Why water is life

When they say water is life, they have good reasons. Besides quenching thirst, water is used to cook, bathe, wash and irrigate crops among others. Research also shows that water is an important component of the human body. For instance the blood, heart, muscle, brain, skin and bone all have a substantial amount of water in them. No wonder doctors advise that we take between 3 and 5 litres of water daily. In spite of many people being aware of the importance of water in someone’s life, most of us take it for granted, instead preferring to consume sweet drinks like tea, juice and soda among others. According to doctors, the earlier one ‘falls in love’ with water the better for them. Dr Valentin Bulambo, a general practitioner at Centre Medical Orkide, says water plays an important role in the maintenance of a healthy body. He explains that water helps in digestion and prevents constipation as it improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. “Insufficient water in the body often results in constipation as the food cannot easily be digested thereby making it harder and difficult to pass. One needs to drink sufficient water to help the body properly break down food. This also helps with regular bowel movements,” Dr Bulambo says. Lack of water in the body can also lead to dehydration which, if not solved quickly, can lead to fainting. According to Mayo Clinic, The Institute of Medicine determined that an adequate intake (AI) for men is roughly about 13 cups (3 liters) of total beverages a day while for women is about 9 cups (2.2 liters). Drinking the right amount of water is one way to prevent dehydration. Dr Bulambo also explains that drinking water helps to relieve fatigue, saying that when one feels exhausted, there is a high chance that it could be due to inadequate consumption of water which may tire the body. Therefore drinking water can help the body function better and reduce issues such as fatigue. He says that some people are consumed with work and refrain from water consumption, saying it could affect the kidneys. “Kidneys remove waste from our bodies hence ensuring the proper functioning of our bodies. Drinking water is the best way to keep our kidneys functioning,” he says. Furthermore, water protects our joints as it keeps the cartilage around our joints hydrated and lubricated. It also protects our spinal cord and tissues, keeping the whole body healthy. Drinking water also helps to treat or prevent headache since it replenishes their mind and body. However, Dr Joseph Kamugisha, who works at Kanombe Hospital, warns against excessive consumption of water. Therefore one needs to take the sufficient amount. “Water is a neutral fluid and is used as an intermediate in all biochemical processes that constitute our body. Therefore our bodies require certain levels for proper functioning of our body parts,” he says. Kamugisha adds that water increases the level of concentration especially if one needs to concentrate for a long period of time. Limited water in the body can affect one’s attention span.

Health

Why water is life