Water of Life

Why is water so important?

Our bodies consists of ±65% water. That is more than half of everything that our bodies are made of. Our brains alone consists of ±78% water.

Water is important because the cells in your body, your metabolism, brain and nervous system need it to function properly.

Without proper hydration your body won’t function optimally. Your brain won’t function as its supposed to because the neurotransmitters in your nervous system will be disrupted.

Imagine a dehydrated child in classroom or exam. He cannot process new information or remember properly. Even while studying children should drink enough water to keep their brains functioning optimally and get the most out of their study time.

Some signs of dehydration are thirst, loss of appetite, dry skin, dry mouth, fatigue, weakness, chills, head rush and headache. Most of these symptoms can be relieved by simply drinking water, even headache!

So how much water is enough?

Many people advise 8 glasses of water per day. While this is a good start, you have to take your size, diet and activity level in consideration.

The rule of thumb is for every 10kg (22lb) you weigh, you have to drink 1 glass of water and then another 2 more glasses.

eg. If you weigh 50kg (110lb) you should drink 5 glasses of water plus 2 = 7 glasses.

If you eat lots of salt, sugar and preservatives, you have to increase your water intake. For every glass of soda you drink (normal or diet), you have to drink an extra 3 glasses of water to replace lost fluids. Yes, sugary drinks causes dehydration!

If you play sports, jog or go to the gym, drink extra water to replenish water lost through sweat and metabolism.

Drink water as clean as possible, without extra additives like tea, coffee or concentrates.

Some people are sensitive to the taste of water while others don't taste anything at all. Personally I don't like the taste of tap water and even some bottled water. I have found that purified water that have been treated with ultra violet tastes crisp, clean and sweet. If you can't stand the taste of water, read the labels on bottled water or paid water dispensers and look for ultra violet sterilization.

Water is part of us, it is all around us and it is mostly free or cheap. By just drinking enough water you can improve your life so much. Teaching your children to drink enough water can improve their lives significantly and may even improve their grades. I'd think giving water a chance is the least one can do.