In
nutritional jargon the term essential refers to vital molecules that cannot be synthesized
by our body and must be obtained from external sources. Water is the main essential nutrient; indeed
it is the most abundant component of our body (55-60% of the body weight in
adults). Water is necessary for biochemical reactions, since it is the solvent
of many nutrients (such as vitamins, minerals, amino acid, etc.). Moreover
water has a crucial role in regulating the body temperature and represents the
means by which our body discards toxic metabolites. There are only few examples
highlighting the essential role of water.
Basically
human physiology depends on water,
therefore it is crucial to maintain its adequate amount in our body. We continuously
consume and eliminate water; this means we need to restore water by obtaining it from external
sources: we acquire water from beverages
and foods, although the best source of water is water itself.
On average our daily
requirements correspond to 1.5 – 2L, although this amount could change according to our level of physical activity, age and physiological conditions.
So don’t
forget to drink if you want to stay healthy.
Take care.
Ciao
