Water is Essential
Did you know that our bodies are 50-60% water? Water is important for healthy skin, hair and nails. It helps control body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure. Basically, water is the fundamental agent for life. It is needed by every body system, and we can only survive about four days without it.
Can Any Other Liquid Replace Water?
Under normal conditions, it is recommended that half of an adult's fluid intake be from water. However, it is possible to stay hydrated through the day by drinking other fluids and even eating hydrating foods.
For example, fruits and vegetables are a source of water. Juices and sports drinks also can be hydrating. Their sugar content can be lowered by diluting with water. (Soong)
But if the body becomes dehydrated, the heart has to work harder to pump blood through the vessels. Thirst is a late sign of the need for hydration. Hydrate quickly with regular water.
How Much Water?
While it is possible to drink too much water, usually we are not drinking enough.
You may have heard that to calculate your water requirement for the day, take your weight divided by 2, and that number is how many ounces of water you should drink.
Andrea Drew, registered dietitian, says the calculation is close. She suggested that the “half your body weight in ounces” axiom may have been established because it was easier to remember. However, there is a more precise formula that a dietitian will use.
Below is Andrea’s fluid requirement guide for healthy individuals of normal weight.
Infants & Children:
1-10 kg 100-150 ml/kg
11-20 kg 1000 ml + 50 ml/kg over 10 kg
≥ 21 kg 1500 ml + 25 ml/kg over 20 kg
≥ 31 kg 1700 ml + 30 ml/kg over 30 kg
Adolescents: 40-60 ml/kg
Young Adult (16-30 yrs): 30-35 ml/kg
Average Adult: 30 ml/kg
Adult 55-65 yrs: 30 ml/kg
Adult over 65: 25 ml/kg
As an example, an average 35-year-old adult would require 30 milliliters of water per kilogram. To convert kilograms to pounds, pounds are divided by 2.2. If this person was 125 pounds, they should drink 57 ounces of water each day.
What Kind of Water?
The water you choose is up to you. There may be financial and energy efficiency factors involved in your water choices, especially if you choose to have a purifying system at home. The important thing is to consume water.
Here are some terms you may encounter:
Distilled means that the water was first boiled, and then the unwanted chemicals and minerals were left in liquid state while the pure water was converted to steam, and the steam was converted back to water by condensation into a clean container. Distilled water is H2O and nothing else.
Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a water treatment process that removes contaminants from water by using pressure to force water molecules through a membrane. This "artificial semipermeable membrane" allows only H2O to pass through by diffusion, and the filtered-out waste water is washed down the drain. Under the right conditions, RO systems can remove 90-98% of heavy metals, viruses, bacteria and other organisms, as well as organic and inorganic chemicals.
During the distillation and RO processes, minerals (organic and inorganic) are taken from the water along with the dangerous chemicals. However, the small amounts of minerals you could get from drinking tap water rather than distilled or RO do not equal the amounts you actually need, and you can get these resources elsewhere, such as from food.
If you have access to a natural spring, this can be a great source for drinking water. You can purchase a filter, such as a Berkey filter, to remove sediment and bacteria.
What about Alkaline Water?
There has been recent hype about alkaline water. However, a few minutes of research will reveal conflicting claims about alkaline water and the alkaline diet rather than consistent claims about benefits. There have also been claims of negative side effects.
When I am confronted with conflicting information, my rule of thumb is to go with the option that seems closest to how God designed my body or how He designed the things I want to put into my body.
The way I see it, God made water exactly the way it is for a reason.
Water Storage
We know that water in cheap, plastic bottles often tastes like the containers.
A 2011 study from Environmental Health Perspectives revealed that chemicals found in plastics acted like estrogen even before being exposed to sunlight, dish washing and microwaving, which are conditions that our food containers are exposed to regularly. Chemicals that mimic the actions of naturally occurring estrogen are the most common forms of endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors interfere with endocrine (hormonal) systems and can cause all sorts of complications, from reproductive to immune effects. (Yang)
A safe rule of thumb is to store water in GLASS or BPA-free plastics. (Polycarbonate (PC) Bisphenol A = BPA) This decreases chemicals leaching into the water. (See the note below this article explaining Polycarbonates and BPA-free products.)
Well, that’s it for step 3! Next stop, Step 4. Bottoms up!
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Meg Grimm writes biblical studies and research articles that help set women free from impractical standards of the world. She strives to unveil true beauty and sensible body care principles from a godly perspective.
Note on BPA Plastics:
Polycarbonate plastics are naturally transparent, amorphous (lacking definite form) thermoplastic (becomes pliable or mold-able when heated and hardens when cool). The material allows light to transmit inside at nearly the same capacity as glass.
BPA-Free means that though Bisphenol A (BPA) – a chemical used to make plastics and epoxy resins - is released from certain types of polycarbonate material when it degrades over time, “BPA-Free” polycarbonate products have been created for perishable food and water.
To conclude, if you have concerns, use glass.
Sources
Knippa, Audrey. et al. Nutrition for Nursing Review Module Edition 4.0. Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC, 2010. Print.
Soong, Jennifer. "What Counts as Water? Stay Hydrated and Healthy." WebMD. 9 Sept 2011. Accessed 3 Feb 2020 through https://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/healthy-beverages#1
Yang, Chun Z., et al. "Most Plastic Products Release Estrogenic Chemicals: A Potential Health Problem That Can Be Solved" Environmental Health Perspectives. 1 July 2011. Accessed 8 Feb 2020 through https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1003220
"Endocrine Disruptors." National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Accessed 8 Feb 2020 through https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/index.cfm
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