Our very lives depend on water. Our bodies are 75% water and our brains 85% water (this aids to cushion the brain from contact with the skull). Our cells are 75% to 90% water. We simply can’t stay alive without it. There are several reasons why this is true.

First, we need water because the body’s reactions take place in solution, and water makes this possible. Second, water allows blood to flow through the blood vessels. Water keeps blood fluid. Third, water is an excellent absorber of heat and this fact helps regulate body temperature both by storing heat when cold and by losing heat through evaporation (sweating) when hot. The sweating also rids the body of impurities.

We need water yet we are constantly losing it. We lose water from our bodies three ways. First, the elimination of urine loses water. This is true because the kidneys process 45 to 50 gallons of fluid a day and produce more than a quart of urine every day. Urine is 95% water, and this quart must be replaced. The body also loses water by perspiration and defecation.

As we said, this loss of water demands to be replaced. The average person should drink eight to ten glasses (two quarts) of water each day. If we neglect this, we will soon become dehydrated. Perhaps as much as 75% of Americans are dehydrated to some extent. If not treated properly, dehydration can be fatal.

Dehydration may occur because of sickness causing diarrhea and/or vomiting. When sick to the stomach, most people can’t keep anything down. But as soon as possible replace these lost liquids. The old and the young are most likely to be dehydrated. The old get dehydrated because their ability to sense thirst is weakened with age. If a person loses more than 1% of body weight in liquids, it is considered to be severe dehydration.

How can you tell if you are dehydrated? The first clear sign is production of only small amounts of dark urine. A dehydrated person might also have a raised body temperature for no evident reason. Other symptoms include fatigue, nausea, extreme thirst, headaches, and confusion. A lack of tears or sunken eyes may also indicate this problem.

If you suspect you are dehydrated, try this simple test. Pinch your skin, then let go. It should return to normal position quickly if you are not dehydrated. If you don’t know for sure, drink a glass of water anyway. People who drink sufficient pure water have the added benefit of rarely developing kidney stones.

Severe dehydration might be evidenced by low blood pressure, loss of consciousness, severe cramping of the arms, legs, stomach, and back, convulsions, heart failure, sunken eyes, inelasticity of the skin, and deep, rapid breathing. This person should not only replace the water lost, but also the glucose and salts the body needs.

Of course, it is important to drink healthy water. Make sure it is pure. In conclusion, keep yourself healthy by drinking the proper amount of liquids each day. Eight to ten glasses can go a long way in helping you maintain a healthy body.