Over half of our body weight is water.
Muscle is about 75% water and bone is about 25% water.
Water that is in the body moves around.
The water moves in and out of cells.
The absorption of particles is reliant on osmosis to move the water.
Blood pressure causes water to be pushed out of blood walls into cells.
If the pressure is lowered water is drawn back into the blood.
The substances needed by the body are dissolved in water.
Those substances include glucose, amino acids, and minerals, among others.
Chemical reactions take place in the water in the body.
These reactions maintain acidity in the body.
Water in the body maintains body temperature.
If the body temperature increases sweat is produced.
As it evaporates, the body cools.
Water is taken in the body by the fluid a person drinks and in the foods a person consumes.
The body tells a person they are thirsty.
These signals activate a person to respond to their thirst needs.
Most water is lost in urine.
The kidneys regulate this function.
If a person is exposed to prolonged heat or exercise the body senses that the concentration of dissolved particles is high and produces an anti-diuretic hormone that tells the kidneys to re-absorb water.
But there are limits.
Water lost through feces, sweat, and evaporation is not regulated.
This water loss may become dangerous.
If lost fluid is not replaced the person may become severely dehydrated as water in the body cannot be stored.
There will be symptoms of dehydration from mild to severe.
Symptoms of mild dehydration may include thirst, headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, dry eyes and mouth, and dark colored urine.
A person can only survive a few days without water.
The water loss affects the ability to think and perform physically.
More severe symptoms may include nausea, confusion, and disorientation.
A balance of electrolytes is necessary for nerve conduction and muscle contraction.
Sodium, potassium, and chloride are responsible for the positive and negatively charged ions that conduct electric current in the body.
An imbalance in these electrolytes causes the charges inside cells and outside cells to become reversed.
Dehydration may cause an imbalance in these electrolytes.
Even a small increase of potassium may be dangerous.
The kidneys conserve sodium which aids in conserving body water.
This in turn helps to regulate blood pressure.
There are three substances that are released when blood pressure decreases.
These three substances are rennin, angiotensin II, and aldosterone.
These substances normally caused by potassium supplements taken rather than by potassium in the diet.
There are some substances that are used and may cause dehydration.
One of these is alcoholic beverages.
Alcohol is a diuretic.
As such it increases urination and flushes water.
Alcohol removes fluid from tissues and contains toxins.
Alcohol drains potassium levels.
It causes the body to turn off its own dehydration processes.
Alcohol dehydrates brain cells.
Addiction my come from dehydration of cells in an attempt to rehydrate those cells.
It is a vicious cycle of drinking alcohol, becoming dehydrated, and drinking more alcohol to attempt to rehydrate.
There are some suggestions to avoid dehydration from alcohol.
Drink water before drinking alcoholic beverages.
Drink one glass of water for each alcoholic beverage consumed.
Drink an electrolyte replacement after drinking the alcoholic beverages.
Add a multivitamin-vitamin and/or mineral replacement to replace lost substances.
Always drink in moderation.
Caffeine is another substance that may cause dehydration but there are varying opinions about this.
Caffeine is a natural diuretic.
It causes a challenge to the body in staying hydrated.
The use of caffeine products has been linked to a loss of calcium, magnesium, B vitamins, and disturbs the ability to absorb iron.
Caffeine may also cause dehydration because it decreases memory enzymes, it may affect overall brain functioning, and because it stimulates the central nervous system.
Once again this can have an effect on the positive and negatively charged ions.
The cravings a person gets for caffeine is actually a craving for water.
These cravings are learned behaviors in which the drinking is associated with drinking caffeine drinks instead of water.
Drinking more water or primarily water may help to reduce these cravings for caffeine.
The primary reason to reduce caffeine intake is to reduce the toxic effects.
There are a number of steps a person can take to ensure they do not become dehydrated.
The first step would be to drink the recommended fluids per day.
Water is the best.
This would be about 3 liters for a man and 2 plus liters for a woman per day.
This quantity could be less for very inactive people.
It might be more for people exercising, exposure to high temperatures, and for travel in an airplane or car.
A second step to ensure a person does not become dehydrated would be a reduction in salt intake.
This would be possible by eating unprocessed foods rather than processed foods.
Do not add salt in food preparation.
Use other seasonings such as onions, thyme, garlic, and so on.
Do not eat salty snacks such as chips.
These foods have a tremendous amount of sodium.
Eat sliced turkey or chicken instead of hot dogs or bologna.
Limit the use of sauces added to foods.
Many of these are high in sodium content.
Just as there is a need for a balance of calories and nutrients in a diet, there is also a need for a balance of hydration in the body.
This water balance affects almost every function of the body from electric charges to cell function.
A doctor's advice to drink plenty of fluids when you are suffering from an intestinal virus is no joke.
It is easy to become dehydrated when nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are occurring.
With children this situation can become even more dangerous.
A product called Pedialyte includes electrolytes that are needed to overcome dehydration in children.
Ice pops are also recommended.
Vomiting children should not be forced to drink water.
It may worsen the situation.
The childs doctor may recommend needed products.
As noted earlier when exercising or being exposed to heat and sun drinking water may prevent dehydration.
When drinking alcohol or caffeine products drinking plenty of water may help to reduce the symptoms of dehydration.
The key is to drink lots of water daily to prevent the occurrence of dehydration.
Do all things in moderation and maintain a balance in the diet, water intake, and exercise and heat.