Fluids are essential for overall good health and well-being. The human body relies on fluids to function properly and maintain a healthy state of balance. From hydration to digestion, fluids play a vital role in various bodily processes.
There are different types of fluids, such as fruit juices, tea, and coffee. However, the healthiest of all fluids that is the easiest for the body to utilise is water. Better still is mineral water from a natural source that is free from harmful chemicals and pollutants and abundant in naturally occurring electrolytes that aid hydration.
The amount of fluids needed to maintain health is highly dependent on lifestyle and climate. Drinking two litres of fluids a day should suffice in aiding good hydration. However, physical exercise or hot climates can add to the body’s need for fluid intake.
Apart from basic hydration, why are fluids so important to overall health?
The primary role of fluids is to aid hydration. Since the body constantly loses water through various bodily functions such as sweating and breathing, fluids must be replaced regularly.
Fluids in their various forms are also vital for regulating body temperature. This is achieved by sweating, which cools down the body during physical activity or exposure to high temperatures.
Sweating takes place on the surface of the skin, and the water droplets allow the body to release internal heat through this process. Evaporation of water from the surface of the skin is what helps regulate body temperature.
The human body needs oxygen and nutrients to stay alive. Nutrients are consumed through food and drink, and oxygen is breathed in through the lungs. However, these nutrients and oxygen all need to be transported around the body to all organs, body tissues, and body cells.
Fluids are what the body uses to do this via a network of veins and blood vessels. Similarly, fluids assist in the transport of oxygen to different parts of the body, helping oxygenate our organs, tissues, and blood.
As already mentioned, fluids play a significant role in the transport of essential nutrients that the body needs to stay alive. However, fluids also play a vital role in eliminating waste from the body, such as toxins and by-products of biological and chemical reactions.
They help flush out waste products through urine, sweat, and other secreted bodily fluids. Adequate fluid intake promotes proper kidney function and urinary excretion, ensuring the removal of waste materials and preventing the buildup of harmful substances within body tissues, organs, and the bloodstream itself.
To obtain vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients from food, what is eaten needs to be broken down so that essential nutrients are absorbed, and waste eliminated. For this to happen, proper digestion must take place.
Fluids are necessary to break down the nutrients that have been chewed and ingested into even smaller particles, allowing for efficient digestion. Fluids also aid in the absorption of nutrients from the digestive system into the bloodstream, ensuring proper nourishment is delivered to all parts of the body.
Proper hydration is vital for maintaining healthy joints and connective tissues. Fluids help lubricate joints, reducing friction and cushioning them during movement. They also contribute to the elasticity and flexibility of muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
Sufficient fluid intake can help prevent joint stiffness, inflammation, and pain, promoting overall joint and tissue mobility.
Adequate fluid intake, along with regular exercise, can help keep joints healthy and free from pain for longer. This is especially important considering that the condition of the muscles, joints, connective tissue, and skeleton naturally declines with age.