The Importance of Water

Water is the main component of the human body. About 2/3 of the body is water. Important tissues and organs are primarily made up of water. Water plays a very important role in the body. Without water your body can not function properly.
  - Muscles consist of about 75% water
  - The brain consists of about 90% water
  - Bone consists of about 22% water
  - Blood consists of about 83% water

Many of these functions of the human body require water to take place:
  - Transport nutrients and oxygen into cells
  - Moisturize air in the lungs
  - Protect vital organs
  - Boosts metabolism
  - Assists organs in absorbing nutrients
  - Regulates body temperature
  - Detoxes the body
  - Protects and moisturizes joints

There are many benefits of drinking water. Some of these are:
Banish headaches. Headaches can be a symptom of dehydration, so by staying hydrated you may be able to keep your headaches away.

Lose weight. Water is a natural appetite suppressant and increases metabolism. So by drinking water you can reduce hunger cravings. Water also helps flush out the by-products of fat loss and aids in the breakdown of stored fats in the body.

Great looking skin. Drinking water helps to replenish skin tissues, moisturize and increase skin elasticity.

Increase productivity. Since the brain in mainly made up of water, by staying hydrated you can be more alert and increase concentration.

Reduce muscular injury. Water keeps your muscles and joints lubricated. By staying properly hydrated you can reduce muscle cramps and injuries.

Relieve fatigue. Water flushes out toxins and waste products from the body. If your body is craving water your body will need to work harder to carry out its functions, in turn making you feel fatigued.

Improve digestion. Water breaks down the food that we eat.

How much water should you drink?
It is hard to know exactly how much water you should be drinking each day. An easy way to estimate is to multiply 0.5 oz with your body weight in pounds. For example, if you weigh 150 lbs you should drink a minimum of 75 oz a day. That is about 9-10 glasses a day. There are many factors that contribute to a fluctuation in your need for water such as exercise or illness.

Sources:

17 Health Benefits of Drinking Water." Health Cave. 12 May 2011. Web. 18 Mar. 2012. <http://healthcave.com/17-health-benefits-of-drinking-water/>.

Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Water: How Much Should You Drink Every Day?" Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 12 Oct. 2011. Web. 18 Mar. 2012. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283.