Many of us worry about diet, but rather rarely take a close look at our drinking habits. Wrongly so: most adults drink too little per day. Those who wait until they feel thirsty to drink something often already have a fluid deficit. Humans can survive about a month without food, but at most five to seven days without drinking. Therefore: For our health, drinking the right and sufficient amount of fluids during the day is at least as important as eating the right food. Thirst occurs when the body has lost more than 0.5 percent of its weight in the form of water.
Drink 2 liters of water per day
Water is a tasteless, odorless, transparent clear and colorless liquid composed of two hydrogen atoms (H) and one oxygen atom (O). The human body is composed of about two-thirds water. Water serves on the one hand as a means of transport for blood, urine and sweat, for example, and on the other hand as a solvent for almost all substances in the cell.
Water also regulates the body’s temperature by extracting heat from the organism through evaporation on the surface of the body (sweat). Our body excretes large amounts of fluid every day. To maintain optimal fluid levels, these losses must be replenished again and again. Part of the fluid requirement is covered by food. In addition, one should drink about two liters of water per day.
Water deficiency: health at risk
Although the body can compensate for a lack of water to a certain extent through concentration processes, but then a fluid deficit harms the human organism:
- Since water is also the main component of blood, it can no longer flow properly if we drink too little. The entire body is supplied worse, the brain power and ability to concentrate decrease.
- Lack of fluid also increases the risk of kidney stone disease, urinary tract infections or constipation.
- Skin and mucous membranes also dry out – viruses and bacteria then have an easier game to enter the body.
- Scientific studies showed that a water loss of already two percent of body weight significantly impairs performance.
Warning signs of fluid deficiency
When there is a fluid deficit, the body sounds the alarm – so you should listen to the following warning signals from the body:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Feeling thirsty
- Loss of appetite
