Raise Your Water IQ

1. Approximately what percentage of human body weight is water:

1. 5-10 percent
2. 20-30 percent
3. 40-50 percent
4. 60-70 percent
5. None of the above

Answer: D. Water accounts for about 60 to 70 percent of your total body weight. Furthermore, water constitutes about 90 percent of your blood; 75 percent of your brain and muscles; 25 percent of body fat and 22 percent of bone.

2. It doesn’t matter whether you drink your total day’s intake of water in one setting or throughout the day; as long as you’re downing your daily dose, you’ll enjoy all of water’s health benefits.

1. True
2.  False

Answer: B. When we drink large quantities of water at one time, we stimulate the body to rid itself of water. That’s why it is important to drink water throughout the day and not just all in one sitting. And, not just when you’re thirsty. In fact, by the time you feel the sensation of thirst, your body already may have lost one to two percent of its water, propelling it into dehydration.

3. Which is NOT a symptom of dehydration?

1. Fatigue
2. Weakness and lethargy
3. Enlarged pupils
4. Headaches
5. Dizziness

Answer: C. Water is critical to preventing dehydration, a potentially dangerous condition. Those most at risk are older people and those who exercise outdoors, though anyone can become dehydrated if they’re not careful because early symptoms are easily missed.