How hydrated are we?

Upon birth, a person is constituted of 75%, in adulthood of 65% and in the old age of 55% of water. Water from the body is continually lost, and it has to be made up for many times during the day.

Studies across the world show that people are not drinking enough fluids. Most people reache for water only when they feel thirsty. We feel thirsty when a small percentage of fluid had been lost from the body, that is, when water loss amounts from 1 to 2 % of body mass. Studies also show that we cannot complete rely on thirst. Namely, with elders this feeling is reduced. With school kids it has been noticed that fluid and toilet availability can condition the change in the feeling of thirst and reduce the habit of fluid intake.

We often hear that a lot of people suffer from chronic, mild dehydration. That is the state of so called hypo hydration (reduced quantities of water in the body) whose symptoms are not completely clear, and primarily they are related to reduced brain functions and muscular strength and stamina, especially with sportspersons. Sports medicine studies show that complete rehydration is important. Similar results are shown in psychological studies connected to attention, alertness, readiness, the psychomotor speed. Since water constitutes around 80% of brain, 85% of blood, 75% of muscles, 90% of lungs etc. it doesn’t come as a surprise that important processes in the body are compromised even with the minor loss of water. So it’s not recommended to wait for clear signs of dehydration (water loss from the body) like thirst, dry mouth, reduced urine excretion and overheating.

We shouldn’t be content with not feeling thirsty. We should drink water all day in regular time intervals, every two to three hours. Complete hydration provides optimal mental and physical functions of the body.

Water is an environment where all metabolic processes take place, so with complete rehydration oxidative stress is reduced and the process of body detoxification is speeded up. That influences slower aging and reduces the dangers of various pathological states, like stone in urinal tract or chronic constipation.

Complete rehydration is the key process in maintaining youth, strength and vitality, especially in summer months, when more fluids and mineral are lost.