It only takes a onepercent fluid loss in thebody to become Dehydrated

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t only takes a one percent fluid loss in the body to become

Dehydrated

JoAnn Guest

Aug 29, 2006 07:43 PDT

 

 

 

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In addition to exercise, it is important that your body gets enough

water. Water is necessary for our body to operate efficiently. Water

is vital to the body in temperature regulation,

nerve impulse conduction,

circulation, metabolism, immune system, eliminative processes,

sensory awareness and perceptive thinking.

 

Americans, on average, drink only eight ounces (one cup) of water

per day. The rest of the water the body needs must be extracted from

other

liquids or foods that we eat.

 

Not enough water is a real threat to the system. Many chemical

reactions inside the body will not occur without the right amount of

water.

 

It only takes a one percent fluid loss in the body to become

dehydrated.

 

 

This generally happens prior to any conscious sensation of being

thirsty.

 

Very small shortages of water can dramatically change and disrupt

biochemistry.

 

Water is considered by exercise physiologists as the single most

important variable in peak performance.

 

Your muscles can lose up to ten percent of their contractile

strength

and eight percent of speed from only a three percent dehydration.

 

A small change makes a big difference when it comes to water. If you

do

a lot of travel by air, you can lose as much as two pounds of water

in a

three to four hour flight.

 

Stress, alcohol and caffeine all influence the amount of water and

the

speed in which your body loses it.

 

Any of these factors, alone or in combination, could cause a small

but

critical shrinkage of the brain.

 

This small shrinkage will impair neuromuscular coordination,

decrease

concentration, and slow thinking.

 

The average amount of water loss per day is two cups through

breathing,

two cups through invisible perspiration, and six cups through

urination

and bowel movements.

 

That is a total of ten cups lost per day without taking into account

perspiration from exercise or hard work, excessively dry air, or

alcohol

and caffeine consumption.

 

To maintain efficient operation, you want to drink the following:

 

150 pounds or less: five cups (64 fl oz)

For every 20 pounds of body weight over 150, drink an additional

cup.

Thus, a person weighing 190 pounds would drink a minimum of ten cups

or

80 fluid ounces.

 

Over 250, drink the same as 250 lb, (12-13 Cups.)

 

http://www.holisticonline.com/stress/stress_water.htm

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets