March 22 is an extremely interesting date. On this day, we celebrate World Water Day, established by the UN General Assembly in 1992. The popular H2O (hydrogen monoxide) is a basic, inorganic component of our body, without which there is no life. Most of us have probably heard the statement that we can survive up to 2 weeks without food, but only a few days without water. It is estimated that a 20% loss of water leads to human death.
What role does water play in the body?
We already know that water is a fluid necessary for the survival of all living beings. So it’s time to learn some of its extraordinary functions.
- Water is a structural component of the cells and tissues that make up the body.
- It acts as a means of transport for all organic and inorganic substances within the body.
- It is a solvent for most chemical compounds present in the body, and then facilitates their absorption.
- It takes part in the removal of unnecessary metabolic products, such as urea or uric acid.
- Water is an essential element in the metabolic process – it acts as a catalyst or substrate in it.
- It participates in the digestion process and also facilitates the movement of the resulting fecal masses.
- It is responsible for the process of thermoregulation, i.e. regulation of body temperature (through, among others, sweat).
The most important rules for drinking water
In order to make the best use of the beneficial properties of water, dietitian Wrocław advises to follow a few simple rules.
- You should drink 30 ml of water per 1 kg of body weight every day. A person weighing 70 kg should therefore drink 2100 ml of water (2.1 l).
- You should drink water in small sips, no more than a glass at a time. This will prevent kidney overload and the associated “water poisoning”.
- For better hydration, you can add a pinch of Himalayan or Kłodawa salt to the water. This will create a homemade isotonic drink.
- You should not drink water during a meal – it dilutes the digestive juices. Instead, it should be drunk 30 minutes before and about 1.5 hours after eating.
- Coffee and tea dehydrate our body. Their consumption should be limited, and each cup drunk should be compensated with a glass of water.
- A good habit is to drink warm water (for example with lemon juice added) on an empty stomach, immediately after waking up. In this way, we cleanse our digestive tract and stimulate intestinal peristalsis.