Water is the fuel that keeps your body fit

Water makes up about 60 percent of an individual’s body weight. In its purest form, water is definitely the best beverage out there. Scientific discovery has found that water is the reason for exist

By: Ankita Chakrabarty | | Updated: August 6, 2013 11:39 am

Water makes up about 60 percent of an individual’s body weight. In its purest form, water is definitely the best beverage out there. Scientific discovery has found that water is the reason for existence of life on earth. Here we look at the various sources and importance of water in our body.

Our number one source of water are fruits and vegetables. They contain large quantities of water in proportion to their weight. When these foods are eaten, the water can be absorbed by the body.

Fruits	Percent water	Vegetables	Percent water
Apple	84	Broccoli	91
Strawberries	92	Cabbage (green)	93
Watermelon	92	Lettuce(iceberg)	96
Apricot	86	Radish	95
Blueberries	85	Spinach	92
Orange	87	Tomato(red)	94
Pineapple	87	Cauliflower	92
Grapefruit	91	Carrots	87

Source: University of Kentucky

How much water we must drink in a day?

Usually it is suggested that a person have 8-10 glasses of water in a day. Although this number can vary from person to person and the weather they live in. The standard still stands at 8 glasses a day. According to Tapasya Mudra, wellness expert and nutritionist, ‘The amount of water one drinks varies from individual to individual. If a person is working in the sun, he/she is likely to get dehydrated very fast, so he/she will require about 20 glasses of water per day. Typically a normal adult requires 8-10 glasses of water per day, while children playing in the sun will require 10-12 glasses of water.’ If you feel that drinking plain water all day is a bore, Tapasya suggests trying Butter milk, coconut water, lime juice, vegetable juices etc as substitutes for substitute water. According to Dr Shikha Sharma, an average person should drink anywhere from one to two liters of water per day, as for children one litre is a fairly good amount.

While we all know that water is a must during the summers, there are a few more benefits of the humble glass of H2O;

It keeps the body hydrated, Tapasya Mundhra says that keeping the body hydrated is essential for the body to perform basic functions like digestion and absorption of nutrients from food. She says that if the body does not have enough water, the nutrition is mal-absorbed. So all those healthy meals you are eating are all in vain without a glass of water.
It helps to wash out all the toxins of the body: Water is the most soluble liquid, therefore it has a very important activity in the body; to flush out excess toxins. If the body suffers from a lack of hydration, the kidneys overwork to get rid of the toxins.
According to Dr Vaibhav Gupta, consultant gastroenterologist at Rockland Hospital, your water intake helps regulate enzymatic reaction, muscle activities and disposal of urine and stool from the body .
Water also helps in proper functioning of tissues
In order to maintain an electrolytic balance, a well hydrated body is a must.

With all the talk about water and its importance, it is crucial that we look at the acute shortage the country is facing. As reported by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation as on 1st April 2012 there are 99,380 lakh habitations with one or more of their drinking water sources contaminated with excess arsenic, fluoride, iron, salinity or nitrates.

Fluorosis: Ingestion of excess fluoride, most commonly in drinking-water, can cause fluorosis which affects the teeth and bones. Moderate amounts lead to dental effects, but long-term ingestion of large amounts can lead to potentially severe skeletal problems.

Exposure to arsenic: The first symptoms of long-term exposure to high levels of inorganic arsenic (e.g. through drinking-water) are usually observed in the skin, and include pigmentation changes, skin lesions and hard patches on the palms and soles of the feet (hyperkeratosis). These occur after a minimum exposure of approximately five years and may be a precursor to skin cancer.

In addition to skin cancer, long-term exposure to arsenic may also cause cancers of the bladder and lungs.

Source: Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation

World Health Organisation (WHO)

Published : March 21, 2013 12:49 pm | Updated:August 6, 2013 11:39 am

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