Body water: what is it and why is it important?

Body water is an important measure when it comes to a healthy body. The human body needs water to function the right way. Finding the perfect balance in your body water is key. Your water intake should compensate the loss of body water. A human body can lose body water through the skin, via sweat, urine and by breathing. If the balance is right, you will feel at your best! Your body water is not something you think of everyday. You do however step on a bathroom scale now and then. Wouldn’t it be convenient if you could get a hold of your body water too? The body composition monitors of Tanita scan your body and give out detailed information within seconds. With our broad range of bathroom scales you can keep an eye on your body water percentage. You can even keep track of your body composition over time.

Body water is the total amount of fluid in a human body. The human body should consist of at least 50% of water. The exact percentage varies based on a number of factors (e.g. age and gender). Body water is the primary building block for cells. It helps to regulate the internal body temperature, strengthens your muscles and moisturizes your skin. These are just a few examples why body water and drinking water is so important.

The ideal body water percentage varies. It is influenced by different factors. Gender, age and body composition affect this percentage. In general, women have a lower body water percentage than men. This is because women have more tissue than men. The ideal percentage for adult women will fluctuate between 45 and 60%, while the ideal percentage for adult men will be between 50 and 65% of the total body. For the real athletic body types it is even recommended to have 5% more body water than the average adult range.

There are many ways to increase your body water percentage. It starts with drinking at least 2 litres of water per day. Most important: never wait until you are thirsty. Furthermore, it is recommended to start your day with a glass of water. This will clean the body from waste and toxins. Another way to increase your body water percentage is to eat raw fruits and vegetables. They are dense in water. This is a good alternative for drinking water all the time. Keep this in mind: drink water and other fluids until you urinate frequently and with light colour.

Make sure to also read our blog about water for health.