Final-year BCom Business Management student Mpho Mashabela
DYK: Water makes 60% of your body weight
By Mabatho Matsheta – ULPublications@ul.ac.za
On average, adults’ bodies consist of about 60% water, while children typically have an even higher percentage, often reaching around 75% or more. Therefore, insufficient (dehydration) or excessive (overhydration) water intake can pose risks, writes science communicator Mabatho Matsheta.
Water plays a crucial role in various physiological functions, including temperature regulation, digestion, nutrient absorption and waste elimination. Maintaining proper hydration is essential for overall health and well-being, healthy kidney function and healthy brain development.
Water is present throughout your entire body, both inside cells and in the surrounding fluids. Notably, the organs with the highest water content are the kidneys and the brain. When the body lacks sufficient water, it poses risks to vital organs. For instance, in the kidneys, dehydration can contribute to issues like urinary tract infections, kidney stones and even kidney failure.
Water plays a decisive role in eliminating waste products from your blood through urine. Moreover, it helps keep your blood arteries open, ensuring a smooth flow of blood to essential organs such as the heart, kidneys, skin and brain, carrying the necessary nutrients. However, if you’re dehydrated, this delivery system becomes less effective.
Water offers a myriad of benefits, from enhancing skin health and beauty to regulating body temperature, maintaining blood pressure, aiding in weight loss and more. One can even go as far as saying water really is the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) because the benefits are endless.
Extremely hot weather conditions are expected in South Africa this summer, as cautioned by the SAWS (South African Weather Services). In such weather conditions, dehydration becomes more common. This makes it even more crucial for one to be mindful of their daily consumption of water, as failing to do so will have many negative effects on the body.
Surely, choosing water instead of your favourite sugar-sweetened beverages cannot be an easy choice to make. Luckily, there are a few ways to make water less boring with a better sense of taste. One can add fruits and vegetables like a wedge of lemon or lime, strawberries, cucumber, and watermelon; herbs such as mint, basil, and rosemary; or a few drops of almond or coconut extract to add a bit of flavour, making hydration a more pleasant experience.
Mind this! The most effective way to stay hydrated is by consistently sipping small amounts of water throughout the day to replenish natural water loss. Experts generally advise aiming for 6–8 glasses of water daily. As the saying goes, “excess of everything is bad,” and this applies to water consumption as well, particularly when consumed rapidly. In essence, it’s important to stay hydrated, but it’s equally essential not to overdo it. Finding a balanced approach ensures you meet your body’s hydration needs without putting excessive strain on your system.
*Mabatho Matsheta is a science communicator, with interests in ensuring that scientific information is easily understandable and available to a broader audience