Health & Water Consumption

It is important to drink water to stay healthy; water helps the body to process nutrients and provides lubrication. However, the amount of water each person needs is different, and drinking too much water can be harmful.

Function

• Water flushes toxins out of the body, carries nutrients to organs, and lubricates and moistens the ears, nose and throat. Joint movement also is also helped greatly by water.

Water Loss

• Water is lost through urination, breathing, perspiration and bowel movements.

Consumption

• According to physician Dr. Heinz Valtin, the advice to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day might not have any scientific basis. Valtin believes food and other fluids might already contain this amount. However, this can be used as a guideline.

Dehydration

• Dehydration occurs when you don't have enough water to properly carry out your body's functions. Lack of water can cause fatigue and, in more extreme cases, chronic dehydration.

Too Much Water

• High water consumption, or drinking more than the eight 8-ounce glasses a day, has no benefit, according to an article published in the June 2008 issue of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). In fact, drinking too much water can cause water intoxication, a fatal condition where the body's sodium levels drop to dangerous levels.