Back in school, we’ve learnt that about 60% of the human body is water. A simple Google search will tell you that ‘According to H.H. Mitchell, Journal of Biological Chemistry 158, the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79%, and even the bones are watery: 31%.’
So, it is safe to say that water is essential to our very existence. Just as it is safe to say that staying hydrated is essential to maintaining good health and wellness. Now, one might wonder that if we are in fact, 60% water, why do we need to consume still more of it?! This is because every cell in the human body uses up water for temperature regulation, waste removal, joint lubrication and other day to day functions. Not only this, we also lose a lot of water every day through sweating, healthy metabolism, and even through breathing! So, it is up to us, to maintain the balance and regularly hydrate our body.
Staying hydrated means that every part of your body can work effectively with lesser stress. From your heart, to your lungs, your kidneys, and your digestive system, all can function freely and with more ease. If these vital organs are dehydrated, they have to work harder and harder to achieve the same results, putting unnecessary strain on them; and it’s not just water that the human body loses through dehydration. From regular healthy bodily secretions, such as sweat, we also lose electrolytes and minerals from our body, over the course of each day.
The prescribed water requirement for adults is 1.5-2.5 litres. This amount depends on your daily routine, the climate, the size of your body, the condition of your health and the medication that you’re on. When it comes to efficient hydration, however, things get a little more complex.
Along with the water, we also need to constantly replenish the essential electrolytes and minerals that our body is losing. Humans have been doing so since ancient times by consuming natural mineral water, both through drinking, and healing baths and soaks in mineral-rich springs and wells. The vital ingredients we can get from natural mineral water include Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Nitrates and Bicarbonates, and several other trace minerals such as Zinc and Iron.
While these minerals and electrolytes can be consumed in food as well, but our diets often don’t include their prescribed daily requirement. Moreover, it has been illustrated by several studies that these elements are easier for our bodies to absorb from naturally mineral-rich water. In fact, deep mineral water has also been proven to enhance the body’s recovery after dehydrating, high-intensity physical work or exercise.
Today, this naturally mineral-rich water is on the shelves of your favourite supermarket. Brands like Komin, for instance, have brought this elixir to you, straight from the aquifers of the lofty Sahyadris. It almost seems as though the stars have finally aligned to offer us the same pure and life-affirming gift of Mother Nature that our ancestors enjoyed. Doesn’t it? So, let’s switch to natural mineral water and be all that we can be.
