Importance of water for the Human body

He was an innocent village boy. His only complaint was that he was passing dark-colored urine for many days. All the relevant tests had been carried out and were negative, and he was quite worried. He was told that since his urine was concentrated, it was dark in color. All he needed was to drink more water to dilute the urine. His answer surprised me. He said that since water was the source of many diseases, he avoids taking water.This may be the view of many others also due to sheer ignorance about the importance of water for the human body. Water is an absolutely essential nutrient of the body. One can survive for months together without other nutrients, but not without water. 60 percent of an adult’s body weight is constituted by water and the percentage is higher for a child. Water is a fluid in the body in which all essential body processes occur. It may be within or outside cells. All nutrients are carried across the body in water. Waste products are also removed from the body via water. It helps to form structure of large molecules essential for various processes in the body. It actively participates in many chemical reactions. It also serves as a solvent for minerals, vitamins, glucose, e.t.c. substances essential for the body. Water serves as a lubricant for the various joints of the body. It is due to gradual depletion of this lubrication, that people start suffering from stiffness and pain of joints with advancing age. It also serves as a shock absorber inside the eyes and spinal cord. During pregnancy it protects the fetus in the amniotic sac (gestational sac where the baby is held in the mother’s womb). Water also helps in the regulation of the body temperature and also in maintaining the volume of blood in the body. It helps to clear the bowels and aids in digestion. Thus the importance of water can never be underestimated. When the body needs water, a person feels thirsty, stimulated by centers in the brain. Many people satiate this thirst by drinking tea, coffee, alcohol or other beverages. But that serves the purpose only partially. That is why; one feels the need for drinking water even after drinking juice or soft drinks. How much water a person drinks depends on many factors. Climate, nature of work, other medical conditions like diabetes( one has intense thirst in diabetes), conditioning of body and availability of potable drinking water, are some of the factors which influence one’s drinking habits. Therefore, a general requirement is difficult to establish. Water is lost from the body as urine, sweat and other invisible losses. If more water is lost than the intake, one develops dehydration. Mild dehydration manifests as dryness of mouth, but severe dehydration can lead to shock and kidney failure which can be fatal. Therefore, it is important for people to take adequate amounts of water. On an average it is recommended that 8 to 10 glasses of water is sufficient for an adult doing ordinary physical work. Drinks of various kinds supply some water to the body. Fresh vegetables and fruits are yet another source of water. Many other food items like meat and cheese contain 50 percent of water. But water itself is the prime and most healthy source of water. Beverages like tea and coffee, alcohol, cause gastritis if taken in large amounts. They also have a diuretic action, i.e. they promote loss of water from the body. Meat and cheese increase cholesterol and obesity. Therefore, it is good to take other substances in moderation but they should not become a substitute for water. Availability of potable (safe) drinking water is a problem in developing countries across the world. But the Government of Rwanda has taken efforts to supply clean water to more than half of its population. People are also sensitized about use of safe drinking water. In this scenario, I think all should understand the importance of water and start drinking sufficient amounts of water. People should know that it is not, ‘water’, but unclean water or water container, which is the source of diseases. rachna212002@yahoo.co.uk