Understanding Daily Water Requirements For The Human Body

Since childhood, one is taught to hydrate one’s body at all times. But still, people do not pay attention to such an important thing. How much water should one drink every day? What happens if one does not drink enough water? Is drinking enough water really essential to live a healthy life? These are simple questions that various studies have answered throughout the years. 

But, of course, all bodies are not the same. Depending on various elements such as health, lifestyle activity, and place of living, the daily water requirement differs. 

Why Should You Drink Water? 

Having to drink water every day goes without saying. To know why this act is so essential, continue reading its benefits mentioned below. 

• Temperature regulation

Water is used by the human body to regulate temperature because of its ability to absorb and transport heat. Water has a high heat capacity, which means that it can absorb a significant amount of heat before temperature increases. When there is adequate fluid flowing in the body, the bloodstream is better positioned to maintain homeostasis and maintain stable body temperature.

• Boosting immunity

Having a good immune system is important if you want to live a long life. No one wants to keep falling ill, and you can simply avoid this by maintaining good water intakes. By keeping yourself hydrated at all times, you are creating a healthy and strong immune system. Dehydration, on the other hand, will reduce your body’s chances of fighting bacteria and viruses.

• Maintaining the body

Water is surprisingly one of the elements needed for easy maintenance of the body. If you drink adequate amounts of water on a daily basis, then know that you are actually taking care of your body in many ways. You could avoid several health issues just by drinking enough water regularly. 

• Brain

The brain contains around 73% water—even more than the rest of your body as it requires sufficient hydration to maintain the body’s hormones, neurotransmitters, or overall functioning. Dehydration, whether severe or mild, is seen to interfere and impair one’s productivity levels. To help maintain the brain’s functioning normally, always staying hydrated is important. 

• Heart

Although cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, studies show that staying hydrated can lessen the chance of developing heart failure. It is seen that if you don’t consume enough water, serum sodium levels in your body rise, causing the body to try to preserve water—a process that has been linked to heart failure.

• Kidneys

The kidneys are essential organs in proper regulation and balancing of salt, water, and minerals in the body. Without water, kidneys will not be able to eliminate toxic waste which could lead to the production of kidney stones. Adequate intake of water will aid the kidneys in the required flushing out of toxicity from the body.

• Joints

Keeping yourself hydrated is essential for flushing out toxic elements from the body which can then reduce inflammation in your joints. Similarly, water even helps your joints stay adequately lubricated because the synovial fluid that is present is made up primarily out of water, and can avoid gout attacks. 

How Much Water Should Your Body Intake on A Daily Basis?

There is the norm that you must drink 8 glasses of water every day for proper functioning of the body. Although it is an achievable goal, this statement is false as not all bodies are the same. You could feel dehydrated even after drinking the 8 glasses. Thus, your water intake depends on several factors. 

Age- Different age groups require different water intake levels. Infants below the age of 6 months are not suggested to consume plain water, while those over 12 months of age can. For adult women, it must be over 3 litres, and for men over 4 litres, a day. But still, there can be no specific limit to drinking water every day. It depends on how much the body asks for. 

Activity level- Considering that you engage yourself in strenuous exercises such as lifting weights, running, or even walking for a while, you will end up sweating. Sweating is the loss of water from your body that you need to make up for by drinking water consistently. 

Climate- Unlike cold weathers, hot and humid environments require continuous hydration because of excessive perspiration. Even at high altitudes, one can feel dehydrated. 

Health- If you are suffering from high temperature, diarrhoea, bladder infections, etc., then consumption of water is very important. Doctors recommend that at such a stage drinking water continuously will help your body recuperate quickly. Even pregnant or lactating women must keep themselves hydrated at all times. 

What Are the Signs of Dehydration?

If you face any of the following signs or symptoms, then you must immediately go and drink water. These include-

• Dark yellow coloured urine
• Reduced regularity in urinating
• Feeling exhausted, and dizzy with headaches
• Dry mouth and eyes
• Wanting to drink water
• Sudden pangs of hunger
• Muscle cramps

How Are the Signs of Hydration? 

• Pale coloured urine
• Feeling energetic
• Regular intervals at urinating
• Elasticity of skin

Is Drinking Too Much Water A Thing? 

Although such episodes are of rare occurrences, drinking too much water can be fatal to the human body. Drinking an excess of water can disrupt the functioning of your brain, and this is known as water poisoning. Excessive water is responsible for diluting electrolytes in your blood, especially sodium which can then lead you to a state of hyponatremia. Hyponatremia occurs when your body’s sodium level falls less than 135 millimoles per litre. 

As known, sodium is essential for maintaining the required balance of fluids in and out of the body’s cells. At the drop of sodium levels, fluids can easily permeate from to the insides of cells from the outside, causing them to significantly swell up. Hyponatremia can prove to be life-threatening if the brain cells start to swell up. 

Thus, drinking too much water can lead to water intoxication. 

Conclusion

There is none but your body who is responsible for making the best decisions for you. The average human is 60% water which is why keeping yourself hydrated is very critical. Drinking water is not a tedious task, and even a sip at regular intervals can help your body go a long way.