Water is a great alternative to soft drinks when quenching thirst, but the importance of water to the human body goes beyond its ability to satisfy thirst. Water is a necessity to the human body. It helps the brain, joints and muscles function properly. An adult body is 55 to 75 percent water. The brain is approximately 85 percent water, blood is 80 percent water and muscles are 70 percent water. Although water is tasteless, fat free and has no calories, it carries nutrients throughout the body. Water is critical in ridding the body of wastes and protecting against dehydration, a dangerous condition caused when the body does not have enough water to function properly. Dehydration occurs when a person loses 2 to 3 percent of their weight in water. The condition can be fatal if a person loses 10 percent of their weight in water. Infants, senior citizens and athletes are at a higher risk of dehydration than most other people. The body loses water when a person gets hot and the body begins to sweat, trying to cool itself down. When water is lost, it needs to be replaced quickly. There are various ways to keep your body hydrated. The most obvious is to drink water. It is recommended that an adult drink eight to 12, 8 ounce glasses of water each day. Some other ways to provide the body with water is to drink fruit juices or green tea and eat foods such as lettuce and celery, which consist of 90 percent water.

Contact your county Extension office for more information on the numerous benefits of water.