Water exchange. The role of water in the body Types of water in the body
We all know from school how much water is in the human body. This substance is found in different states (free, bound or structured) and makes up from 90 to 55 percent of the mass of the human body.
Moreover, a person is born with the largest portion of fluid in the body (according to some sources, water makes up 97% of the baby’s body weight) and over time it is replaced by organic and mineral substances. You can find information about what else a person consists of in our article. Thus, the human body “dries out” in old age to contain only 50-55% water.
How much water is in a person - distribution by organs and tissues
The percentage or volume fraction of water in different organs and tissues of the human body differs. So, the most H2O is in the blood and lymphatic fluid, it is approximately 92%. In second place is the brain, the amount of water in which is about 85%. The liver and kidneys contain between 69 and 82 percent water, and muscles are approximately ¾ water. The least fluid is in bone tissue (28%) and fat deposits (up to 25%).
The largest amount of water in the body (70%) falls to the share of intracellular water, which is found in the protoplasm of cells. In this form, H2O is called structured; various organic substances and minerals are dissolved in it. The remaining 30% of the total volume of water is extracellular fluid (blood plasma, lymph and intercellular fluid).
Experiment to determine the amount of fluid in the body
The amount of water in the human body was established in 1940 by a lieutenant colonel of the Japanese army, when during the war the most incredible cruelty experiments were carried out on people. The experiment consisted of locking a living person in a closed room, gradually increasing the air temperature, literally drying out the person. The “test subject” died in the seventh or eighth hour of the experiment, and after 15 hours his body turned into a dried, mummified figure. The weight of such mummies, according to the results of several dozen similar “studies,” averaged 22% of the initial weight. Thus, as a result of these brutal experiments, humanity learned how much water is in a person.
The role of water in the human body
Water is a universal solvent for most substances, both in the human body and other living substances and plants. It performs many vital functions, including thermoregulation, participation in digestion processes, transmission of nerve impulses, etc. The body’s water balance is regulated mainly by the kidneys, but the gastrointestinal tract and lungs also play an active role in this process. Water enters our body in pure form or bound, as part of food products.
Fluid loss (for example, during vigorous physical activity) is manifested by certain symptoms. If a person “dries out” by 1%, he experiences a feeling of thirst, from 1% to 2% - his stamina decreases, up to 3% - the person “loses strength”. With the loss of 5% of water, physiological processes occur such as a decrease in urine and salivation, the heart rate increases, apathy and nausea occur, and muscles weaken. In general, the entire body is adjusted to lose as little fluid as possible.
Water is a universal solvent for polar molecules - salts, sugars, simple alcohols. Water has the unique property of breaking all types of molecular and intermolecular bonds and forming solutions.
A solution is a liquid molecular disperse system in which molecules and ions of dissolved substances interact with each other. There are solutions of electrolytes, non-electrolytes, and polymers.
Body fluids are complex solutions - polyelectrolytes. When dissolved in water, hydration occurs, and the substances formed are called hydrates. In this case, intermolecular bonds are broken.
Electrolyte solutions are characterized by electrolytic dissociation of the solute to form ions. In the liquid media of the body, according to the nature and mechanisms of hydration, there are no actual salts, acids and bases, but there are their ions.
Solutions of biopolymers - proteins, nucleic acids - are polyelectrolytes and do not pass through most biological membranes.
Non-polar substances, such as lipids, do not mix with water.
Water is a solvent for many substances and transports them through the blood, lymphatic and excretory systems.
The fluid media of the body - blood, lymph, cerebrospinal fluid, tissue fluid, washing cellular elements and taking part in the metabolic process, together form the internal environment of the body. The term “internal environment” or “internal sea” was proposed by the French physiologist C. Bernard.
Biological functions of water
About 60% of an adult’s body weight (for men - 61%, for women - 54%) is water. In a newborn child, the water content reaches 77%, in old age it decreases to 50%.
Water is part of all tissues of the human body: about 81% in the blood, 75% in the muscles, 20% in the bones. Water is associated in the body mainly with connective tissue.
Water is a universal solvent of inorganic and organic compounds. In a liquid environment, food is digested and nutrients are absorbed into the blood.
Water is the most important factor ensuring the relative constancy of the internal environment of the body. Due to its high heat capacity and thermal conductivity, water participates in thermoregulation, promoting heat transfer (sweating, evaporation, thermal shortness of breath, urination).
Water is a participant in many metabolic reactions, in particular hydrolysis. It stabilizes the structure of many high-molecular compounds, intracellular formations, cells, tissues and organs, provides the supporting functions of tissues and organs, preserving their turgor, forlysis and
position (hydrostatic skeleton). Water is a carrier of metabolites. hormones, electrolytes, and is involved in the transport of substances across cell membranes and the vascular wall as a whole. With the help of water, toxic metabolic products are removed from the body.
Sources of water and routes of excretion from the body
An adult consumes an average of 2.5 liters of water per day. Of these, 1.2 are in the form of drinking water, drinks, etc.; 1 liter with incoming food; 0.3 liters is formed in the body as a result of the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, the so-called metabolic or endogenous water. The same amount of water is removed from the body.
1.5 liters of saliva, 3.5 liters of gastric juice, 0.7 liters of pancreatic juice, 3 liters of intestinal juices and about 0.5 liters of bile are secreted into the cavity of the digestive tract per day.
About 1-1.5 liters are excreted by the kidneys in the form of urine, 0.2-0.5 liters - with sweat through the skin, about 1 liter - through the intestines with feces. The set of processes of water and salts entering the body, their distribution in internal environments and excretion is called water-salt metabolism.
Types of water in the body
There are three types of water in the human and animal bodies - free, bound and constitutional.
Free, or mobile water, forms the basis of extracellular, intracellular and transcellular fluids.
Bound water is retained by ions in the form of a hydration shell and by hydrophilic colloids (proteins) of the blood and tissue proteins in the form of swelling water.
constitutional (intramolecular) water is part of molecules, proteins, fats and carbohydrates and is released during their oxidation. Water moves between different parts of the body's fluids due to the forces of hydrostatic and osmotic pressure.
Intracellular and extracellular fluids are electrically neutral and osmotically balanced.
As you know, our body is predominantly composed of water. very large, since water is the most important and integral component for us. It is involved in all metabolic processes and has a significant impact on our condition and health. That is why you need to take care of sufficient quantity and quality of water consumed.
Which daily norm water consumption?
It is generally accepted that the daily water requirement for a person is 1.5 – 2 liters. If you suddenly find that you drink less than this norm, then do not worry, since this norm includes not only pure water, but also the liquid that the body receives from food. Water sources can be: different dishes, cooked in water (borscht, soup), coffee, tea, juices, milk, fruits, vegetables, etc. Water should be drunk regularly, at short intervals throughout the day. (6 – 8 glasses per day).
Water perfectly dissolves various substances that are necessary for the full and normal functioning of all organs and tissues. Water in the human body is constantly in a dynamic state. With its participation, almost all biochemical processes and reactions occur on which metabolism depends. Also, water is a good transport system, with the help of which everything nutrients (vitamins, macro and microelements) spread throughout the body.
Water cleanses the body of waste and toxins, controls body temperature, and also removes salts from the body. It has a positive effect on human skin (more than 10% of water comes from skin covering) . By drinking enough water, your skin will be healthy, elastic and toned. This liquid also promotes weight loss, since after drinking water, metabolism in the body accelerates by 20 - 30%.
The role of water in the human body and its functions:
- removes various toxins and waste from the body
- saturates oxygen with moisture during breathing
- all metabolic processes occur due to water
- controls body temperature
- lubricates joints
- Helps absorb various nutrients
- is a good natural solvent for many vitamins, macro and microelements
- protection and buffering of vital organs
Some interesting facts about water:
- how more people drinks water, the faster it is eliminated from the body
- a person can live without water from 3 to 8 days
- loss of more than 10% water can lead to death
- overeating can also cause dehydration
- on average a person consumes 60 – 70 tons of water per year
- Drinking water with high Ph extends life by 10 – 20 years
- water helps
Water before workout:
2 - 3 hours before the start of training, you must drink 400 - 700 ml of water. Why do you need to drink so much water before training when you can take a bottle of water with you and drink it as you go? The fact is that it takes some time to absorb water. While working in the gym, the body temperature rises and strong and rapid sweating occurs, water begins to quickly leave the body.
By the time you become thirsty, your body will have lost 2–3% of fluid, which is quite a lot. And before the water you drink is absorbed, the body will lose even more fluid, and this is, as it were, harmful to health. Therefore, it is necessary to provide the body with the necessary amount of water in advance.
Water during training:
Very significant the role of water in the human body plays during training, as it is needed to maintain the required water balance. As already mentioned, water leaves the body very quickly during training. During dehydration, the amount of blood in the body decreases, which affects its ability to transport oxygen, and all this subsequently affects training performance and human health.
To ensure good workout performance and proper muscle function, you need to constantly maintain fluid levels in the body. To do this, you can take 1–2 liters of water with you and drink it in small sips throughout your workout.
Water after workout:
After training, over the next 2 - 3 hours you need to drink 500 - 700 ml of water in order to replenish lost reserves.
Consequences of lack of water in the body:
The most serious consequence of not having enough water can be dehydration. What is dehydration? Dehydration is a pathological condition of a person that occurs when the level of water in the body decreases below the physiological norm. This can happen when there is insufficient intake of it into the body, or as a result of its rapid loss.
Symptoms of dehydration:
- a person is very thirsty
- Not a large number of urine
- urine color changes (gets very dark)
- the person experiences severe weakness
- severe fatigue
- low blood pressure
- weak pulse
- loss of consciousness
A person will feel thirsty when 1 - 2% of water (500 - 1000 ml) leaves his body. A loss of 10% of moisture from your own body weight leads to irreversible processes in the body, and a loss of 20% (7000 - 8000 ml) is fatal. remember, that daily water consumption rate is 1.5 – 2 liters.
What should the water be like?
The main quality criterion of water is its Ph. Ph is a measure that shows the level of activity of hydrogen ions in water, thereby quantifying its acidity. Human blood has a Ph of 7.34 – 7.44. This acid-base balance in the human body is the most favorable. Violations of Ph levels in the blood can lead to various diseases. For example, an acidic environment can provoke diseases such as arthritis, osteoporosis and various cardiovascular diseases.
How to find out the Ph of water?
The pH of water can be determined in several accessible and simple ways. The first and most in a simple way There will be a purchase of mineral water in bottles that indicate the full composition and Ph of the water. The second way is to use special indicators (litmus, phenolphthalein, sodium benzenesulfonate). These are organic substances that, when added to water, change color depending on the acidity of the water. The third method is using a Ph-meter, this is a special device that allows you to very accurately determine the acid-base balance of water.
Now you understand how important the role of water in the human body. Water is life! Drink quality water and be healthy!
Sincerely,
The most familiar and most incredible substance on Earth is water. The importance of water cannot be overestimated in the life of all living things on the planet; it is present in every moment of our existence. Being the predominant element in the composition of any organism, water also controls its life activity.
Water in nature
Throughout its existence, humanity has been trying to unravel the mystery of this amazing and contradictory element. How did it arise, how did it get to our planet? Probably no one will be able to answer this question, but everyone knows that the importance of water in nature and human life is unimaginably great. One thing is absolutely true - today there are as many water reserves on Earth as there were at the birth of the universe.
The unique properties of water to contract when heated and expand when frozen is another reason to be surprised. No other substance has similar properties. And its ability to move from one state to another, so familiar and at the same time amazing, playing an exceptional role, makes it possible for all living organisms to exist on Earth. The Higher Mind has assigned water the main role in maintaining life and participating in constantly occurring natural processes.
The water cycle
This process is called the hydrological cycle, which is a continuous circulation of water from the hydrosphere and the surface of the earth into the atmosphere, and then back. There are four processes involved in the cycle:
- evaporation;
- condensation;
- precipitation;
- water flow
Once on the ground, part of the precipitation evaporates and condenses, another part, thanks to runoff, fills reservoirs, and the third turns into going underground. So, constantly moving, feeding waterways, plants and animals and preserving its own reserves, water wanders, protecting the Earth. The importance of water is obvious and indisputable.
The mechanism of the cycle and its types
In nature there is a large cycle (the so-called global cycle), as well as two small ones - continental and oceanic. Precipitation collected over the oceans is carried by winds and falls on the continents, and then returns to the ocean with runoff. The process where ocean water continuously evaporates, condenses and falls back into the ocean is called the small ocean gyre. And all similar processes occurring over land are combined into a small continental cycle, in which water is the main character. Its importance in the natural processes of continuous circulation that maintains the Earth’s water balance and ensures the existence of living organisms is indisputable.
Water and man
Having no nutritional value in the usual sense, water is the main component of any living organism, including humans. No one can exist without water. Two-thirds of any organism is water. The importance of water is extremely important for the proper functioning of all systems and organs.
Throughout life, a person comes into contact with water every day, using it for drinking and food, hygiene procedures, recreation and heating. Not found on Earth
a more valuable natural material, as vital and irreplaceable as water. Going without food for quite long periods of time, a person will not live without water for even 8 days, since within 8% of body weight a person begins to faint, 10% causes hallucinations, and 20% inevitably causes death.
Why is water so important for humans? It turns out that water regulates all basic life processes:
- normalizes oxygen humidity, increasing its absorption;
- carries out thermoregulation of the body;
- dissolves nutrients, helping the body absorb them;
- moisturizes and creates protection for vital organs;
- forms a protective lubricant for joints;
- improves metabolic processes in the functioning of body systems;
- promotes the evacuation of waste from the body.
How to stay hydrated
On average, a person loses 2-3 liters of water per day. In more extreme conditions, such as heat, high humidity and physical activity, water loss increases. To maintain the normal physiological water balance of the body, it is necessary to balance the intake of water with its removal through proper
Let's do some calculations. Considering that a person’s daily need for water is 30-40 grams per 1 kg of body weight and about 40% of the total need comes from food, the rest should be taken in the form of drinks. In summer, daily water consumption corresponds to 2-2.5 liters. The hot regions of the planet dictate their requirements - 3.5-5.0 liters, and in extremely hot conditions up to 6.0-6.5 liters of water. The body must not be dehydrated. Alarming symptoms of this problem are dry skin accompanied by itching, fatigue, a sharp decrease in concentration, blood pressure, headaches and general malaise.
Beneficial effect
It is interesting that, by being directly involved in metabolic processes, water promotes weight loss. There is a common misconception that people who want to lose weight need to drink less water, since the body retains water, causes significant harm. You cannot drive your body into even greater stress by knocking it out of its usual water exchange. In addition, moisture, being a natural diuretic, tones the kidneys, causing weight loss.
By receiving the optimal amount of water, a person gains strength, energy and endurance. It is easier for him to control his weight, since even the psychological inconvenience of forced changes when reducing his usual diet is easier to bear. Scientific research has proven that daily consumption of sufficient amounts of clean water helps fight serious illnesses - helps relieve back pain, migraines, reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels and blood pressure. In addition, by toning the kidneys, water inhibits the formation of stones. It has been proven that people with a creative streak tend to drink a lot, and great artists were pushed to create masterpieces. The importance of water, it turns out, is also important in art.
Plant water exchange
Just like humans, any plant needs water. In different plants it makes up from 70 to 95% of the mass, controlling all ongoing processes. Metabolism in a plant is possible only with a large amount of moisture, so the importance of water for plants is undoubtedly great. By dissolving minerals in the soil, water delivers them to the plant, ensuring their continuous flow. Without water, seeds will not germinate, and the process of photosynthesis will not occur in green leaves. Filling water ensures its viability and preservation of a certain shape.
The most important condition for the life support of a plant organism is the ability to absorb water from the outside. The plant, receiving water mainly from the soil with the help of its roots, delivers it to the above-ground parts of the plant, where the leaves evaporate it. Such water exchange exists in every organic system - water, entering it, evaporates or is released, and then again, enriched with useful substances, enters the body.
Another amazing way water penetrates living cells is its osmotic absorption, i.e. the ability of water to accumulate from outside into cellular solutions, increasing the volume of fluid in the cell.
The art of water consumption
Constant consumption of clean water significantly improves the mental activity of the brain and coordination of movement, and therefore, the importance of water for the life of brain cells is especially valuable. That's why healthy man You shouldn’t limit yourself to drinking, but you should follow some rules:
- drink little but often;
- You should not drink a lot of water at once, as an excess of fluid in the blood will put unnecessary stress on the heart and kidneys.
So, the importance of water for living organisms is enormous. Therefore, creating conditions for preserving one’s own water balance necessary for every person.
One of the most common compounds on Earth. The role of water in the life of our planet is amazing and, oddly enough, has not yet been fully revealed and studied.
Water is a necessary condition for the existence of all living organisms on Earth.
"Water is more valuable than gold"- claimed the Bedouins, who spent their whole lives wandering in the sands.
They knew that no amount of wealth would save a traveler in the desert if water supplies ran out.
Water in a living body is the environment in which chemical reactions take place. The processes of digestion and assimilation of food by humans and animals are associated with the transfer of nutrients into solution.
Water washes away from cells, waste products of metabolism, cleanses the body of toxins, it is necessary for the processes of digestion, absorption, circulation and excretion. Water helps transporting nutrients throughout the body, helps restore cells and tissues, and also plays an important role in regulating body temperature.
The adult body is 65% - 70% consists of water. Water comes in in the composition of all its organs and tissues: in the heart, lungs, kidneys it is about 80%, blood - 83%, in bones - 30%, in tooth enamel - 0.3%, in biological fluids of the body (saliva, gastric juice, urine etc.) - 95 - 99%.
When the human body loses 6...8% of moisture above the normal norm, the body temperature rises, the skin turns red, the heartbeat and breathing quicken, muscle weakness and dizziness appear, and a headache begins.
Loss of 10% water can lead to irreversible changes in the body. And a loss of 15...20% leads to death, since the blood becomes so thick that the heart cannot cope with pumping it. Every day the heart has to pump about 10,000 liters of blood.
A person can live without food for about a month, and without water- just a few days. The body's reaction to a lack of water is thirst.
The minimum amount of water required to maintain normal water balance in the body.
But even with a large loss of water, if irreversible processes have not begun (water loss is less than 10% of the total amount), all disrupted processes in the body are quickly restored if the body is replenished with water to normal.
Knowing the signs indicating a lack of water in the human body, you can approximately determine the percentage of dehydration relative to body weight.
Signs indicating lack of water in the body person: from 1-5% - thirst, poor health, slow movements, drowsiness, redness in some places of the skin, fever, nausea, upset stomach. From 6-10% - shortness of breath, headache, tingling in the legs and arms, lack of salivation, loss of ability to move and impaired speech logic. From 11-20% - delirium, muscle spasms, swelling of the tongue, dullness of hearing and vision, cooling of the body.
Water exchange in the human body it is regulated by the central nervous system and hormones. Dysfunction of these regulatory systems causes disruption of water metabolism, which can lead to body edema.
Of course, different tissues of the human body contain different amounts of water.
The richest tissue in water is the vitreous body of the eye, containing 99%. The poorest is tooth enamel. It contains only 0.2% water. There is a lot of water in the brain matter.
Insufficient water consumption disrupts the normal functioning of the body: body weight falls, blood viscosity increases, body temperature rises, pulse and breathing increase, thirst and nausea occur, and performance decreases.
The feeling of thirst is determined by the fact that the amount of fluid in the body decreases, the concentration of salts in the blood increases, and the thirst center signals the need to consume water.
The minimum amount of water required to maintain water-salt balance during the day (drinking norm) depends on climatic conditions, as well as the nature and severity of the work performed.
For the climatic conditions of central Russia, with minimal physical activity, it is necessary to consume 3.5 liters of liquid along with food and drink; during moderate physical work - up to 5 liters; for heavy work outdoors - up to 6.5 liters. It is necessary to take into account that apples and fruits are equivalent in weight to water. A pound of apples eaten equals 1/2 liter of liquid.
Proper drinking regimen is especially important in conditions in which large amounts of fluid are lost. This often happens in hot climates, when working in hot shops, during prolonged and significant physical activity (for example, during training and competitions, mountain climbing, marching, etc.).
Residents of areas with hot climates can completely quench their thirst only after eating and strictly limit fluid intake between meals. It is best to use tea, which increases salivation and eliminates dry mouth, and also add fruit and vegetable juices and their extracts to the water.
In hot shops, it is healthier to drink sparkling water or dried fruit infusions. Athletes are advised to quench their thirst only after finishing exercise. While doing the exercises, you should rinse your mouth and throat with water.
It is more useful to quench your thirst during mountain ascents only during large rest stops.
If you follow the drinking regime correctly, your performance will remain and the body will not be dehydrated or overloaded with fluid.
Different parts of the human body contain different amounts of water: the vitreous body of the eye consists of 99% water, the blood contains 83%, adipose tissue - 29%, the skeleton - 22%, and even tooth enamel -0.2%.
Water with organic and inorganic substances dissolved in it is necessary for the life of cells. Some of it is found inside cells and is called intracellular fluid. About 30% of the body's water is contained in the intercellular substance. This is intercellular, or interstitial, fluid. Blood plasma makes up 5% of body weight (about 3 liters) and ensures the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the tissues, which reach individual cells through the intercellular fluid.
The share of intercellular, or interstitial, fluid accounts for about 12 liters. It is the external environment for cells that extract salts, nutrients, oxygen from it and into which they secrete metabolic products.
Intracellular fluid makes up about 50% of body weight. It is located inside cells, contains electrolytes (potassium, phosphates), nutrients (glucose, amino acids) and, thanks to constant enzymatic activity, ensures metabolic processes.
The exchange of tissue fluid occurs as follows: on the one hand, the hydrostatic, or mechanical, pressure of the plasma is higher compared to the intercellular fluid, and therefore it tends to go beyond the blood capillaries.
On the other hand, proteins in the plasma that cannot penetrate the intercellular fluid create high osmotic pressure, due to which fluid from the tissues rushes back into the bloodstream. At the arterial end of the capillaries, the hydrostatic pressure is higher than the osmotic pressure, causing fluid to pass into the tissues. At the venous end, hydrostatic pressure decreases and osmotic pressure increases, so fluid flows back into the capillaries. Normally, the volume of fluid leaving the capillaries is greater than that entering them back. Excess intercellular fluid is released from tissues through the lymphatic system.
The exchange between intercellular and intracellular fluids depends not only on osmotic pressure, but also on the selective permeability of the cell membrane, which is freely permeable to substances such as oxygen, carbon dioxide and urea. Other substances have different concentrations inside and outside the cell, which is associated with their active transport across the cell membrane. For example, potassium accumulates mainly in the intracellular fluid, and sodium accumulates on the opposite side of the cell membrane. (Potassium and sodium are electrolytes.)
A person loses approximately 2600 ml of water per day: 1500 ml in urine, 600 ml through the skin, 400 ml through the lungs, 100 ml in feces.
Thus, you need to drink approximately 2.6 liters of water per day, of which 1.5 liters are needed to form urine. Producing less urine can damage the urinary tract and lead to the formation of kidney stones.
Without water a person cannot live more than two to three weeks. And if the physiological signal of hunger is a decrease in the amount of glucose in the blood, then the feeling of thirst arises due to an increase in the concentration of salt and glucose in the blood, which quickly normalizes when drinking water.