Water – why do we need it?

Have a look at what water helps our body with. Water…

• Hydrates: It moistens tissues in mouth, nose and eyes
• Helps swallowing: It moistens food, making it easier to swallow
• Helps kidney function: Adequate hydration maintains optimal kidney function. This is often popularised as water helping to flush out toxins
• Provides solvent: It provides a solvent for ions and organic molecules to dissolve into
• Protects: It helps provide protection for organs
• Lubricates: It lubricates joints
• Regulates temperature: It regulates body temperature

Body water content varies between individuals and through life, depending on gender and age. Some differences are:

• Infants and young children need more water in proportion to their body weight as they cannot concentrate their urine as efficiently as adults
• Infants also have a greater surface area relative to weight, so water losses from the skin are greater
• Men need more water than women due to their higher (on average) fat-free mass and energy expenditure

Homeostasis requires that water intake and output be balanced.

Let’s look at how we take in water and how we lose water next.