Drinking - Role in Health

Role in Health

Much of the world's disease is caused by the lack of clean drinking water. Lack of water in diet will eventually cause death by hypernatremia and dehydration, particularly when sweating consumes much of the body water. Unclean and unsanitary water can contain many bacteria and parasites that would otherwise be absent in clean water. Studies show that in some developing countries more than half of the population does not have access to safe drinking water.

It is also possible to overhydrate, which sometimes happens with athletes who consume too much water, thereby diluting the concentration of salts in the body. Overconsumption of water can be a sign of disease and/or mental health problems(e.g. damage to the hypothalamus), as stated above.

Read more about this topic:  Drinking

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