
Everyone has heard that life is impossible without water. And that we can only live for a few days without water. We can even live longer without food than without water. Did you know that this is due to the functions that water has in your body? Nutrition (energy) has a different function than moisture.
In this article, I discuss the important functions of water and 10 tips to drink more water.
Do you find tap water boring? At the bottom are 5 extra tips to vary in water and enough combinations for the whole year!
Can you lose weight by drinking water? Of all the nutrients, the body needs water the most. For women, about half of the body consists of water. This percentage is slightly higher for men, around 65%. A baby consists of even more water, around 75%. And our brains even consist of 90% water!
Water has many important functions in the body. I highlight a few for you:
Moisture is in all cells of the body. In addition, there is also moisture between the cells. This has a protective function, protecting vulnerable parts of the body against shocks and movements to prevent possible damage. But moisture also has a lubricating function in the contraction of muscles and in the kneading movements that the stomach and intestines make (peristalsis) in digestion.
Water ensures the transport of nutrients, hormones, minerals, vitamins and waste into the bloodstream and lymph vessels. Without water, essential nutrients cannot reach the correct destination and waste does not enter the kidneys for processing.
In addition, water keeps our body at the right temperature and has many more functions. You already notice that water is important. But how can you get more water during the day?Dehydration is literally a lack of water in the body. Under normal circumstances, moisture is excreted through exhalation, the skin (sweat), stool and urine. This is supplemented by sufficient drinking, but also in vegetables and some fruit types contain a lot of moisture.
You probably know it. The feeling of a dry mouth. This is one of the first symptoms of dehydration. This thirst stimulus is activated if you have already dried out 2%.
Bottled water contains fewer minerals than tap water. On average you need a minimum of 1.5 to 2 litres of fluid per day. In addition, it is important that you drink more as compensation if you have exercised (intensively), at high temperatures, had illness or if you have eaten a lot of salt.
Healthy choices to get enough fluid are mainly drinking water, but you can also drink black and green tea, herbal teas and (limited) coffee.
Read also: Prevent muscle pain by drinking water
The Food Safety Authority suggests the following guidelines for a healthy total water intake.
Recommended total water intake (per day)
Infants (0-6 months old)
100 - 190 ml per kg body weight from breast milk
Infants (6-12 months old)
0.8 - 1.0 liters
Children (1-2 years old)
1.1 - 1.2 litres
Children (2-3 years old)
1.3 litres
Children (4-8 years old)
1.6 litres
Boys (9-13 years old)
2.1 litres
Girls (9-13 years old)
1.9 litres
Adult males (over 14 years old)
2.5 litres
Adult females (over 14 years old)
2.0 litres