Water Consumption and Weight Loss

Water consumption is a key component of a healthy lifestyle; it is so important that we can't live without it. H2O is the principal chemical component of the human body, making up approximately 60 percent of a person's body weight. Without adequate water consumption, a person runs the risk of dehydration, which can drain every ounce of energy and prevent the body from carrying out even the most basic functions. Water consumption is particularly important to athletes, but anyone can appreciate the benefits of flushing out toxins, carrying nutrients to cells and providing a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues.

Most of us have heard the rule: drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day, or 8x8. While this is a good place to start, many medical experts agree that the amount of recommended water consumption per day actually varies by weight. According to the International Sports Medicine Institute, the average non-active individual should consume 1/2 ounce of water for every pound of body weight, and athletes should consume 2/3 ounce of water per pound. So for someone who weighs 160 pounds, this would be ten 8-ounce glasses for a non-active lifestyle and 13 to 14 glasses for an athletic lifestyle. An easier way for the average person to calculate proper water consumption is to divide their weight in half; that is how many ounces of water a non-athlete should consume.

While it may not always be feasible to count how many ounces of water you drink every day, it is always important to drink as much water as possible. The average adult human body consists of 60 to 70 percent water and going just a few days without consuming any water can potentially be fatal because the body starts poisoning itself with its own waste products. Wastes like uric acid and urea are dissolved in water before being removed through the kidneys. Water aids in chemical reactions in digestion and metabolism. Nutrients and oxygen are carried by water to the cells through the blood, and water helps cool the body through perspiration. It even helps lubricate the joints. Water consumption also plays an integral role in proper lung function, as the lungs must be moist to take in oxygen and excrete carbon dioxide.

It's easy to see how important water consumption is. Everyone should be drinking at least eight glasses a day; preferably more.