological Basis of Hydration". European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol 64 : 115 - 123.