Why do need water

The kidneys regulate fluid in the body. Insufficient water can lead to kidney stones and other problems. Some scientists have proposed that consuming more water might enhance performance during strenuous activity.

More research is needed to confirm this, but one review found that dehydration reduces performance in activities lasting longer than 30 minutes. Water may also help with weight loss, if it is consumed instead of sweetened juices and sodas. When partying, unsweetened soda water with ice and lemon alternated with alcoholic drinks can help prevent overconsumption of alcohol.

Water helps dissolve minerals and nutrients, making them more accessible to the body. It also helps remove waste products. Every day, the kidneys filter around quarts of fluid.

Of these, approximately quarts are removed from the body in the form of urine, and the rest is recovered by the bloodstream.

If the kidneys do not function properly, waste products and excess fluid can build up inside the body. Untreated, chronic kidney disease can lead to kidney failure. The organs stop working, and either dialysis or kidney transplantation is required. Urinary tract infections UTIs are the second most common type of infection in the body. They account for around 8. If infections spread to the upper urinary tract, including the kidneys, permanent damage can result.

Sudden, or acute, kidney infections can be life-threatening, particularly if septicemia occurs. Kidney stones interfere with how the kidneys work.

When present, can complicate UTIs. These complicated UTIs tend to require longer periods of antibiotics to treat them, typically lasting 7 to 14 days. The leading cause of kidney stones is a lack of water. People who report them often do not drink the recommended daily amount of water.

Kidney stones may also increase the risk of chronic kidney disease. In November , the American College of Physicians issued new guidelines for people who have previously developed kidney stones.

The guidelines state that increasing fluid intake to enable 2 liters of urination a day could decrease the risk of stone recurrence by at least half with no side effects. Dehydration happens if we use and lose more water than the body takes in. Electrolytes, such as potassium , phosphate, and sodium, help carry electrical signals between cells. The kidneys keep the levels of electrolytes in the body stable when they function properly.

When the kidneys are unable to maintain a balance in the levels of electrolytes, these electrical signals become mixed up. This can lead to seizures, involving involuntary muscle movements and loss of consciousness.

In severe cases, dehydration can lead to kidney failure, which can be life-threatening. Possible complications of chronic kidney failure include anemia , damage to the central nervous system , heart failure , and a compromised immune system.

Some of the water required by the body is obtained through foods with a high water content, such as soups, tomatoes, oranges, but most come through drinking water and other beverages.

During everyday functioning, water is lost by the body, and this needs to be replaced. We notice that we lose water through activities such as sweating and urination, but water is lost even when breathing. The hype around water is warranted. You know you need water to survive, and you feel better when you drink it regularly. Believe it or not, your body weight is about 60 percent water, according to the U.

Geological Survey. Your body uses water in all its cells, organs, and tissues to help regulate temperature and maintain other bodily functions. Because your body loses water through breathing, sweating, and digestion , it's important to rehydrate by drinking fluids and eating foods that contain water.

The amount of water you need depends on a variety of factors, according to the Mayo Clinic: The climate you live in, how physically active you are, and whether you're experiencing an illness or have any other health problems all affect recommended intake. Water does more than just quench your thirst and regulate your body's temperature; it keeps the tissues in your body moist, according to the Mayo Clinic Health System.

You know how it feels when your eyes, nose, or mouth gets dry? Keeping your body hydrated helps it retain optimum levels of moisture in these sensitive areas, as well as in the blood, bones, and brain. In addition, water helps protect the spinal cord, and it acts as a lubricant and cushion for your joints.

Adequate water intake enables your body to excrete waste through perspiration, urination , and defecation. Water helps your kidneys remove waste from your blood and keep the blood vessels that run to your kidneys open and filter them out, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Water is also important for helping prevent constipation , points out the University of Rochester Medical Center.

However, as research notes , there is no evidence to prove that increasing your fluid intake will cure constipation. These Are the Health Risks of Dehydration. Water is important for healthy digestion. Water helps keep your temperature normal. You need water to digest your food and get rid of waste. Water is needed for digestive juices, urine pee , and poop. And you can bet that water is the main ingredient in perspiration, also called sweat.

Besides being an important part of the fluids in your body, water is needed by each cell to work. Your body doesn't get water only from drinking water.

Any fluid you drink will contain water, but water and milk are the best choices. Lots of foods contain water too. Fruit contains quite a bit of water, which you could probably tell if you've ever bitten into a peach or plum and felt the juices dripping down your chin.

Vegetables also contain a lot of water — think of slicing into a fat tomato or crunching into a crisp stalk of celery. Because water is so important, you might wonder if you're drinking enough. There is no magic amount of water that kids need to drink every day. The amount kids need depends on their age, body size, health, and activity level, plus the weather temperature and humidity levels.

Usually, kids drink something with meals and should definitely drink when they're thirsty. But if you're sick, or it's warm out or you're exercising, you'll need more.