A very important factor leading to good health and physical well-being is having enough water and other fluids throughout each day. Lack of water leads to dehydration causing fatigue, cramping, and reduces our ability to function physically. Even when we are physically not active, our body still loses water daily through lungs, skin and urine – and if these losses aren't replaced, it could result in dehydration.
Water should be taken in adequate amounts and other beverages should be consumed in moderation.
Water:
Why do you need water?
• Accounting for 70% of our body weight, Water is the major constituent of the human body.
• Water plays a key role in transportation of nutrients ,elimination of body wastes & regulation of body temperature
• It is a constituent of blood and other vital body fluids.
• Water act as a lubricant in various parts of the body, especially within joints making movements easier and minimizes the wear and tear of cartilage and bones
• The body loses water through sweat, urine. This loss must be constantly made good with clean and potable water
How much water do you need?
A normal, healthy person needs to drink about 8 glasses (2 litres) of water per day. During very hot weather and while undertaking vigorous physical activity, this requirement increases as a considerable amount of water is lost through sweat.
When is water considered safe?
Water that we drink, should be safe and wholesome i.e., it should be free from disease-causing agents like bacteria, viruses, parasites etc. and harmful chemical substances like pesticides, industrial wastes, heavy metals, nitrates, arsenic and excess of fluoride. Fluorosis, a disease which causes bone deformities and dental problems, results from drinking water containing an excess of fluoride over long periods. Generally, a concentration of 0.5 to 0.8 mg of fluoride per litre of drinking water is considered safe.
How water is made safe to drink?
Boiling water for 10-15 minutes is a recommended method of purifying it as this kills all disease-causing organisms and also removes temporary hardness. However, this will not remove other chemical impurities. For this one may use tablets containing chlorine.0.5 grams of chlorine can disinfect 20 litres of water. Apart from this there are many modern gadgets available in market that claims to provide safe and wholesome water. However, they may vary in efficacy.
Tips to ensure staying hydrated
Drinking water when you are thirsty is not enough, you need to keep sipping it throughout the day. Here are some tips to help:
• Keep water handy, always carry a bottle or keep it somewhere near you.
• Add a squeeze of lime, in case you don't like the taste of plain water.
• Make it a point to have butter milk, lassi or water with every meal, instead of a cola.
• Ensure your fridge always has a supply of water bottles, so that you and your family can simply pick one up while going out.
Water, the proverbial life source, is a very important constituent of our bodies. Do ensure that you replenish all water loss by drinking adequate quantities of water every day.
Stay Healthy. Stay Happy