Nov 19 2008
Wednesday Wonder: Water
The average body is anywhere from 55% to 78% water, and requires up to a half-gallon of water every day to avoid dehydration. Early signs of dehydration include fatigue, inability to focus, irritability, headaches, and body aches. It is not uncommon that the thirst reflex becomes weakened to a point where it is mistaken for hunger.
On a cellular level, water is necessary to both form and break bonds with other chemicals, allowing creation of molecules for energy, storage, waste disposal and respiration.
There is too much of a good thing. In 2007, 28-year-old Jennifer Strange died of water intoxication after consuming a large quantity during a radio contest, only the most recent of many deaths by water intoxication.
