Pete A. Muñoz

Water is virtually everywhere, from soil moisture and ice-caps to the cells inside our own bodies. On a normal, day-to-day basis, maintaining a well-hydrated system is easy to manage for those of us fortunate enough to have access to clean drinking water. So what role does water play in our bodies , and how much do we actually need to drink to stay healthy?

1. Depending on factors like location, fat index, age and sex, the average human is between 55 and 60% water. 

2. At birth, human babies are even wetter – being 75% water they are swimmingly similar to fish - but their water composition drops to 65% by their first birthday. 

3. The H2O in our bodies works to cushion and lubricate joints, regulate temperature and to nourish the brain and spinal cord. 

4. Water isn’t only in our blood: an adult’s brain and heart are almost three-quarters water - that’s roughly equivalent to the amount of moisture in a banana. 

5. Lungs are 83% water, which is roughly the amount of moisture in an apple.

6. Even seemingly dry human bones are 31% water. 

7. Each day we lose 2 to 3 liters through our sweat, urine and bowel movements, and even just from breathing. While these functions are essential to our survival, we need to compensate for the fluid loss.

8. Maintaining a balanced water level is essential to avoid dehydration or overhydration - both of which can have devastating effects on overall health. Increased dehydration can cause notable drops in energy, mood, skin moisture and blood pressure as well as signs of cognitive impairment.  In fact, a dehydrated brain works harder to accomplish the same amount as a normal brain - and it even temporarily shrinks because of its lack of water.

9. For a long time, conventional wisdom said that we should drink eight glasses a day. That estimate has since been fine-tuned; now the consensus is that the amount of water we need to imbibe depends largely on our weight and environment. The recommended daily intake varies from between 2.5 to 3.7 liters of water for men and about 2 to 2.7 liters for women - a range that is pushed up or down if we are healthy, active, old or overheating. But don’t go crazy - it’s possible to overhydrate if you consume too much water in a short amount of time - a risk mostly encountered by athletes because of complications in regulating water levels in extreme physical conditions.

10. Water within food makes up about a fifth of our daily H20 intake. Fruits and vegetables like strawberries, cucumbers and even broccoli are over 90% water and can supplement liquid intake while providing valuable nutrients and fiber.

Drinking well might also have various long-term benefits. Studies have shown that optimal hydration can lower the chance of stroke, help manage diabetes and potentially reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. No matter what, getting the right amount of liquid makes a world of difference in how you’ll feel, think and function day-to-day.

From the TED-Ed Lesson What would happen if you didn’t drink water? - Mia Nacamulli

Democracy Now! has learned the longtime Detroit activist and philosopher Grace Lee Boggs died this morning at the age of 100. “She left this life as she lived it: surrounded by books, politics, people and ideas,” said her friends and caretakers Shay Howell and Alice Jennings.

Grace Lee Boggs was involved with the civil rights, Black Power, labor, environmental justice, and feminist movements over the past seven decades. She was born to Chinese immigrant parents in 1915. In 1992, she co-founded the Detroit Summer youth program to rebuild and renew her city.

Here’s how U.S. groundwater travels the globe via food.

A new study shows how major aquifers are being drained for agricultural use, which means the water is removed from these underground reservoirs and moves around in some surprising ways. “By unsustainably using these aquifers, we are trading off future food security with current food production”.

More here