words by: Sherri Romig
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The Water in Your Body
The amount of water in the human body ranges from 50-75%. The average adult human body is 50-65% water. The percentage of water in infants is much higher, typically around 75-78% water, dropping to 65% by one year of age.
Body composition varies according to gender and fitness level, because fatty tissue contains less water than lean tissue. The average adult male is about 60% water. The average adult woman is about 55% water because women naturally have more fatty tissue than men. Overweight men and women have less water, as a percentage, than their leaner counterparts.
The percentage of water in our bodies is also determined by your hydration level. If we drink water that has poor structure, we can drink all the water we want and still be somewhat dehydrated. Only micro-clustered structured water can easily be digested, assimilated and flow through the cells in our body to properly and thoroughly hydrate it!
Mental performance and physical coordination start to become impaired before thirst kicks in, typically around 1% dehydration.
People feel thirsty when they have already lost around 2-3% of their body’s water. Although liquid water is the most abundant molecule in the body, additional water is found in hydrated compounds. About 30-40% of the weight of the human body is the skeleton, but when the bound water is removed, either by chemical desiccation or heat, half the weight is lost.
Where Exactly Is Water in the Human Body?
Approximately 2/3 of the body’s water is in the intra-cellular fluid, inside the cells. The other third is in the extra-cellular fluid, outside the cells.
The amount of water varies, depending on the organ. Much of the water is in blood plasma (20% of the body’s total). According to a study performed by H.H. Mitchell, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the amount of water in the human heart and brain is 73%, the lungs are 83%, muscles and kidneys are 79%, the skin is 64%, and the bones are around 31%.
What Is the Function of Water in the Body?
Water serves multiple purposes:
• Water is the primary building block of cells.
• Water acts as an insulator, regulating internal body temperature. This is partly because water has a high specific heat, plus the body uses perspiration and respiration to regulate temperature.
• Water is needed to metabolize proteins and carbohydrates used as food. It is the primary component of saliva, used to digest carbohydrates and aid in swallowing food.
• Water lubricates joints. Water insulates the brain, spinal cord, organs, and fetus. It acts as a shock absorber.
• Water is used to flush waste and toxins from the body via urine.
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