Why do we need to Drink Water?

There is a very simple answer to this important question. Human beings and other animals need to take in sufficient amounts of water every day to keep their bodies functioning correctly. In fact, the human body is as much as 80 percent water so we must keep it supplied with clean, fresh water to remain healthy.

Some of the liquids we drink (coffee, tea, soft drinks) may add small amounts of water to the system, but the truth is we have to drink water, alone, to really keep the body working as it should. In fact, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks can actually take water from the body rather than helping add it. This happens because those liquids must be diluted and digested using water that is already in the system.

We need water to keep the cells of our bodies strong and supple because cells are made up of liquid surrounded by a cell wall. This is why our organs and our skin shrivel and shrink when we become dehydrated. But there is much more to the role of water than supporting cell and tissue structure. We need the proper amount of water to digest food correctly and to help the vitamins and minerals in food to get into the blood stream.

Our brains and nervous system operate on electro-chemical reactions. These processes rely on the correct amount of certain minerals being present. But the chemicals can’t be dry like powder. They must be suspended in water-based liquid that makes up nearly every tissue of the body.

One of the key tasks for water in the body is the dilution and elimination of toxic substances. Without this “flushing” process the body would suffer serious damage and break down. Water also serves to keep the temperature of our bodies at a steady level. Without sufficient water we could be harmed by over-heating!

All of this leads to the more general discussion of dehydration. All plants and animals need water to remain healthy and to grow. When the right amount of water isn’t provided, living things dry out, shrivel and die. This is extreme dehydration. The human body must have water every day to remain healthy, though we might survive for three days without drinking. Beyond that there are serious consequences.

Consider the cells of the body that are the small building blocks of all our body tissue. The cells must have clean water to remain in their liquid, functioning state. If the cell walls become dry and brittle, nutrients and essential chemicals can’t make their way in and out as necessary. Our body’s immune system is significantly affected by lack of sufficient water. We are prone to disease when the body is dehydrated.

People should drink plenty of water all year long, not just in the warm months of summer. Most people don’t drink enough water. In fact, the amount of water people think is right may not even be close to enough! A good guideline might be 75 ounces of water daily for a 150-pound person.