Why Is it Important to Drink Water?

The human body is approximately 60 percent water. Water is necessary for survival. Without water, all major bodily systems slowly shut down. Even slight levels of dehydration can cause headache's, fatigue and lack of concentration. As your body loses water through breathing, perspiring and urinating, the water must be replaced through food and drink.

1. Water is the most important substance to the human body. Water helps dissolve minerals and nutrients helping the body to absorb them. Water also carries oxygen to cells and tissues. Water regulates the body's temperature through perspiration, moistens tissues such as eyes, ears, nose, throat and skin. Chronic dehydration can lead to premature aging since the body will pull moisture from the skin for other bodily functions such as flushing toxins from the body through the liver and kidneys. Water keeps organs healthy and eases their function and provides lubrication for joints. Every system in the body needs water for healthy function.

Signs of Dehydration

2. Even a 1 percent water loss can lead to dehydration. One of the first signs of dehydration is thirst. Drinking a glass of water at the first signs of thirst can ward off dehydration. Often, people mistake thirst for hunger, so drink a glass of water before snacking. Other signs of dehydration include fatigue, muscle aches, dizziness and feeling light headed. Another sign of dehydration is dark urine. When a person is healthy and hydrated, urine is nearly colorless and odorless.

How the Body Loses Water

3. The body loses approximately 8 cups of water each day through normal bodily functions. This amount is even higher for people who are active each day, live in hot climates or simply perspire heavily. The average adult loses about 6 cups of water each day through urine. Another 2 to 3 cups are lost through sweating and breathing. This water loss is the body's way of flushing toxins out of the body, and keeping the body at a necessary temperature.

Water in Beverages

4. The easiest and most obvious way to replenish water is by drinking 8 cups of water. This is the replacement method and ensures that a person is getting enough water each day. But not all water from the body has to come from drinking plain water. Juice, milk, coffee and tea all contain water. They body pulls the necessary water from these fluids to continue to replenish itself.

Water in Foods

5. Another way to increase water intake is by eating more fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh fruits and vegetables are very high in water content, some are up to 99 percent water. Cooking vegetables reduces the water content. A mixed salad is a great way to increase water content in the body since lettuce is made up of nearly 90 percent water, cucumbers, tomatoes and apples are all 90 to 100 percent water.