Water: What's the Big Deal?

Lots.

• Water is the principal constituent of all living organisms and the most abundant component of the human body.  

• Water is present in all body tissues and is essential to all body biochemical processes, including energy production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).  

• Water is an end product of the metabolism of energy-producing nutrients and contains no calories. • Approximately 50-60% of an adult's total body weight is water. 

Water intake must be equivalent to water elimination for homeostasis.

• Water provides an aqueous medium for all body fluids, secretions and excretions such as blood, lymph, urine and perspiration.  

• Water transports nutrients to cells and transports wastes from cells. 

• Water provides a medium for excretion of wastes from the body and aids in digestion of food through hydrolysis.  

• Water regulates body temperature through insensible water loss from the skin and maintains the physical and chemical constancy of such body fluids as plasma and lymph.  

• Water acts as a lubricant in the pleural cavity and pericardium.  

• The body does not digest water since no digestion is required.

So drink up, folks!  Get rid of headaches, lose weight, clear the skin, improve digestion, improve body functions, improve restful sleep....there's really no end to the health benefits of drinking good, pure water.

It's suggested to consume 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water per day.  Drink more to compensate when perspiring and/or during physical activity.  

Tip:  Consuming 4 ounces of water at 20 minute intervals (a guideline) will give your body an opportunity to absorb the water.  Chugging large quantities at a time may send you trotting off to the WC!

LNH