HOW MUCH WATER IS IN ME?
Do you know how much water is in you? An adult male has 60% water in his body while an adult female's body is composed of 50% water. Most all your organs have water. Here is a diagram of your "watery" organs.
WHY DO I NEED WATER?
- It is part of my body chemical composition (to transform carbohydrates to glucose)
- It forms a portion of my tissues
- It acts as a solvent in body-fluids (blood)
- It important for digestion, assimilation of food (to get energy)
- It helps to remove waste from my body (bowels, urination, and perspiration, processing by liver)
- It keeps my body fit
- It regulates my body temperature
- It serves as a lubricant (protects my joints and organs)
- It alleviates constipation
- It provides a balance in my body
- It forms the base for saliva
- It regulates metabolism
- It is a medium for electrolytes and other ions in my body
- It helps to transport oxygen to my cells
So…
If my body is 2% dehydrated, my physical and mental functions will seriously degrade (I will experience chronic pains in my joints and muscles, lower back pain, headaches and constipation)
If my body is 15% dehydrated, it could likely be lethal!
How much water do I need to drink?
I just divide my body weight (in pounds) in half. This gives the number of ounces of water per day that I need to drink.
For example, I weigh 120 pounds, so I should drink at least 60 ounces of water per day.
Use this water intake calculator
http://liftforlife.com/content/fitness-calculators/water-intake-calculator
HOW I CAN SAVE WATER?
At Home
- Take shorter showers.
- Turn off the shower while lathering soap
- Turn off the tap when brushing my teeth or washing my face.
- Water plants with water that has been used to wash vegetables.
- Wash my family's car with water in pails and not from a hose connected to a tap.
- Use the washing machine with a full load.
- Remind my father to repair dripping faucets.
- Water the lawn early in the morning or late evening.
- Use a broom to clean driveway, not flushing the rubbish with water.
- Use a watering can to water plants.
- Fill the sink to wash dishes.
