What to Drink

Water is the most abundant and yet most overlooked substance in the human body. The balance of water in the human body is indeed a delicate one. Water plays a vital role in all the bodies functions such as chemical receptors, lubrication, nutrient delivery, and waste elimination. Water represents 45 to 65 percent of the human body. Water is so vital that if we do not take in enough our bodies systems can take a hard blow and worse even begin to shut down. In the Summer months it is even more important to make sure we take in enough water. Our bodies need more water in order to regulate our bodies temperatures and keep our systems that rely on our water intake in order to function properly. So just how much water does our body use and how much do we need to drink in order to stay well hydrated.

In order to maintain the fluid balance within the body water gain needs to equal water loss. Fluid loss is heavily dependent on a person's activity level as well as environmental temperature and humidity, but for a sedentary adult in this country, an expected total water loss would be approximately 2500 ml per day and would comprise:

• 1500 ml/day excretion by kidneys in the form of urine500ml/day evaporation and perspiration from the skin300ml/day from the lungs 200 ml/day from the gastrointestinal tract.
  
  It is advised that during Summer months we need to drink more than 8 oz. glasses of water.
  
  How do we recognize that we may not be getting enough and therefore putting our lives in jeopardy?
   
  
  • Decreased flow of saliva
  • Decreased blood volume
  • Increased blood osmotic pressure
    
  These three reactions to dehydration stimulate the thirst centre, which is situated in the hypothalamus in the brain, producing a the sensation of thirst. However, the thirst mechanism is relatively slow. Although a person can only survive a few days without water, and yet the body can survive without food for around 30 days, the drive to eat is much greater than the drive to drink.
  To the majority of recreational exercisers thirst will be viewed as an indicator that they need to drink or they will become dehydrated. In actual fact, thirst is a sign that the person is already dehydrated, albeit in the initial stages. This is particularly pertinent when considered in the light of the fact that the thirst mechanism also tends to be depressed during exercise which increases the level of dehydration which occurs before thirst is sensed. This is why fluid replacement should be considered before, during and after physical activity rather than relying on thirst to indicate that the body needs fluid.
  
  
  
  
  For those trying to loose weight water is vitally important as well. Drinking water has zero calories and it helps flush out the system aiding in your weight loss journey. Raise your glasses everyday and make sure you are taking in the most important liquid that your body needs in order to take care of you.