Water is life

"Water is the driving force of all nature."

- Leonardo da Vinci

A few years ago, as an English teacher, I spent most of my day teaching children and adults in and around Warsaw. I remember drinking a lot of coffee and asking for it at every lesson. I eventually learned firsthand why this was a mistake. One day, at the end of class, I felt very bad. I thought it was the heat, but after having trouble collecting my thoughts and expressing myself, I realized it was something more. I barely made it home, immediately laid down and, exhausted, called the emergency room. After a quick diagnosis, it turned out that I was simply severely dehydrated. After a glass of water, my condition returned to normal. This experience taught me two things: coffee is dehydrating, and drinking plenty of water is key.

Our bodies are 70% water, so it is an essential nutrient. The heart is 75% water, the brain 83%, and the eyes up to 95%. You can survive without food, but not without water. A perfect example is a story from 1973, when Angus Barbieri decided to conduct an experiment involving a 382-day fast. During this time, he consumed only liquids and supplements, which allowed him to lose weight from 207 kg to 82 kg. The results of this experiment were published in the Postgraduate Medical Journal in 1973 and are considered one of the longest documented cases of therapeutic fasting.

Our body loses about 2 liters of water per day, so we need to replenish it, especially if we drink coffee, which dehydrates us even more. It is worth knowing that the average person loses about 250 to 350 ml of water per day through respiration alone. In cold and dry conditions, the body loses more water during respiration because the air absorbs moisture from the exhaled air, resulting in higher water loss. Similarly, during intense exercise, when the breathing rate increases significantly, we also lose more water through breathing.

Athletes who participate in long-term endurance events, such as marathons and triathlons, are at risk for hyponatremia. This occurs when they drink large amounts of water in a short period of time, causing blood sodium levels to become too low due to excessive dilution. Hyponatremia can cause dangerous symptoms such as nausea, headache, seizures, and even coma and death.

In summary, staying hydrated is critical to maintaining your health and well-being. Pay close attention to your body's signals, such as thirst or changes in physical performance, that may indicate inadequate fluid intake. Take a look at your daily routine and try to increase your water intake, especially in situations where additional factors, such as drinking coffee, can lead to greater fluid loss. In this way, you will take care of your health and avoid unpleasant dehydration situations like the one I experienced a few years ago.