Can you imagine life without water? Of course not, because water is necessary to carry on life. Water is the body’s most important liquid and is vital for body system to function and stay alive. Although people can live several weeks without food, they can live only few days without water.
Water has many jobs in the body.
Water serves as a transportation system for nutrient, gases, and wastes in and out of the body.
Water makes possible the removal of waste through the kidneys, bowel, skin and lungs.
Water controls the body temperature through loss of water from the skin.
Water is gained and lost from the body every day. For the body to maintain normal function, the drinking and the removal of fluid should remain somewhat equal. We gain water through drinking fluids and eating foods.
Water in the body varies depending on age, gender, and body build.
Lean body muscle mass is rich in water, while a fat body has a lower percentage of water content. Because of this, someone who is overweight has lower percentage of water in general compared with someone who’s lean and muscular. Similarly, women usually have a lower percentage of total body water than men due to a woman’s higher percentage of body fat. Older adult tend to have a lower concentration of water on the whole, due to age- related disease in muscle mass.
On the other hand, children tend to have a higher percentage of water weight – as much as 80% in new born.
SOOOOOOO
It is vital that the level of hydration in the body is maintained.
So, How much?
ONE HALF OUNCE OF CLEAN PURE WATER
PER ONE POUND OF WEIGHT A DAY!
For example, someone weighing 150 pounds should drink 75 ounces of water a day.
It sounds like a lot, but spread throughout the day, it is only a little bit at a time.
Can you drink a half gallon of water a day? Do You? WILL You?
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art13909.asp (Women’s Health)
http://www.chemcraft.net/wbody.html (Body Chemistry)
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283 (Mayo Clinic Health Recoommendations)
helpful measurements chart:
1 cup
= 8 fluid ounces
1 pint
= 2 cups
= 1/4 gallon
= 1/2 quart
= 16 fluid ounce
1 quart
= 2 pints
= 4 cups
= 0.95 liters
= 1/4 gallon
= 32 fluid ounces
1 gallon
= 16 cups
= 3.785 liter
= 4 quarts
= 8 pints
= 128 fluid ounce
= (2 “Big Gulps”!)
The “Big Gulp” = 32 fl oz (0.95 l) = 1 quart
The “Super Big Gulp” = 41-44 fl oz
(less the amount of ice)
