Written by Catherine Saxelby
on Tuesday, 27 July 2010.
Tagged: drinks, fluids, health, hydration, water, wellness
Water has been dubbed the "forgotten factor" in our diets, but it's the most vital of nutrients. We can survive for days, even weeks, without food, but only two or three days without water. It's needed for so many functions in our body. Read up on why and how much we need.
Our body is made up of around 60 per cent water. Organs such as the brain and muscles contain as much as 75 per cent water but we tend to underestimate how important water is for us to function.
A US study reported that significant numbers of people go about their lives in a state of mild dehydration. Dehydration occurs with only a 1 or 2 per cent loss of fluid but if left uncorrected its symptoms can be significant.
Over a life time, insufficient fluid has been linked to kidney stones, urinary tract infections and bladder cancer.
Mild
Moderate
Severe
Some groups are more at risk of dehydration than most. These include:
Also other conditions may put you at risk of dehydration:
THIRST is not a reliable guide to our fluid needs as we are usually dehydrated by the time we experience it.
If you follow the NRV (Nutrient Reference Values) guidelines, you will consume around 8 to 10 glasses of drink or about 2 L of total fluid each day. These guidelines will also:
© 2024 Foodwatch Australia. All rights reserved
Author photo by Kate Williams
Website by Joomstore eCommerce