Water or Electrolytes - Essay Example

Water or Electrolytes? No matter how fast and modern life has become, one cannot deny the important of water for our bodies. Energy drinks, sodas, alcohol, soft drinks, tea, and coffee, all contain ingredients that, as the companies promise, are a replacement of water. But unfortunately, that is not true. We need water because we do not want our bodies to become dehydrated. Water regulates body temperature; moistens tissues of mouth, eyes, ears, and other important organs of the body. We also need water to prevent constipation, and lessen down the burden on kidneys by flushing out waste products.

Water also carries oxygen and important nutrients to cells (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research 2012). Water is the most important component of the cells in our bodies, and there is no way that it can be replaced totally, or Nature would have offered a better solution of water replacement than sodas and other drinks. However, this is the case with normal people, who want to stay hydrated. In case of athletes, water can best be replaced with a sports drink. This is because after doing exercise or a sport, the blood flow in the athletes’ systems increases, generating heat, which is carried to the skin, where sweat is produced.

If plain water is taken in, the absence of sodium will dilute the sodium concentration in the body cells, and the brain will also get the message that the thirst is over. The athlete will stop drinking, but the sodium loss is not compensated. However, sports drinks contain sodium and other electrolytes that the body loses with extreme sweat. Hence, sports drinks are beneficial for athletes, but common people should not ignore the importance of water to stay hydrated.ReferencesMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2012). Functions of water in the body.

Nutrition and Healthy Eating. Retrieved November 21, 2012, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/medical/IM00594