Water, please! - what our body needs water for

Anyone who knows me knows that I've become a true water advocate. Even though I've been the biggest drinker my whole life! Unfortunately, I repeatedly observe that many people in my immediate environment don't drink enough (water). For this reason, it's a personal concern of mine to address this issue here.

“Are you drinking enough?”

I've been hearing this question from my father since I was little. As a doctor, he knows how important it is to drink enough fluids. It was always difficult for me to get the recommended amount of fluids every day. I simply never felt thirsty and always wondered why some people managed to drink enough every day so effortlessly. It wasn't until I started to look into the topic more deeply that I understood how come Because water is so important for our bodies, I actively tried to drink enough water.

I now drink at least two liters of water a day and feel virtually dehydrated inside if I drink less than that. Many of my "problems," like dry skin, chronic fatigue, or difficulty concentrating, have virtually vanished since then. Of course, the abilities and state of the body and mind are always a combination of activities, routines, and lifestyles. Therefore, I can't say exactly how much adequate fluid intake has actually contributed to improving the "symptoms." However, I feel it has made one of the biggest contributions. If you look at what the body needs water for, that explains a lot...

What does the body need water for?

Water not only quenches our thirst, but above all ensures that our body functions properly.

First of all, our body in adulthood consists of about 60% water and therefore this serves as building materialsWithout water, the body could neither repair cells nor produce new ones. The trace elements and minerals contained in water are important building blocks for bones and tissue.

In addition, water takes a Transport function Our blood is about 90% water and transports oxygen, hormones, and nutrients to our organs and cells. This transport is essential so that the substances can work where they are needed.

The ability of water to act as a Temperature controller to function. As you probably know, the optimal body temperature for humans is 36-37 degrees Celsius. For example, if we are sick or exercising, this temperature rises. To return to normal, our body sweats. Sweat has a cooling effect on our skin and consists mostly of what? Water, of course. This is another reason why it's important to drink enough water—otherwise, our bodies would dehydrate.

But that wasn’t all…

Many of the substances we ingest through our food (such as z.B. sugar or vitamins) can only develop their effect when they react with H2O, i.e. with water.

Last but not least, water serves as DiluentWater influences all of our bodily fluids. It determines, for example, their consistency. Our bodily fluids can function better when they are more fluid—that is, when they contain more water. If we are dehydrated, our blood becomes thicker and therefore flows more slowly.Important substances no longer reach their destinations as quickly, which in turn impairs our body's performance. Dehydration also means that toxins and metabolic waste products cannot be eliminated sufficiently, as the body doesn't have enough water to flush them out. For this reason, drinking plenty of water is especially important when ill.

How much water should I drink?

On the internet, you'll find a wide variety of information. Some believe that 1 liter of water per day is sufficient. Others swear that at least 3 liters of water per day are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of the body. German Nutrition Society recommends drinking about 1.5 liters of water per day as a guideline. However, this also depends on factors such as age, climate, weight, physical exertion, or living conditions (z.B. breastfeeding mothers should drink more).

By the way, our body excretes approximately 1 liter of water per day through urine. 0.5 liters are lost through sweat, and another half a liter is excreted through our breathing...

In the second part of this article I'll talk about the effects dehydration can have on our bodies and minds. I'll also share a few tips on how to make drinking plenty of fluids a habit.

If you would like to learn more about healthy eating, mindfulness or sustainability, take a look here over.