Human body suffers from water crisis as years go by

The human body is 90% water at birth. The water content in the body of a grown-up person decreases to 70%. The water content drops to 50% with age. So it must be water that keeps humans alive. Man depends on the quality of water in terms of physical and psychological state of his body. The latest studies show that water can have either beneficial or detrimental impact on the body.

Photo: Human body suffers from water crisis as years go by

Lev Skvortsov, an academician of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, doctor of technical sciences, a member of the Russian Ministry of Health consultative council on drinking water issues, shared his views on how humans should treat water

Lev Skvortsov started the conversation by extolling water.

- Water regulates the temperature of the body, it humidifies the air we breathe, it helps organs assimilate the nutrients and expel the toxins and excess salts. Water helps keep the blood pressure down, thus reducing the probability of a heart attack. The above “job description” for the water is not by any means complete. It’s just amazing that water can help you when you’re down in the mouth. Water can wash away the negative energy that builds up in your system during the day. That’s why I strongly recommend that you go to a swimming pool regularly, and take a shower right after you come home from work. Take a hot bath before going to bed. You’d better form a habit of showering every time you have a headache or one of those days. I’m sure water can help you out.

- Scientists are still arguing how much water a person should drink. The numbers range from 1,5 to 4 liters for a recommended daily amount.

- The body of a healthy individual can use up to 2-3 liters a day. This amount should be replenished, otherwise digestion and blood formation will be disrupted. You should drink at least 2 liters more if temperatures rise outside. Those who are engaged in sports, undergo treatment, or take vitamins should increase their daily intake of water. By the way, you shouldn’t drink water in a large swallow. Drink it slowly, pause for several seconds before swallowing.

- How can you tell that your body isn’t getting enough water?

- During dehydration the skin gets dry, a person grows tired quicker than usual and finds it hard to concentrate. Other signs include headache, constipation, hypertension, allergic reactions, the kidneys don’t work well. The symptoms of a lack of water also include a recurrent infection of the genitourinary system, dry cough, pain in the back and joints.

- Can you replenish the loss of water by drinking lots of soda pop or juice?

- Juice contains vitamins and calories, it’s rather a kind of food. Juice can’t be considered when it comes to water supply of the body. Therefore, you shouldn’t drink fruit juices to excess. The large amount of distilled water is bad for your health too because both bacteria and beneficial microelements have been removed from it. Distilled water is aggressive water. It has an increased solvent action. Drinking distilled water for a long time will result in the loss of mineral salts and cause damage to cardiovascular and bone system of your body. You’d better drink ordinary water.

- Most Russians are unhappy about the taste and smell of tap water these days.

- No doubt about it, today’s tap water flowing through the municipal water supply system leaves much to be desired. It contains dissolved iron and manganese, calcium salts and magnesium that lead to wear and tear of the plumbing equipment and bathroom accessories. The water does damage to the human body too. On the one hand, chlorine (added in water) kills most dangerous microbes. On the other hand, it is one of the causes of atherosclerosis. Besides, chlorine forms carcinogenic substances when it mixes with organic matter present in water. By the bye, it is very difficult to determine the quality of water by looking at a water sample with the naked eye. The majority of harmful impurities are odorless and taste-free.

Moskovski Komsomolets

Translated by Guerman Grachev
Pravda.Ru