Drinking water is so important for good health. When we were children we learnt that each molecule of water is made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. However we may not have learnt how much water we need in order for us to be a healthy human being. Our body is estimated to be about 60-70% water. Blood is mostly water, and your muscles, lungs, and brain all contain a lot of water. Our body needs water to regulate body temperature and to provide the means for nutrients to travel to all our organs. Water also transports oxygen to cells, removes waste, and protects joints and organs. We lose water through urination, respiration, and by sweating. If you are very active, you lose more water than if you are sedentary. Diuretics such as caffeinated drinks and alcohol result in the need to drink more water because they trick your body into thinking you have more water than you actually need. Remember, by the time you get the signal that you are thirsty, your body is actually already mildly dehydrated. Now, alongside the obvious sign of thirst, you need to know what else to look out for when looking at how dehydrated you are. Some symptoms of mild dehydration include chronic pains in joints and muscles, lower back pain, headaches and constipation. A strong smell to your urine, along with a yellow or amber colour shows that you may not be getting enough water. The Pee Chart below shows how hydrated our bodies are dependent on the colour of our urine
