Not enough attention has been paid to water and its importance in diet. Water is for our body to operate efficiently. Every cell in our body depends upon water to function properly. Most of us do not understand the role of this vital nutrient.

About 70% of our total body weight comes from water. Inadequate intake of water could lead to major diseases that modern medicine can treat but fail to cure. Along with being a natural curative, a sip of water lowers body temperature, dilutes blood the required consistency, promotes excretion of position from the skin in the form of evaporation, stimulates the normal functions of the kidney and increase the movement of the intestines. Hot water works as a laxative sedative and relieves pain, cramps and spasms. It also increases the metabolic rate and aids digestion.

Water acts as a solvent, coolant, lubricant and transport agent. The amount of body water varies with body fat. The percentage of water to body weight is greater in lean individuals. This is due to the nearly water free characteristics of fat tissue, which results in bodies with more fatty tissues containing proportionately less water than bodies with less fatty tissues.

Besides keeping body temperature stable, water carries nutrients, eliminates toxins and waste products, maintains blood volume and provides the medium in which chemical reactions occur in the cells.

The body has three sources of water : a) fluid intake b) water content of food and c) the fluid released during metabolism of protein, carbohydrates and lipids.

Though thirst is the body's way of signaling that water is required, most of us ignore the signal. Most people, on average drink only one cup of water per day as against the recommended intake of at least 6-8 glasses per day. The rest of the water body needs to be extracted from other liquids or foods that we eat. Not enough water is a real threat to the system. Many chemical reactions inside the body will not occur with the right amount of water. It only takes one percent of fluid loss in the body to become dehydrated.

This generally happens prior to any conscious sensation of being thirsty. Very small shortages of water can dramatically change and disrupt biochemistry. Exercise physiologist consider water as the single most important variable in peak performance. Your muscles can lose up to 10% of their contractile strength and 8% of speed from only 3% dehydration.

A small change makes a big difference when it comes to water. If you do a lot of travel by air, you can lose as much as two pounds of water in a three to four hour flight. Stress, alcohol and caffeine all influence the amount of water and the speed in which your body loses it. Any of these factors factors, alone or in combination could cause a small but critical shrinkage of the brain. This small shrinkage will impair neuromuscular coordination, decrease concentration and slow thinking. The average amount of water loss per day is two cups through breathing, two cups though visible perspiration and six cups through urination and bowel movement. This a total of ten cups lost per day without taking into account perspiration from exercise or hard work , excessively dry air or alcohol and caffeine consumption.

• Blood is 83% water

• Muscles are 75% water

• Bone is 22% water

• 55-56% of woman's body is water

• 65-75% of a man's body is water

• An average adult body holds 35 to 50 liters of water.

© 2008 www.way2goodhealth.com