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Why Should People Drink Lots of Water?

Water is a life-giving substance that is also a vital nutrient for proper body and brain function. A healthy amount of water can help flush poisons from your body and alleviate the symptoms of dehydration.

  1. Identification

    • Water is one of the nutrients that are essential to human life. Identified by the chemical name H2O, water composes about 60 percent of the human body, depending on age and body weight.

    Effects

    • Drinking adequate water can prevent dehydration. When symptoms such as dry mouth, dizziness, fainting, confusion and dark urine occur as a result of dehydration, they can be alleviated with rehydration efforts such as drinking more water or, in extreme cases, by administering water intravenously.

    Amounts

    • According to the Diet Channel, plan to drink between 1/2 and 2/3 oz. of water for every pound your body weighs, which works out to about eight to twelve 8-oz.glasses per day. Active people who do physical work or strenuous exercise need higher water intake than those working sedentary jobs who don't exercise.

    Theories/Speculation

    • Dehydration will sap your skin of the water it needs to stay looking good. Increasing your intake of water also increases your skin moisture. Along with the use of a good moisturizer, increased water intake is thought to slow down the skin damage that occurs as part of the aging process.

    Warning

    • Though it may seem silly, drinking an excessive amount of water can kill by causing water intoxication. In 2007, a California woman died after participating in a water-drinking contest at her local radio station. Drink water steadily throughout the day and do not chug large amounts of water.

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