By: Kehinde Owoeye, Lagos
Do You Know That?
Water is one of the most precious resources, supporting all life on Earth. It is the most important resource in the world.
Seven (7) per cent of the fresh water on Earth is trapped in glaciers.
Water can dissolve more substances than any other liquid including sulfuric acid.
The freezing point of water lowers as the amount of salt increases when dissolved.
With average levels of salt, seawater freezes at -2 °C (28.4°F).
To create one pint of beer, it takes 20 gallons of water. Eighty (80) per cent of all illnesses in most developing world is water related.
According to reports, South African women and children walk a 16-meter daily equivalent trip to the moon to fetch water. Unsafe water has reportedly killed 200 children every hour concurrently.
According to research, a person can live about a month without food, but only about a week without water.
300 tons of water are required to manufacture 1 ton of steel.
Hot water can freeze faster than cold water under some conditions; commonly known as the Mpemba effect.
Water regulates the Earth’s temperature for 100 years, a water molecule spends 98 years in the ocean, 20 months as ice, about 2 weeks in lakes and rivers, and less than a week in the atmosphere.
Water makes up about 66 per cent of the human body.
Drinking too much water can be fatal- known as water intoxication.
There is more fresh water in the atmosphere than in all of the rivers on the planet combined.
The first water pipes in the U.S. were made from hollowed logs.
NASA has discovered water in the form of ice on the moon.
Here are some reasons our body needs water:
(a) To lubricates the body joints
Cartilage, found in joints and the disks of the spine, contains around 80 per cent of water.
Long-term dehydration can reduce the joints’ shock-absorbing ability, leading to joint pain.
(b) To form Saliva and Mucus
Saliva helps us digest our food and keeps the mouth, nose, and eyes moist. This prevents friction and damage.
Drinking water also keeps the mouth clean.
Consuming instead of sweetened beverages can also reduce tooth decay.
(c) To deliver Oxygen through the body system
Blood is more than 90 per cent of water. It carries oxygen to different parts of the body.
(d) To boost Skin Health and Beauty
With dehydration, the skin can become more vulnerable to skin disorders and premature wrinkling.
(e) To cushion the effect of the Brain, Spinal and other sensitive tissues in the body
Dehydration can affect brain structure and function.
(f) To involve the production of hormones and neurotransmitters
Prolonged dehydration can lead to problems with thinking and reasoning.
(g) To regulates Body temperature
Water that is stored in the middle layers of the skin comes to the skin’s surface as sweat when the body heats up.
As it evaporates, it cools the body.
In sports, Some scientists have suggested that when there is too little water in the body, heat storage increases and the individual is less able to tolerate heat strain.
Having a lot of water in the body may reduce physical strain if heat stress occurs during exercise.
However, more research is needed into these effects.
(h) The Digestive system depends on water
The bowel needs water to work properly.
Dehydration can lead to digestive problems, constipation, and an overly acidic stomach.
This increases the risk of heartburn and stomach ulcers.
(i) Water flushes body waste
Water is needed in the processes of sweating and the removal of urine and faeces.
(j) To Help maintain Blood pressure
A lack of water can cause blood to become thicker, increasing blood pressure.
(k) Water helps minerals And nutrients accessible to the body
These dissolve in water, which makes it possible for them to reach different parts of the body.