Water and Its Functions
Emma Schoolcraft
The Most Essential Nutrient
However, this isn't an usual occurrence. (1) Most humans can hardly survive three weeks without food, not to mention the 3-5 days you can survive without water. "The human body can last weeks without food, but only days without water. The body is made up of 50 to 75 percent water. Water forms the basis of blood, urine, and perspiration, and is contained in lean muscle, fat, and bones," says Better Health, a government website.
Of course, that's not the only reason water could be considered the most important nutrient to our bodies. Not only is it nearly impossible to survive mere days without it, but without water, there would be nothing to transport many other nutrients! (2) For example, water helps dissolve minerals and flush them throughout our body. (3) To add onto that, many vitamins are solely water soluble, meaning that they can only be dissolved and processed in water. Without water, these vitamins would be useless, just going straight through our body without any good effects.
(4) Furthermore, water makes up more than three quarters of your body weight. That's 75%! It's required for numerous everyday bodily functions. (5) For starters, your blood, which carries both oxygen and nutrients, contains water. Without any water, these blood cells would die, and there'd be no path to getting oxygen throughout your body. Cells depend on water to function normally. (5) Lymph (a liquid that is a big part of your immune system, which fights sickness) also contains water.
Conclusion? Water is highly essential to keeping you alive and healthy; arguably the most important nutrient to get!
Pure Water!
Apple Juice
Gatorade
Smoothie!
Slushy!
Soda!
Functions of Water
- Body Temperature Regulation: Drinking water makes sure our temperature doesn't go too high when its hot (ever crave a glass of cold water in the summer?) or too low when its cold.
- Transportation: As mentioned earlier, water moves nutrients throughout our body.
- Waste Removal: Simply put, water is the main ingredient in your pee. Without it, much remaining waste could remain in your kidneys.
- Lubrication: Water keeps your joints working smoothly
- Moistens: Do your eyes ever get dry and itchy after staring at a screen? That's because water keeps your eyes comfortable and wet.