Monday 15 February 2016

Water & the human body


The human body is majorly composed of water. It forms the bulk of the human blood (92%), the brain (75%) , the muscles (75%) and the bones (22%).  Water enters the body through drinking and  food intake. Thus, water makes up a remarkable potion of the human body . In humans, an adult male body mass per water is 80%. Though factors such as age, health, weight and amount of fat in the body accounts for variation in the body water percentage. 

As a result of this, a healthy adult living in areas of extreme temperatures should drink one and half litres (1.5L) of water per day. This keeps the body well hydrated and also balances water losses through excretion and perspiration. 
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Consequently water is broken down into 

  1. Intracellular fluids
  2. Extracellular fluids such as Plasma, Transcellular fluids, Interstitial fluids, Gastrointestinal, Cerebrospinal and Occular fluids
Importance of water in the human body

  • water acts as a medium through which nutrients are being transported from one  part of the body to another. In the process of transportation it breaks down food  molecules into particles which could be absorbed  by the body.
  • Water facilitates waste removal from organs, tissues , systems of the body. It lubricates the joints. It act as a buffer for the brain,eyes,spinal cord and through amniotic fluid for growing fetus
  • It regulates body temperature owing to its high heat resistant capacity
  • It aids chemical and metabolic reactions
  • It protects the kidney from toxic substances


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