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Organ/System |
Main Function |
Percentage Water |
Importance of Water |
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Heart |
Cardiac muscle that pumps the blood around the body. |
Approx 77 % water |
Increased water intake has been shown to reduce the risk
of heart attack, reducing cholesterol, high blood pressure/hypertension
and symptoms of angina. Hypertension can result from a lack
of water passing between blood vessels and cells, and the subsequent
blocking of the arteries leads not only to coronary failure,
but also strokes and other neurological disorders like Alzheimer's. |
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Immune System |
Complex network of cells and tissues that is organised
to recognise and attack foreign bodies; i.e. bacteria and viruses.
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Water creates equilibrium in the immune
system, making us less susceptible to disease and slowing the
ageing process. |
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Intestine |
Large organ that completes the digestion process. |
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Water prevents constipation and water retention
(one of the body's survival mechanisms when suffering from chronic
dehydration). Colitis is a sign of water shortage in the large
intestine, and can cause prolonged constipation, leading to
more serious conditions. |
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Kidneys |
The body's filter, responsible for processing fluids
and purifying the blood. Also controls the level of some chemicals
in the blood and helps regulate blood pressure. |
Approx 82% water |
Water is essential for healthy kidneys,
helping in the removal of toxic waste. Decreases the risk of
kidney stones. Reduces risk of kidney infection. |
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Ligaments |
The ligaments both bind bone ends together and provide
essential support for many of the internal organs. |
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Water keeps ligaments flexible. |
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Liver |
Our largest internal organ. Controls metabolic function
and produces bile, cleans alcohol and poisons from the blood,
converts food into energy. |
Approx 70% water |
The liver performs so many essential duties
that we could only survive 24 hours without it. When the body
lacks water, the liver compensates for the sluggish kidneys
and neglects some of its own functions, e.g. metabolising fat.
Instead of being broken down the fat is stored, causing weight
gain. |
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Lungs |
Organs of respiration, supplying the body with oxygen
and relieving it of carbon dioxide. |
Approx 80-90% water |
We need water to breathe, the lungs have to be moist to
be able to absorb oxygen and expel CO2; we lose several cups
a day just through exhaling. Water is also a natural anti-histamine
that alleviates symptoms of asthma and hayfever. |
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