Water and Human Metabolism
Water acts as a healing agent in our body. Around 70% of our body weight is due to water. The quantity is high in organs such as lungs and brain and fluids such as blood, lymph, saliva and secretions by the organs of the digestive system.
Metabolism can be defined as the sum of the chemical reactions that take place within each cell of a living organism and that provide energy for vital processes and for synthesizing new organic material. Energy obtained from the metabolic nutrients is utilized for various growth and other maintenance processes.
Water is the medium for various enzymatic & chemical reactions in the body. It moves nutrients, hormones, antibodies and oxygen through the blood stream and lymphatic system. The proteins and enzymes in our body function more efficiently in solutions of low viscosity. Water is the solvent of the body and it regulates all functions, including the activity of everything it dissolves & circulates.
Living organisms are unique in that they can extract energy from their environments and use it to carry out activities such as movement, growth and development and reproduction.
The carrier of chemical energy
At any given time, a neutral molecule of water dissociates into a hydrogen ion (H+) and a hydroxide ion (OH-). Under normal conditions (neutrality), the concentration of hydrogen ions (acidic ions) is equal to that of the hydroxide ions (basic ions); each are at a concentration of 10-7 moles per litre, which is described as a pH of 7.
In case of shortage of water in our house, we try to prioritize the use of water for essential purposes. Similarly, when the body receives less water, histamine – a chemical compound present in all cells – initiates a system of water regulation. Histamine directs some neurotransmitters to operate sub-systems to regulate water intake. The ratio of the water content in and outside the cells of the various organs is very important. As age advances, water content in the cells decreases. Since the water content in each cell plays a vital role in maintaining its normal function, inadequate water can lead to loss of some functions resulting in specific symptoms.
The waste products of metabolism and surplus salts get removed from your body through urine. The human kidneys normally produce 0.9-1.5 litres of urine per day, containing some 50-70 g of solids – mostly urea, uric acid, and inorganic salts. Thus water plays a crucial role in our metabolic reactions.
Editor’s Note: The article above is from an excellent website called Everything About Water. Unfortunately, the website has been taken down. See our Fair Use Policy.
