When you consider that about 60% of your body weight is made up of water, it stands to reason that our bodies need regular replenishment of fluids to keep every system – all the biochemical processes – in the body functioning properly. The glass of water that you drink ends up in the gut, which actually refers to the 8 – 9 meter long gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) that starts in the mouth and ends at the anus. However, the glass of water and other fluids that you drink is not the only source of fluids in the GIT – on average the daily water balance of about 9 l in a healthy adult GIT consists of the following: oral intake

Claims that sparkling (carbonated) water is harmful to your health have been doing the rounds.  Some people are concerned that sparkling water, made fizzy and acidic with carbon dioxide, may have a negative impact on your dental, digestive, or bone health.  Makes one wonder if still water is a better option than sparkling water? Whichever option may prove to be the best, the body is no stranger to carbon dioxide. The difference between sparkling and still water: Still water is, well, still water.  Sparkling water is also known as carbonated water, as it has been infused with carbon dioxide gas under pressure, which produces a bubbly drink.  It is also known as seltzer water and soda water.  In its purest

The increasing popularity of bottled water results from consumers being more aware of the quality of the water they drink.  The major difference between tap water and bottled water is determined by how the water is disinfected.  Tap water is primarily disinfected with chlorine at water treatment works in South Africa and is slightly overdosed to leave a little chlorine in the water to keep the water pathogen free until it reaches the taps in your home. This process relies on the effective functioning of the drinking water treatment works, which probably only happens if you live in a big city.  Across the country, about 46% of drinking water is classified as “unacceptable”, and the quality of tap water in

All living things need water to survive.  The human body is no exception, as body fluid makes up about 60% of your body weight.  Yor body has many important jobs to do and needs water to do many of them.  No one can survive for more than a few days without water.   The journey a few sips of water takes through the body:  When a few sips of water enter the mouth, it mixes with saliva and travels down the esophagus into the stomach, where the absorption process starts before ending up in the small intestine, where the majority of the water absorption occurs.  Tiny blood vessels in the small intestine absorb the water into the bloodstream.  Nutrients from the

Water is our most important nutrient and the only one whose absence will be lethal within days.  Getting enough water every day is important for your health and keeping fluid in the body at an optimum level is an intricate balancing act, which forms part of the body’s self-regulating processes to maintain internal stability, referred to as homeostasis.  Apart from fluid balance, homeostasis applies to many other processes, such as body temperature and blood sugar balance. The importance of water balance: Water is a combination of hydrogen and oxygen and is the basis of all fluids in the body.  Water makes up more than two thirds of the weight of the human body and all the cells and organs need