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Water is involved in
virtually all body processes. It is the most essential element for our
survival. Most important of all
there are no calories in water.
The body has two main water compartments. Intracellular Fluid (ICF) fluids
 within the cell and Extracellular Fluid (ECF) water outside of the cell.
ECF includes blood plasma and the
interstitial fluid that occupies the
spaces between the various tissue components. The blood plasma serves
as
the common connection between the internal (ICF) and external (ECF)
cellular environments. ECF includes
lymph, saliva and eye fluids and
joints, fluids secreted by glands and the intestine fluids that bathe the
nerves
of the spinal cord and excreted from the skin and kidney.
Almost 75% of a child’s Body Mass is water. In adults not only is there
difference in Total Body Water due to
variation in body composition (Lean
vs. Fat Mass), but gender based. The water range of male is typically
about 57-65% and
female about 46-53% of Total Body Mass. The difference
between the two genders is primarily attributable to the difference in
body fat. Almost 65 to 75% of muscle weight constitutes water, whilst Body
Fat has the least approximately 20 to 30%. Bone
contains about the same
amount of water as Body Fat.
Body Composition of individuals who are leaner and muscular has a larger
content of water than their counterparts who are
fatter, with the same
body mass. With age the contents of the body’s water changes due to age
related variations in body
composition.
Generally the water content of the body normally remains relatively stable
over time. In most cases the water output far
exceeds water intake.
However, the imbalance is quickly adjusted by the body with appropriate
ingestion of fluids.
For sports and professional athletes, not only is low body fat desirable
to optimize physical performance, but to have correct
hydration status is
important. Regular use of Maltron Body Composition Analyser will help
provide information to estimate the
optimal body weight.
For most of us a daily intake of water is less than half of our daily
requirement. An adult with a sedentary lifestyle requires
about 2.5 litres
of water each day. Considerable variation may exist in total water due to
the difference in the body composition
and our food intake. The extent of
the variation can be effected by the general environmental condition and
participation in
physical activity.
Liquids, foods and metabolism are the main three sources from where water
can be obtained. In certain professional sectors
water intake is
deliberately restricted to lower or maintain body weight. Such practices
are more common in some fields than in
others. Some individuals on weight
loss programs believe restricting fluid intake results in loss of body fat
more rapidly.
The regular uses of Maltron Body Composition Analyser will help register
changes in Body Mass before and after exercising.
Athletes are normally
weighed before and after practice. The weight loss is minimized by
periodic water breaks during activity.
The thirst mechanism is an imprecise guide to water needs. If dehydration was entirely our
responsibility it would take us
several days to re-establish fluid balance,
especially after severe dehydration. |
