Why Water is Critical to Every Living Thing
While many people are aware of the important role that water plays in growing plants, fruits and vegetables, a great number of people forget that water is actually the building block of all life. Since most of the planet is covered in water, you may overlook how precious this resource actually is. Did you know that less than 3% of all the water on the earth is even drinkable?
The Role of Water in the Human Body
The human body is made up of approximately 60% water. This breaks down to 70% of the brain, almost 90% of the lungs, 83% of the blood and approximately 75% of lean muscle tissues being made up of water. Even body fat has 10% water and bones 22% water. This highlights the importance of H20 in the human body. Water is needed to control body temperature, transport waste and digest food. Humans lose this vital water throughout the day and night, through breathing, urinating, defecating and perspiring. This means that in order to maintain all of the vital functions of the body, we need to replace this water by consuming at least 8 to 10 8 oz glasses of water each day. While some of this fluid can be obtained through eating water rich foods such as fruits and vegetables, the majority of this fluid is obtained through drinking. Although you can obtain fluid from drinking fruit juice, sodas and other drinks, water is the most effective fluid to hydrate the body.
Children and Water
Water plays an even more important role in the health and wellbeing of children and babies. Babies are born with approximately 78% of their bodies containing water. Although this amount drops to 65% by the time the child reaches a year old, this is still higher than an adult and therefore it is important to keep children properly hydrated. This higher percentage is due to the fact that body fat contains more water than lean tissues. Since children have a higher percentage of body fat, they have a higher percentage of water compared to adults, especially men, who have the lower percentage of body fat generally.
The Importance of Good Quality Water
Another consideration about the importance of water is the quality of the water. While the water in rainfall is generally considered to be pure, as it travels through the ground it picks up minerals and other contaminants. Hard water, or the presence of magnesium and calcium can cause difficulties with household appliances and the efficiency of detergent products. While hard water can be easily corrected with a water softener, there are other contaminants, which can cause issues with the quality of your drinking water. The presence of lead, nitrates or other potentially harmful contaminants, can not only compromise the taste and appearance of your drinking water, but can have a number of health implications. From minor health issues such as gastrointestinal problems to an increased risk of developing serious illnesses such as cancer, poor quality water can have a significant effect on your health and wellbeing.
This underscores the importance of choosing good quality water. Fortunately, this does not mean needing to pay for expensive bottled water, as there are a number of domestic water treatment options available. From under countertop R.O. (Reverse Osmosis) devices to whole house systems, there is a water treatment option to suit all requirements and budgets.
About The Author:
Greg Scott is President of Valparaiso based Miracle/EcoWater Systems, the premier water conditioning company in Northwest Indiana serving the Lake, Porter and LaPorte County areas. A 3rd generation water treatment professional, Greg grew up in the family owned business started by his grandfather in the late fifties. He has made water treatment his life and under his direction and high-standards, the company’s water treatment experience, knowledge, and products are unrivaled in region.
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