Minerals Fad Diets Basic Nutrition Facts Healthy Eating Tips Nutrition for Athletes Recipes Home Water Water plays an integral part of all our body's functions. It is also important to our overall health and well-being. The body's need for water is only second in importance to the body's need for oxygen. Water helps with almost all cell functions including balancing the body's pH level, moving nutrients in and out of cells, and also for holding electrolytes. While expending energy during exercise, our bodies need more water to continue to function.
Heat is removed by sweating to avoid the dangers of having increased body temperature.
During intense activity, the body can lose up to two liters of water as sweat. A marathon runner can lose around 13 lbs. of body weight during a race. Dehydration can result due to lack of water intake while exercising. Dehydration has a significant effect on the body's performance. The body's energy production needs water to function effectively.