Water Intake Per Day
Water, water everywhere but not a topple to drink…the adage succinctly summarizes the worst possible nightmare of any human being, particularly the sea faring man. Our planet Earth comprises of 75% water, which sustains many varied and strange life-forms, many of which are beyond our comprehension. Legend has it that it was in the medium of water that the first seed of life was born and which eventually multiplied itself and evolved into the more complex and diverse forms of flora and fauna that have inhabited our planet since the very first conception. This proves that water is probably one of the oldest resources of our planet and till today occupies the coveted position of being a life-saver for all species living on it. Water is a crucial requirement to ensure survival and sustenance of each living thing, and even though we human beings claim to be superior to all other creatures, we still depend on water for our daily existence.
The constitution of the human body consists of 70% water, which is present in our blood, our brain, our muscles and even our bones. All the functions and chemical reactions taking place in our body require water and therefore it is absolutely crucial for us to maintain a sufficient intake of water on a daily basis. Human beings imbibe water through drinking and the amount of water needed by each person depends upon factors like the body weight of the person, the dietary habits of the person, the daily employ and the general health condition. Our constitution is such that we loose water everyday by various means and the quantity of water lost should be replaced for our body to function normally. Water loss in the human body occurs due to the following reasons:
(a) Urination, which can cause up to 48 ounces of water loss under normal circumstances and this amount increases on the consumption of alcoholic and caffeinated beverages.
(b) Sweating causes a significant amount of water loss, especially in hot and humid climate; it may also occur due to rigorous exercise and increased physical activity.
(c) Water loss also occurs while passing stool
(d) Each day we loose water through our breath and through our skin in form of water vapour.
Being aware of the water loss occurring in our body is the first step towards healthy living. This in turn makes us aware that the water lost has to be replenished on a regular basis; the general guideline suggests that each person should drink a minimum of eight glasses everyday, although there is another school of thought which recommends that one should drink one ounce of water for every two pounds of body weight, that is, if your weight is 110 pounds, then you must drink 55 ounces of water (roughly 7 glasses) everyday. One must consciously increase the water intake while indulging in beverages, while sitting in a air-conditioned room or travelling by aeroplane as these have a tendency to dehydrate the body. One must also make sure that the water intake is evenly spread throughout the day; the recommended routine would be to inaugurate the day by drinking two glasses of water followed by one around midday, a glass each half an hour before every meal, two glasses in the afternoon and a glass an hour before retiring for the night. Along with quantity, the quality of water that we drink is equally important. Drinking clean and fresh water has a cleansing effect in addition to keeping us hydrated; on the other hand, chemically polluted and contaminated water causes damage to our internal organs like liver and kidneys, making us prone to varios illnesses. Therefore, it is very distinguished to choose our drinking water.
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Filed under Internal Cleansing Diet by on Feb 4th, 2012. 