Water for the Body
Next in importance to oxygen, the body needs water. Around 70% of our body weight is made up of water.
Water is used by the body in many ways. It acts as a solvent for all of the products of digestion, it is used as building material, it prevents friction between the moving parts of the body and it is the means by which food is carried to the cells and waste products are carried out. Water is also important in that it helps regulate body temperature.
The body’s requiremtn for water is taken from: (1) fluid intake- drinking waterm fruits juces, and milk, (2) solid food- most foods contain some amount of water and some, such as tomatoes and strawberries, have high water content, and (3) metabolic water- the water produced by the oxidation of foodstuffs in the body.
Water passes out from the body by four avenues - the kidneys, skin, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract.
Six to eight glasses of water daily is sufficient for a healthy person under normal circumstances. In hot weather when the water loss is greatest, one may have take in more than the accustomes amount of water. Drinking water during meals is advisable just so care is taken not to wash down the food with water.
