Water Needed To Survive

Water is essential for survival. Without it, humans die within days.

People can survive days or even weeks without food, but only about four days without water.

Water serves a variety of purposes within the body. It regulates body temperature, acts as a solvent for essential nutrients, participates in chemical reactions within the body, serves as a lubricant around joints and acts as a "shock absorber" inside the eyes and spinal cord. Water also carries nutrients and oxygen to all parts of the body through the blood.

Between 55 to 66 percent of a person's weight comes from water. Water lost through exercise or illness should be replenished. Also, people on high fiber or high protein diets and pregnant women have an increased need for fluids.

Daily water output for adults averages more than 2 quarts a day with about three-fourths of those losses coming from urine output. People can get water from foods but the best sources are mostly from beverages. Adults should drink 48 to 64 ounces of liquids a day; preferably water, to maintain a proper body water balance. Beverages such as coffee, tea, caffeinated soda and alcohol increase urine excretion so they are not the best sources to replenish body water.

SOURCE: Linda Boeckner, Ph.D., nutrition specialist, Scottsbluff, NU/IANR