Water is important to any survival situation. We need it in our daily lives and even more so in a disaster scenario. Please enjoy this collection of infographics that highlight all of the wonderful benefits that our liquid friend provides us.
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Aside from quenching your thirst, drinking the right amount of water can benefit your overall health in countless other ways. From aiding weight loss to boosting productivity, let’s look at how water can improve your health.
… well, we’re mostly water.
60%
Proportion of water in adult human body (1)
How much water is in … (2, 3)
Blood: 92%
Brain: 73%
Heart: 73%
Lungs: 83%
Skin: 64%
Muscles: 79%
Kidneys: 79%
Bones: 31%
Water’s basic functions include regulating body temperature, flushing waste and moving nutrients through our cells. But what can that mean for some of the most important illnesses and health issues? (4, 5, 6)
Aids digestion
60 million
Americans affected by digestive disorders (7)
Improves circulation
Helps create saliva
Reducing appetite
$60 billion
Annual U.S. consumer spending on weight loss efforts (8)
Providing fuel for muscles
Moisturizing skin
Clears skin of toxins
Facilitating kidney function
1 in 10
U.S. adults with some form of chronic kidney disease (9)
Boosts productivity and ramps up brain power
Preventing muscle cramps and strains
Prevents tiredness
30%
Adults who get less than 6 hours of sleep on the average night (9)
Relieving minor illnesses
About 20% of our water intake comes from foods like fruits and vegetables. That means the rest comes from the beverages we drink. (4)
Good news, then, that water is the most popular beverage in the U.S., recently eclipsing soda for the top spot.
Average annual consumption in gallons (10)
Soda: 44
Water: 58
It’s not all plain water, though. Many Americans are getting their fill of water thanks in part to the myriad “flavored” waters on the market.
People who reported drinking any flavored water in the past week, in millions (11)
Spring 2010: 8.92
Autumn 2010: 8.57
Spring 2011: 8.69
Autumn 2011: 8.13
Spring 2012: 7.68
Autumn 2012: 8.07
Spring 2013: 8.96
1 in 5
U.S. households that buy bottled water and liquid flavor enhancers (12)
These enhancers often contain additives like salt, dyes and other chemicals. A better option is going natural. Don’t like the taste of water? Consider adding: (13, 14)
A few chunks of frozen fruit
Mint ice cubes
A slice of citrus
Mashed berries
Unsweetened fruit juice
Sliced cucumber
Source: Master-of-Health-Administration.com
Sources:
1. http://www.mayoclinic.org
2. http://water.usgs.gov
3. http://www.waterinfo.org
4. http://www.webmd.com
5. http://www.lhj.com
6. http://science.howstuffworks.com
7. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov
8. http://money.usnews.com
9. http://www.cdc.gov
10. http://www.cbsnews.com
11. http://www.statista.com
12. http://abclocal.go.com
13. http://www.everydayhealth.com
14. http://www.shape.com
Drinking enough water is essential for maintaining good health, especially in survival situations. This infographic highlights the crucial role that water plays in keeping our bodies functioning properly, as well as the harmful effects of dehydration and its implications for our overall well-being. Make sure you stay hydrated to keep your body in top shape!
Infographic SOURCE
At some point in the future, maybe the near future, fresh water will become a scarce commodity. In fact, many predict that it will surpass oil, gas and even gold as the most sought after commodity in the world. There are many things you can do to reduce waste or conserve what you have collected.
The infographic below outlines how much can be saved right now:
This is a very simple and effective solution to clean drinking water:
Contaminated water is filled into transparent plastic bottles and exposed to full sunlight for six hours.
How to use sunlight in treating the contaminated water through two synergetic mechanisms:
Radiation in the spectrum of UV-A (wavelength 320-400nm) and increased water temperature.
If the water temperatures raises above 50°C, the disinfection process is three times faster.
In a survival situation, you are bound to come across discarded clear plastic bottles. This tip could come in handy. You should also carry other means to purify water for drinking.
We all worry about dehydration.
Did you know there are extreme dangers associated with a phenomenon called Hyponatremia?
In simple terms this is over hydration and can actually cause death. Generally this is associated with lack of food, and drinking large amounts of fluid during extreme or endurance physical activity. This can cause the body’s salt levels to drop dramatically and cause body cells to swell and leak into the bloodstream. A person can suddenly collapse. Coma or death are genuine concerns.
Let it be known that the symptoms of over hydration are similar to dehydration. Hydrating with water only worsens the situation. Simply put the easiest way to tell the difference between hyponatremia and dehydration symptoms is to look for swelling of the fingers, joints, wrists. Also watch for ring and watch tightness due to excessive swelling.
In patients with severe hyponatremia (serum sodium <125 mEq/L), central nervous system symptoms predominate and can progress to seizures, coma, or death.
Some simple tips: Try to snack from time to time before and during the activity. It usually only takes small amounts of salt found in most foods to rebalance your system. Sports drinks work well. Try to prehydrate before exercising then continue to drink appx a cup of fluid every 20 to 30 minutes.