Water! Some crave it, others hate it, but we all need it. Water is the most important liquid in the world for us by why is that? What is it about water that makes it so important? Our bodies are made up of roughly 60% water: composing 73% of our brain and heart, 83% of the lungs, and 64% of our skin. With water being a prime component of our body, we require it for proper balance. So, with water on the mind, why is hydration so important?

What makes water so important to our everyday lives?  Several key bodily functions require water.  These include removing waste products, and regulating heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.  Water even works to normalize and maintain your metabolism.  Water is the key to a healthy lifestyle.

Now that we know the functions of the body that require water, how much water is needed to maintain the functions?  Over an average day, the human body loses between 2-3 quarts of water.  Specifically, men lose 3.2 quarts and women lose 2.3 quarts.  This does not include water lost through sweat during workouts or hot days. Drinking water and staying hydrated allows the body to replenish what is lost throughout the day.  What is the best way to resupply our body?

The simplest option is to just drink water.  On average 80% of the water that enters the body is through liquids, while the other 20% comes from foods.  Many of the foods that we eat, especially some fruits and vegetables, contain high amounts of water. For example, apricots, oranges, and peaches are over 80% water, while melons such as cantaloupe and watermelon are over 90% water.

Water provides a large necessity to us. However, hydration is more than just replenishing the water that our body loses. We must also replace electrolytes lost throughout the day. What are electrolytes? Electrolytes are certain ions that allow our body to remain in cellular balance. To give ourselves a boost of electrolytes throughout the day of after strenuous activity, we can supplement with electrolyte powder mixes or drinks that contain electrolytes in them.

Water is one of the most important compounds in existence. Without it we are only able to survive a few days. To this end, there are several key ideas to think about; 1) if you are feeling thirsty, you are probably already dehydrated, 2) drink throughout the day and not just all in one sitting and 3) do your best to drink water free from additives such as fluoride, chlorine, and chloramine. Now get out, have a drink of water, and stay hydrated.