GENERALLY, 75 to 80 per cent of a baby’s body consist of water. As we grow older, this decreases to between 60 and 65 per cent for men and between 50 and 60 per cent for women. Water makes up about 85 per cent of our brain and 10 to 15 per cent of our bones. That is why we are advised to drink at least eight glasses of water daily.
If we drink enough water, our blood oxygen level will be higher, leading to a higher energy level.
We can lose about 10 cups of fluid a day through sweating, breathing, urinating and bowel movements. It is easy to become dehydrated if we do not drink enough water. This thickens the blood and our body has to work harder to keep the blood flowing. As a result, our brains will become less active, resulting in loss of concentration and fatigue.
Drinking water helps us to reach our optimal physical performance level, think more clearly and improve memory.
Because it is an appetite suppressant, drinking water helps those who have weight problems to lose weight and fat. Actually, most of the time, when we feel hungry, our bodies need water, not food. If we are dehydrated, our fat cells cannot be easily metabolised. This is because the liver has to do the kidney’s job.
When we do not get enough water, we will retain more fluid and our muscles will not have the best tone or function, and sodium will build up in the body. More calories end up in our fat stores instead of building proteins needed for muscle growth.
Healthier skin is another benefit of drinking water. Water moisturises your skin from the inside and outside, and keep you looking younger.
A study shows that when we increase our water consumption, our skin will become softer, smoother, and the moisture level goes up. These effects are due to the water’s ability to flush out toxins and impurities.
Lastly, drinking water can help us deal with headaches. Dehydration is one of the most frequent causes of headaches. These headaches will disappear in an hour or two after we drink a glass of water.
In conclusion, water offers many benefits to us. We could probably survive for four to eight weeks without food, but a lack of water could cause death in 10 days.
NUR FARHANA ABU BAKAR, Faculty of Major Languages, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai, Negri Sembilan