Stay hydrated: Life is Water

Water is a fundamental element for the body and is vital for health.  Any scarceness of this liquid could cause serious consequences for the body’s primary organs, and it could even lead to death if dehydration becomes advanced.

The danger in water loss

It is very important to stay hydrated.  Did you know that it is very simple for our bodies to continually be losing water?  Dehydration can be caused simply by dancing, playing volleyball, going for a jog, and then not replacing what was lost.

If you don’t hydrate yourself properly, you could put your body in an emergency situation that you really want to avoid.  Of course, we’ve all heard someone say more than once that we can go several days without eating, but not more without drinking water.

That’s because our bodies are made up of approximately 55% water.  That’s why it is so important to always stay well hydrated.

Feel the benefits of stay hydrated

Having enough water in your body is a key factor to health.  Drinking enough liquid can help maintain blood volume levels, which help keep up energy levels.  Water increases the number of calories you burn during daily activities.  It helps protect us against illnesses, like colds, kidney stones, breast, colon and urinary tract cancer, etc.  Water also moisturizes skin, leaving it smooth, soft and wrinkle-free.

Water and children

Have you ever noticed how much water children lose while playing?  It is amazing, which is why you should always be aware of all the activities your child does so as to keep him/her always hydrated.

If your children are younger than two years of age, they should drink between 70 and 80% of their body weight in water, on an average day.  Adults, on the other hand, need between 50 and 60% of their weight.

You should know that children need to drink more water than adults, if possible, do it approximately every two hours.  Children should drink between 50-60 mL of water per kilo of body weight, which means half a leave of water for a 10 kilo child, for example.

Water in foods

And yet, water is obtained by more than just infusions or pure water.  Some foods also provide water, especially fruits and vegetables.  For example, papaya, cantaloupe, watermelon, pickles, and others are all great.

Breastfeeding children

Children that drink their mother’s milk are a very special case.  They receive all the nutrients they need for good development from the mother’s milk, including water.  Almost 90% of mother’s milk is comprised of water.

Water and cancer

Drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day reduces the risk of colon cancer by 45%.  It also reduces the risk of breast cancer by 79% and reduces half the possibility of developing bladder cancer.

Nothing in excess

Nothing in excess is good for health, so do not go overboard with drinking water because this could be harmful.  Too much water could throw the body out of balance, making it lose rapid amounts of salt and creating lung congestion.  In extreme cases, this could even cause brain inflammation.

Revised by: Dra. Loredana Lunadei on 05/18/2018

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