Water

Agua por favor: Mizu, wasser, voda, air, viz, vatten, acqua tchour, vesi, wai, de l'eau…

It is wise to know the word for water in many languages…Water is vital to the human body's survival - You can't live without it.

We've all heard in science class that our bodies are made up of a large percentage of water. In fact, water plays very important roles in the proper functioning of the human body:

• Water regulates body temperature,
• Carries nutrients and oxygen to our cells,
• Helps dissolve vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients making these more available to the body for absorption,
• Helps regulate intestinal function; helps prevent constipation,
• Removes waste; helps the kidney and liver functions by eliminating toxins,
• Improves performance in sports,
• Helps maintain a healthy body weight.

Poor water intake may lead to dehydration, which could pose as a health risk for certain individuals like children or the elderly. Signs of dehydration include: lack of energy, fatigue, lethargy, headaches, irritability, and impaired concentration.

Our bodies depend on water and need to be hydrated on a daily basis. We lose fluids every day through perspiring, breathing, urinating and bowel movements. These lost fluids should be replenished regularly and water is the best remedy.

How much water is enough and not too much?

Water requirements are dependent on several factors including: food intake, age, gender, level of activity, health status, medications, altitude and climate. Appropriate fluid intake can easily be determined for all individuals of all ages with the assistance of a physician and nutritionist.

One thing is for certain: Everybody needs water every day. So let's get started with approximately 1 litre intake per day and make sure to distribute this evenly. Drink a glass of water with each meal and between each meal as desired. The best way to develop this habit is to be well prepared: Make sure you have access to water. Practicing this habit will help you towards achieving the appropriate level of hydration and improving your body's functions. So have a drink to your health and choose water.

Some words for water:

• Armenian:tchour
• Czech:voda
• Finnish: vesi
• German: wasser
• Hawaiian: wai
• Hungarian: viz
• Indonesian: air
• Italian:acqua
• Japanese:mizu
• Spanish:aqua
• Swedish:vatten

Read more Water is key to fluid balance