As the summer heats up, the importance of water cannot be overstated reports Reem Leila The other day Hend, a 36-year-old sales representative, was watching a morning news programme when the guest doctor began to talk about water and its importance in hot weather. What made the biggest impression was the two litres of water he presented to illustrate the amount of water we lose each day, a rate which escalates with increased heat. Hend noted that, "although I know the importance of water to our bodies, the presence of the bottles of water made the picture quite clear." Water is the most valuable and necessary nutrient for the proper operation of the human body. Regular water consumption is the only way that the body can eliminate concentrated toxins. Deficiency of water, in the form of dehydration, has deleterious effects on the body and can lead to a failing in health, and in extreme circumstances death. According to Farouq Shahine, a dietitian, "Water consumption is vital for the body's overall metabolic health. If the double-layer cell membranes lack sufficient water, enzyme movement in and out of the cells will be obstructed. Enzymes are necessary to activate all the body's cell functions, and anything that interferes with enzyme movement will have a negative effect on all the body's systems." To maintain vitality and well- being two litres of fresh water daily are recommended. Shahine advises that it is better to drink between meals to avoid diluting digestive juices. "People should try to drink at least half an hour before eating and an hour afterwards. If you ever feel thirsty during a meal try a digestive herbal tea; peppermint, camomile, and lemon verbena aid digestion. But they should not be an alternative to fresh water, but preferred options for caffeinated drinks," says Shahine. Studies suggest four out of 10 Egyptians know that they should be drinking eight glasses of water per day. Half of the people interviewed admit they do not meet the requirement or that they consume alternative drinks that do not fulfil the water-intake requirement. The result, according to Shahine, is that on average they are getting only a third of the water they need. Inadequate water intake leads to headaches, grogginess, itchy dry skin, and sever dehydration which affects blood pressure, circulation, kidney function, and nearly all bodily processes. "Water is called the silent nutrient; next to oxygen water is most needed for life. It acts as a solvent, coolant, and lubricant," Shahine says. Mohamed Nada, dermatologist at Cairo University, suggests people drink a glass of water every 30 minutes to an hour instead of when they feel thirsty. Water is essential in moisturising the skin, and helps keep it soft and toned. It carries every nutrient, mineral, vitamin, protein, hormone and chemical messenger in the human body to its destination. Protein and enzymes are the basis for the body's healing, especially so in the case of skin. "The regular use of a reasonable amount of water keeps the skin healthy and able to fight infection better," says Nada. "I did experience dryness and flaking of my skin for a long time without knowing the reason," recounted Helmi. "I was worried that my skin would go on like that forever. Later I realised that all the dryness was due to dehydration, as I usually do not drink water a lot because I do not feel thirsty." The need for water varies depending on the weather and levels of activity. In very humid environments the body can sweat more than a quarter of its water in just two hours. The lost water must be replaced immediately to prevent dehydration and resulting complications that could include a loss in oxygen supply to the brain, a thickening of the blood so that it cannot reach small blood vessels, and a depletion in sodium and other electrolytes that can threaten the body's chemical and electrical system. At rest the body can lose up to 80 ounces of water a day. Gina Grant of Gold's Gym believes that water helps maintain proper muscle tone by giving muscles a natural ability to contract and by preventing dehydration. It also helps to prevent the sagging of skin that usually follows weight loss -- shrinking cells are buoyed by water, which plumps the skin and leaves it clear, healthy and resilient. Because water contains no calories, it can serve as an appetite suppressant. Grant continues saying that there is a vital connection between drinking water and fat loss. Eight glasses or more of water can help in keeping fat away. Water is possibly the single most important factor in losing weight and keeping the pounds off. "Research shows when we metabolise or burn 16 ounces of fat our body generates 22 ounces of water, which surprisingly must be flushed out by drinking water, a minimum of 64 ounces daily," says Grant. Drinking less than this amount of water leaves the body feeling threatened and, according to Grant, the body will as a consequence hang on to every molecule of water, resulting in fluid retention and no weight loss. By drinking water and correcting fluid retention more fat is used as a fuel because the liver is free to metabolise fat more quickly. An overweight person, Grant says, needs more water than a thin person. Larger bodies have larger metabolic loads. "Studies recommend that if you are overweight, you should add one glass of water to your daily requirement for every 25 pounds over your recommended weight," adds Grant. The facts: - The human brain tissue is comprised of 85 per cent water. - two-thirds of the human body weight is water. - Remember to consume water instead of coffee or colas that contain caffeine. Beverages that contain caffeine result in a depletion of body fluids. - To replace this loss one should drink two glasses (16 oz) of water for every glass of an alternative beverage (eight oz) that contains caffeine. - Make sure to check the content of the water in products, you should keep away from water that contains high levels of sodium, as sodium is considered a toxic element.
