Around 2/3 of your weight, 90% of your lungs, 83% of your blood, 75% of your brain, 75% of your muscles and 22% of your bones is all water. This fact alone answers why water is important for the human body. However, this is the short story, in reality, water is much more important for life than people think, and sufficient intake of water is crucial for a healthy body.

Role of water in bodily functions

  • Every cell and organism in your body requires water in order to function properly. It carries oxygen and nutrients to the cells and is required for the chemical processes taking place in them.
  • Water helps regulate your body temperature, internally and externally.
  • The waste material from body is flushed using water, when it passes through your kidneys.
  • Water is essential for the movement of food through your digestive system.
  • The fluids which cushion your joints are formed by water, helping absorb the shocks caused by movement and reducing friction.
  • Absorption of nutrients and regulation of your metabolism is dependent on water.
  • All your bodily fluids, for instance saliva and blood, require water (lack of water causes your mouth to dry up and your blood to thicken).
  • According to some studies, water actually helps prevent diseases such as cancer.

Effects of low water intake

  • Lack of water in your body results in dehydration, fatigue, loss of focus, dizziness and decrease in work performance and productivity.
  • Serious health issues can arise if your body lacks more than 10% of the required water level.
  • Human kidneys need water to function and lack of water can lead to kidney damage.
  • You cannot survive more than a week without water.

Importance of water in exercise and weight loss

  • Drinking water before every meal is very helpful in reducing hunger and preventing overeating.
  • If you do not replace the water lost from your body during exercise, you will dehydrate yourself, causing muscle fatigue and soreness.
  • Toxins can be byproducts of burning fats and need to be removed from your body. Water is essential to flush them out through your kidneys.
  • Extended workouts without sufficient water intake will lead to severe dehydration and health issues.
  • Your metabolism rate greatly depends on your water intake. If you are not drinking enough water, your weight loss plan will be severely hampered.

Tips for proper water intake

  • Your required water intake will depend on your activity level and the amount of water you lose. However, it is recommended that you drink at least 2 liters of water every day.
  • Starting your day with a glass of water can be very effective in kick-starting your metabolism and cleansing your kidneys.
  • Try and keep a bottle of water with you in your car and at the workplace.

Don’t wait to feel thirsty before you drink water. Thirst is your body’s reaction to actual dehydration.