The most familiar and most incredible substance on Earth is water. The importance of water cannot be overestimated in the life of all living things on the planet; it is present in every moment of our existence. Being the predominant element in the composition of any organism, water also controls its life activity.

Water in nature

Throughout its existence, humanity has been trying to unravel the mystery of this amazing and contradictory element. How did it arise, how did it get to our planet? Probably no one will be able to answer this question, but everyone knows that the importance of water in nature and human life is unimaginably great. One thing is absolutely true - today there are as many water reserves on Earth as there were at the birth of the universe.

The unique properties of water to contract when heated and expand when frozen is another reason to be surprised. No other substance has similar properties. And its ability to move from one state to another, so familiar and at the same time amazing, playing an exceptional role, makes it possible for all living organisms to exist on Earth. The Higher Mind has assigned water the main role in maintaining life and participating in constantly occurring natural processes.

The water cycle

This process is called the hydrological cycle, which is a continuous circulation of water from the hydrosphere and the surface of the earth into the atmosphere, and then back. There are four processes involved in the cycle:

• evaporation;
• condensation;
• precipitation;
• water flow

Once on the ground, part of the precipitation evaporates and condenses, another part, thanks to runoff, fills reservoirs, and the third turns into going underground. So, constantly moving, feeding water arteries, plants and animals and preserving own reserves, wanders, protecting the Earth and water. The importance of water is obvious and indisputable.

The mechanism of the cycle and its types

In nature there is a large cycle (the so-called global cycle), as well as two small ones - continental and oceanic. Precipitation collected over the oceans is carried by winds and falls on the continents, and then returns to the ocean with runoff. The process where ocean water continuously evaporates, condenses and falls back into the ocean is called the small ocean gyre. And all similar processes occurring over land are combined into a small continental circulation, mainly actor in which water appears. Its importance in the natural processes of continuous circulation that maintains the Earth’s water balance and ensures the existence of living organisms is indisputable.

Water and man

Having no nutritional value in the usual sense, water is the main component of any living organism, including humans. No one can exist without water. Two-thirds of any organism is water. The importance of water is extremely important for the proper functioning of all systems and organs.

Throughout life, a person comes into contact with water every day, using it for drinking and food, hygiene procedures, recreation and heating. Not found on Earth
a more valuable natural material, as vital and irreplaceable as water. Going without food for quite long periods of time, a person will not live without water for even 8 days, since within 8% of body weight a person begins to faint, 10% causes hallucinations, and 20% inevitably causes death.

Why is water so important to humans? It turns out that water regulates all basic life processes:

• normalizes oxygen humidity, increasing its absorption;
• carries out thermoregulation of the body;
• dissolves nutrients, helping the body in their absorption;
• moisturizes and creates protection for vital organs;
• forms a protective lubricant for joints;
• improves metabolic processes in the functioning of body systems;
• promotes the evacuation of waste from the body.

How to stay hydrated

On average, a person loses 2-3 liters of water per day. In more extreme conditions, such as heat, high humidity and physical activity, water loss increases. To maintain the normal physiological water balance of the body, it is necessary to balance the intake of water with its removal through proper

Let's do some calculations. Considering that a person’s daily need for water is 30-40 grams per 1 kg of body weight and about 40% of the total need comes from food, the rest should be taken in the form of drinks. In summer, daily water consumption corresponds to 2-2.5 liters. The hot regions of the planet dictate their requirements - 3.5-5.0 liters, and in extremely hot conditions up to 6.0-6.5 liters of water. The body must not be dehydrated. Alarming symptoms of this problem are dry skin accompanied by itching, fatigue, a sharp decrease in concentration, blood pressure, headaches and general malaise.

Beneficial effect

It is interesting that, by being directly involved in metabolic processes, water promotes weight loss. There is a common misconception that people who want to lose weight need to drink less water, since the body retains water, causes significant harm. You cannot drive your body into even greater stress by knocking it out of its usual water exchange. In addition, moisture, being a natural diuretic, tones the kidneys, causing weight loss.

By receiving the optimal amount of water, a person gains strength, energy and endurance. It is easier for him to control his weight, since even the psychological inconvenience of forced changes when reducing his usual diet is easier to bear. Scientific research has proven that daily consumption of sufficient amounts of clean water helps fight serious illnesses - helps relieve back pain, migraines, reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels and blood pressure. In addition, by toning the kidneys, water inhibits the formation of stones. It has been proven that people with a creative streak tend to drink a lot, and great artists were pushed to create masterpieces. The importance of water, it turns out, is also important in art.

Plant water exchange

Just like humans, any plant needs water. In different plants it makes up from 70 to 95% of the mass, controlling all ongoing processes. Metabolism in a plant is possible only with a large amount of moisture, so the importance of water for plants is undoubtedly great. By dissolving minerals in the soil, water delivers them to the plant, ensuring their continuous flow. Without water, seeds will not germinate, and the process of photosynthesis will not occur in green leaves. Filling water ensures its viability and preservation of a certain shape.

The most important condition for the life support of a plant organism is the ability to absorb water from the outside. The plant, receiving water mainly from the soil with the help of its roots, delivers it to the above-ground parts of the plant, where the leaves evaporate it. Such water exchange exists in every organic system - water, entering it, evaporates or is released, and then again, enriched with useful substances, enters the body.

Another amazing way water penetrates living cells is its osmotic absorption, i.e. the ability of water to accumulate from outside into cellular solutions, increasing the volume of fluid in the cell.

The art of water consumption

Constant consumption of clean water significantly improves the mental activity of the brain and coordination of movement, and therefore, the importance of water for the life of brain cells is especially valuable. Therefore, a healthy person should not limit himself to drinking, but some rules should be followed:

• drink little but often;
• You should not drink a lot of water at once, as an excess of fluid in the blood will put unnecessary stress on the heart and kidneys.

So, the importance of water for living organisms is enormous. Therefore, creating conditions for maintaining one’s own water balance is necessary for every person.

Water is the basis of human life, without it our physical existence is simply impossible. When talking about this chemical compound, we mean different types of water: melt water, sea water, distilled water, silver water, mineral water, magnetized water, and so on. The properties and functions of water are different depending on its type, you can learn about them by reading this material.

Drinking water in human life and its impact on health

Water in human life is the basis, the most common on the planet and the most mysterious chemical compound. The Earth's hydrosphere is 1.5 billion km3. True, to a share fresh water accounts for about 90 million km2 (less than 3%), with the main reserve being underground “seas” and glaciers.

The importance of water in human life is difficult to overestimate. The power of water in human life is so high that existence without it is simply impossible. Without water, neither plants nor animals can live. Only water can exist in three states, which allows it to support life on earth: liquid, gaseous and solid.

Water in different states has many different different properties, including memory, as scientists recently found out. The role of water in human life can be destructive - sometimes it behaves in the body like an elixir, and sometimes like an active enemy.

Water is a mystery. For example, it records the biofield and has memory, retaining the influence of the biofield. Japanese scientists have noticed that the physiological functions of water and its properties can affect the formation of a newborn fetus. Scientists suggest that an excess of alkali in drinking water leads to the birth of predominantly boys, and the predominance of acidic residues - girls.

The influence of water on a person’s life begins from the moment of his birth and continues until death. A person develops in an aquatic environment, at the moment of birth the waters recede, and a person is born. Baby with water on "you". If in the first months of life he is placed in water, given the opportunity to swim and dive freely, this will eliminate the consequences of birth injuries, which are not uncommon today. Water is a familiar environment for him. The influence of water on human life is so high that without it a person simply cannot exist. And when it ends life path, the last thing he has to do is wash himself with water.

Water is the main component of living organisms. All life processes are based on water. Speaking about how water affects health, remember that the organs of an adult contain 70-80% water, a one and a half month fetus contains 97%, and a newborn child contains 72%. Water molecules account for over 90% of the total cell mass.

Without it, protoplasm, not a single plant, insect, bird or fish, can exist. If the cell dries out, its work stops. A cell must have an influx of fluid, and a human cell even more so.

The quality of drinking water directly affects human health. Below you will learn about what types of water there are and how they benefit the body.

Physiological functions of water in the human body

The main functions of water in the body are as follows:

• water serves as a solvent for organic and inorganic substances;
• serves as a dispersed medium for colloidal systems;
• participates in cell metabolism (supply of substances, chemical reactions, excretion of metabolic products);
• participates in thermoregulation;
• provides protection and cell turgor.

Soluble waste is eliminated from the body with the help of water. “Water” and “human health” are closely interrelated concepts. The kidneys and bladder, skin and lungs - they all cannot get rid of poisons without water. And the amount that is needed is directly dependent on the fluid consumed. Every liter of water passing through the kidneys removes 90 g of waste from the body. This is a normal function of water in the human body, but the water (or urine) level should never fall below a certain level. The kidneys never stop working and constantly require water, even when there is none.

Since more than half of the body consists of water, and excretory processes are mainly based on it, it is clear that it is easy to lose. The impact of water on health is so strong that its shortage can be very dangerous, especially if the deficiency lasts for a long time. We are not talking about drinks, but about water. We are accustomed to boiled water, tea, coffee and are gradually becoming lovers of these drinks, a kind of “drug addicts”. But nature rejects products alien to it, and how closer person to nature, the healthier he is. That is why little children simply love clean water, but we “carefully” give them tea or cocoa. As the advertisement says, one cup of cocoa a day - and you are a champion! After all, all parents want their children to be strong and healthy. So we get caught, because advertising also works subconsciously.

In order to play such an important role in the life of the body and perform such diverse functions, water, simple in chemical composition, must have a special structure and unique physicochemical properties.

People have known about the influence of water on human health since ancient times, and all nations have always used various types of hydrotherapy to combat various ailments, including skin diseases.

Properties and benefits of drinking melt water

Good drinking water in a person's life means good health. And people have known about this for a long time. When we open a water tap, we already know that a “cocktail” created by today’s civilization will flow out of it, consisting of bleach, salts of heavy metals, various acids, bacteria, and even pesticides. That is why we began to use various kinds of filters that somehow make our water drinkable. It's simple: we have polluted the planet, and of course the water has not become clean. But there is no problem - if the water is dirty, then it needs to be cleaned. Taking care of health, scientists quickly came up with filters for drinking water. But the question is that filtered water has completely different properties. But who cares, today humanity lives one day at a time, and as long as it stays like this, we will get sick. How can one not remember the proverb: “Don’t spit in the well, you’ll have to drink.” Today we are already forced to look for ways to purify water without disturbing its properties and structure.

The properties of melt water allow us to call this water the highest quality of all existing ones. For medicinal purposes, melt water is currently recognized as the best. It is formed as a result of melting ice and, therefore, must first be frozen to obtain it. At the moment of transition to the solid state, a qualitative transformation of the crystalline structure of water occurs. Almost 100% of its molecules are converted into a single type. (In ordinary tap water there are up to 30 types of water varieties, differing in the structure of the crystal lattice.)

The benefits of melt water are confirmed by the large number of centenarians in Yakutia and the North Caucasus. There is nothing in common in these remote areas. Except that people there use melt water for drinking - and live longer than all other nationalities.

What are the health benefits of melt water?

From a medicinal point of view, melt water is a strong biostimulant. If you soak plant seeds in melt water and then constantly water the sprouts with it until the seeds ripen, the harvest will be twice as large as when using ordinary water.

According to preliminary data, the properties of this type of water help reduce heart pain and even resolve blood clots in the coronary vessels of the heart. It stops severe hemorrhoidal bleeding and pain, improves blood circulation in the lower extremities and eases the course of the disease. In people with a significant decrease in the amount of cholesterol in the blood and an improvement in metabolism. Melt water can serve very well effective means against morbid obesity. Its role in treating the skin is undeniable: it rejuvenates, enhances hair growth, heals burns, wounds, and cuts.

Melt water has another excellent quality - it has a significant internal energy. Obviously, this is due to the fact that vibrations of equal-sized molecules in it occur on the same wave, and do not self-extinguish, as in the case of molecules of different sizes. And when you drink melt water, you simultaneously receive tangible energy support.

Regularly, if possible, use melt water - it is much richer in vital energy than tap water. This is understandable, given that its crystal structure is similar to the structure of water in a living cell healthy body. Try washing your face with melt water or wiping your face with pieces for several days. pure ice(rich in living energy), and you will soon feel that the wrinkles on your face have been smoothed out, your skin has acquired a more youthful and elastic appearance. This water cannot be stored for long periods of time; it should be used within 1-2 days. It is recommended to drink water in small sips, holding it in your mouth longer, as if savoring it.

What else is useful about melt water is that its regular use has a beneficial effect on the blood and lymph, cleansing them. It has the same effect on other organs and tissues, improving the functioning of the cardiovascular system and activating metabolic processes.

How to make melt water: cooking at home (with video)

Before making melt water at home, place several pots of tap water in the freezer, then remove and let the water thaw. When it thaws, you need to drink it immediately, because after 4-5 hours the melt water will lose its properties and become ordinary water, only somewhat purified from dirt. When water defrosts, light harmful compounds that it rejects from itself float to the surface. Naturally, the dirt needs to be thrown away. As you can see, preparing melt water at home is not at all difficult.

During the day, it is advisable to drink 2 to 4 glasses of cold melt water. Drink the first glass in the morning, on an empty stomach, an hour before meals, the rest - 3-4 times throughout the day. You should drink a glass at once in one go (after having accustomed yourself to ice water). The dose at which melt water begins to produce a positive effect is 4-6 g per 1 kg of weight.

Please note that this is already a course of treatment. Therefore, you should not drink it constantly.

Now watch the video “Melt water at home” and try to prepare it yourself:

Degassed drinking water and its impact on human health

Speaking about what types of water exist, it is worth dwelling in detail on degassed water, that is, water without gas impurities. You can prepare degassed water as follows. Quickly heat a small amount of water to a temperature of +94... +96 °C, that is, the water needs to be heated to the “white key” state, when bubbles float up in a stormy chain, but the water as a whole does not boil yet. At this point, remove the vessel from the heat and place it in running cold water to cool quickly. As a result, you will get water with a single crystalline structure. Indications for its use are the same as for melt water.

The water purification process can be slightly modified: First, the water is frozen and thawed, which will lead to a state of structuring and purification from harmful impurities, and then sharply heated and cooled sharply. Thus, we get medicinal water, which has no price, especially when.

But it turns out that this water can be improved too. The addition of silver ions makes it truly unique. You can, for example, add a very small amount of silver water or immerse a silver object in the water for a while.

The resulting water is not yet perfectly clean. If you intervene in this process while freezing water, you can rid the water of large doses of heavy water, deuterium, which is harmful to humans. Since heavy water freezes first when artificially frozen, it is necessary to seize this moment (its ice is deposited on the walls of the vessel and forms thin openwork plates of deuterium ice throughout the entire volume of cooled water) and pour the not yet completely frozen water into another container. Then put this container back into the freezer for final freezing.

The role of water in human life: the benefits of distilled water for the body

Distilled water- universal solvent. Neutral, does not cause irritation, and is practically not absorbed through the skin. However, it does not dissolve all medicinal substances; some of them decompose in it.

The benefit of distilled water for the human body is that it is pure and does not contain harmful components. True, there are very few useful components in distilled water.

Distilled water is widely used in fasting cleanses. However, it is not recommended to drink it constantly, since the lack of trace elements and salts in it adversely affects the vital functions of the body. Therefore, when you hear about the miracles of healing from the use of distilled water, do not rush to follow the advice. Studies in Japan and the USA have shown a direct dependence of cardiovascular diseases on the calcium content in water: the softer the water, the less calcium it contains, and the greater the likelihood of cardiovascular disease.

What types of water exist and how does silver water affect health?

Another type of healing liquid is silver water. It is obtained by electrolysis or by infusion of this noble metal. It has good bactericidal properties, helps well in the treatment of wounds, trophic ulcers, and in skin care.

Rinsing the mouth and nose with silver water during a flu epidemic prevents illness. You should also not get carried away with taking silver water internally all the time.

The influence of mineral water on human life and its effect on the body

It is worth special mentioning the role of mineral water in human life and its beneficial properties. Water saturated with mineral salts, biologically active substances and gas has healing properties. This type of water is called mineral water. The main effect of mineral water on the body depends on its chemical composition.

Waters such as Borjomi and Narzan, having an alkaline reaction, normalize the motor and secretory functions of the gastrointestinal tract. But most hair and skin problems originate in the stomach and intestines. These waters are useful for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary organs, liver diseases, diabetes, etc.

In case of low acidity of gastric juice and stagnation of bile in the gallbladder, mineral water containing chloride ions such as “Essentuki No. 4” is useful.

Iodide mineral waters are used .

Water with silicic acid has analgesic, antitoxic and anti-inflammatory effects.

Ferrous mineral waters(“Marcial”, “Jermuk”) stimulate blood formation, and therefore it is useful to take them for anemia and blood diseases.

IN Lately Radon mineral waters are becoming widespread as drinking waters, since it has been found that in small quantities they are useful for pyelonephritis and dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.

Great importance is attached to the effect of mineral water on the body as a stimulator of the secretion of intestinal hormones - gastrin and secretin, which are necessary for normal digestion. In addition, mineral waters act on the gastrointestinal tract and reflexively, therefore, we can talk about the great positive effect of mineral waters on the digestive system.

Mineral water is becoming increasingly common in skin and hair care. A compress of mineral water tones the skin and increases its elasticity. Contained in mineral water ions improve the functioning of skin enzymes. Manganese ions activate the activity of the enzyme superoxide dismutase, which is responsible for neutralizing free radicals. Potassium and sodium ions help the skin's natural mechanism to maintain high skin turgor. Any mineral water is suitable for these purposes.

The benefits of sea water: how it affects the body and why it is useful

Sea water has a complex chemical composition and contains large quantities (sodium chlorides, magnesium, magnesium sulfates, calcium, etc., about 40 elements in total), as well as iodine, various organic matter. Has a pH in the range of 7.5-8.4. The benefits of sea water for the body are known not only to doctors, but also to cosmetologists. Filtered and sterilized, it is used in medicinal cosmetic preparations (regenerating and toning creams, bath products).

Sea baths, or thalassotherapy (from the Greek thalass - “sea”), are of great importance in the treatment and prevention of many skin diseases.

How does sea water affect the body and what healing effect does it have? There are many different substances dissolved in sea water: potassium and magnesium, calcium and iron, barium and chromium, iodine and chlorine, manganese and arsenic, small amounts of silver, gold, uranium, radium. 1 liter of Black Sea water contains 14 g of salts, of which 11 g are table salts.

During bathing, all these substances have a beneficial effect on the body, acting through nerve endings embedded in the skin. The temperature of sea water, the strength of the sea surf, and air saturated with iodine also matter. The view of the boundless sea, the caressing rays of the sun soothe nervous system, improve your mood, and the movement of water perfectly massages the body.

What else is sea water good for the human body, especially for children? Swimming, diving, playing ball and other physical exercises in water are good for training the heart muscle and lungs. Sea bathing hardens the body and improves its protective properties. Healthy people can go into the sea at a temperature of +17 ° C, swim 2-3 times a day, first for 2-3 minutes, then gradually increasing the time spent in the water to 30 minutes.

You should not swim on an empty stomach or earlier than 1-1.5 hours after eating. If nausea, weakness, dizziness, or palpitations occur while swimming, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Those who cannot swim in the sea for health reasons are sometimes prescribed baths, showers, and rubbing with sea water. Such procedures can be done in winter and summer. They are useful for patients with radiculitis, chronic bronchitis, nervous and cardiovascular diseases. Often such procedures are used for diseases of the stomach, gall bladder, liver, and kidneys.

You should take a bath 1-1.5 hours before bedtime. For weakened and easily tired people, sea baths are recommended to be taken in the morning, an hour after breakfast. After the bath you should sit or lie down for half an hour.

This bath can be prepared at home.

What types of water are there: the power of magnetized water in human life

In addition to regular hot baths with herbs, magnetic baths can be very useful for skin problems.

Magnetized water becomes biologically active and therefore can have a therapeutic effect on the body.

The first thing that follows from this is that it may not have such an impact. Therefore, do not expect complete success in advance. As always, start by consulting with your doctor: let him decide whether there are any contraindications and whether you should expect benefits from magnetic baths.

In the 60-80s, publications often appeared in the scientific press describing the positive effect of baths made of magnetized water for various - dermatitis and some others. Then, as often happens with newfangled methods, the range of healed ailments began to gradually expand. Then there were reports about the positive effect of magnetized water, which restores impaired cholesterol metabolism, and therefore it should be drunk not only for treatment, but also for prevention, for example, of atherosclerosis.

The therapeutic effect of magnetized water for dermatitis, eczema, joint lesions, hypertension, and some disorders of the cardiovascular, excretory and respiratory systems is an experimentally proven fact.

Several decades ago in Sochi, while it was still an all-Union health resort, several sanatoriums used the treatment method with magnetized sea water.

It has been proven that sea magnetic water has greater biological activity than fresh water.

As a rule, magnetic baths have an invigorating effect.

Water is the basis of human life

Legends about “living” and “dead” water have been known since childhood. Water can be “living” or “dead” and each of them carries its own, unique information to the environment, including to us, people.

It became possible to obtain and use such water only thanks to observations. In nature, “dead” water is the water of stagnant lakes, wells, and swamps. “Dead” water is both boiled and distilled. And ancient healers knew about this for a long time, calling this water devoid of life-giving energy. They argued that this water leads to premature wear and tear of the body, its aging.

“Living” water is not only the water of mountain rivers and waterfalls, but also the water that falls on our heads during rains, and especially during a thunderstorm. This type of water also includes melt water from glaciers. All these waters are well structured and enriched with life-giving natural ingredients. They are good for health and lead a person to longevity.

In nature, there are such wonderful springs, which are credited with the effect of “living” water. At the Kivach waterfall in Karelia, a stream of water washes the shores, composed of shungite, consisting of a special type of carbon and silica. And the beneficial, “living” effect of this water was noted by many scientists, as well as by patients who visited the “Kivach” medical sanatorium, located 50 km from Petrozavodsk.

There are different methods for obtaining “living” water.

"Living" and "dead" water- a variety of activated water, obtained as a result of special treatment of ordinary water with a pulsating electric current. Two electrodes placed in an aqueous medium are separated by a loose (porous) partition, and the current passing through the water decomposes it into hydrogen ions and a hydroxyl group. The current electric field pulls these ions towards the opposite electrodes. At the positive (anode) “living” water with alkaline properties is formed. And at the negative (cathode) - behind the porous partition - it is “dead” with acidic properties. As you know, an alkaline environment improves vital activity, and an acidic environment slows it down and stops it. Hence the names: “living” and “dead” water. Both can be stored for quite a long time (in a sealed glass container away from various types of electrical appliances).

White flakes can form in “living” water - these are harmless calcium salts that are easily removed by filtration or settle to the bottom on their own.

Alkaline-tasting “living” water is clear and easy to drink. “Dead” water - darker and more acidic - is harder to drink.

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The balance of water in the body consists of its consumption and excretion. Water in an adult makes up 55-60% of body weight, and in a newborn – 75%. The bulk (about 71%) of all water in the body is part of the intracellular fluid. Extracellular water is part of tissue or interstitial fluid (about 21%) and blood plasma water (about 8%).

An adult consumes about 2.5 liters of water per day; in addition, approximately 300 ml of metabolic water is formed in the body. This water is formed during the metabolic process during the oxidation of proteins, carbohydrates and fats.

Water is excreted through urine (on average 1.5 liters per day), through exhaled air, through the skin (under conditions of neutral temperature without sweating - 0.9 liters) and with feces (0.1 liters). Under normal conditions, the amount of water involved in metabolism in the human body does not exceed 5% of body weight per day.

Functions of water in the body.

1. Constitutional water is a component of the cells and tissues of the body. It is the environment in which metabolic processes take place in cells, organs and tissues. A continuous supply of water to the body is one of the main conditions for maintaining life.

2. Water is the best solvent for many biologically important substances; it provides conditions for the formation of dispersed forms of lipids and proteins; is the main medium and an obligatory participant in many biochemical reactions (free water).

3. Insufficient water content in the body (dehydration) can lead to thickening of the blood, deterioration of its rheological properties, and impaired blood flow. When the amount of water decreases by 20%, death occurs. Excess water can lead to the development of water intoxication, which manifests itself, in particular, in cell swelling and a decrease in osmotic pressure in them. Nerve cells in the brain are especially sensitive to such changes.

4. By promoting the hydration of macromolecules, water participates in their activation (bound water).

5. By dissolving the end products of metabolism, water promotes their excretion by the kidneys and other excretory organs.

6. Water ensures the body’s adaptation to high temperatures environment.

Biological value of water.

Drinking water is the most important source of calcium, magnesium, and a number of microelements. Their absorption and biological value may be higher than when they are absorbed from the breakdown products of nutrients. Since in boiled water the content of mineral components is reduced, its constant use instead of raw water increases the load on the organs of water-salt metabolism due to the reabsorption of ions, which increases the risk of developing certain diseases.

In a living organism, part of the water, interacting with tissues, organizes its structure. Structured water a person receives from fresh plant and animal products, as well as when drinking freshly melted water, which has higher biological activity than ordinary water. Experiments on animals have shown its effect on microsomes and mitochondria of hepatocytes, an inhibitory effect on the absorption of carbohydrates from the intestine, an increase in the stability of erythrocytes, and an adaptogenic effect. Workers in hot shops under the influence of such water are better able to tolerate the effects of negative factors in the working environment on their bodies.

Heavy water, differing from the usual high content of deuterium oxide (heavy isotope of hydrogen) and high specific gravity, it has a different biological effect compared to ordinary water. With an experimental increase in the concentration of deuterium oxide in water, the excitability of the central nervous system increases, and adrenaline emissions to stress stimuli increase. Heavy water has been shown to have a radioprotective effect.

The supply of water is regulated by its need, manifested by a feeling of thirst. Thirst is the body's response to increased osmotic pressure and decreased fluid volumes.

Thirst may result from:

1. Increase in osmotic pressure of cellular fluid, decrease in cell volume, decrease in the volume of extracellular fluid. These changes may develop interconnectedly.

2. Drying of the oral mucosa; the latter is the result of a decrease in salivation, a consequence of fluid loss when talking, shortness of breath, smoking, etc.

3. Actions of angiotensin and natriuretic hormone.

Subjectively, thirst is experienced as one of the most powerful human drives.

The mechanism of thirst quenching, or water saturation, has not been fully disclosed. In the form of primary saturation, it occurs during the drinking process before water is absorbed. Apparently, this phenomenon, like primary satiation with food, develops due to stretching of the walls of the stomach and stimulation of its mechanoreceptors. Secondary (true) water saturation is formed when the parameters of water-salt homeostasis are restored as a result of the absorption of ingested water.

The exact localization of the volume regulation center in the brain has not yet been established. It is believed that it is located in the nuclei of the hypothalamus and midbrain. This center has afferent connections with the periphery, realized with the help of volumetric receptors (volumoreceptors) and osmoreceptors. Volume receptors are found mainly in low pressure vessels (pulmonary veins) and in the atria. They respond to significant volumetric shifts reaching ± 10%.

The body needs a constant supply of not only water, but also mineral salts.

Water– the most important factor in the formation of the internal environment of the body and at the same time one of the factors of the external environment. Where there is no water, there is no life. All processes characteristic of living organisms inhabiting our Earth occur in water. Lack of water (dehydration) leads to disruption of all body functions and even death. Reducing the amount of water by 10% causes irreversible changes. Tissue metabolism and vital processes take place in an aquatic environment.

Water participates in the processes of assimilation and dissimilation, in the processes of resorption and diffusion, sorption and desorption, and regulates the nature of osmotic relationships in tissues and cells. Water regulates acid-base balance and maintains pH. Buffer systems are only active in conditions where there is water.

Water is a general indicator of the activity of physiological systems, the background and environment in which all vital processes take place. It is no coincidence that in the human body the water content approaches 60% of the total body weight. It has been established that the aging process is associated with the loss of water by cells.

It should be noted that hydrolysis reactions, as well as all redox reactions, occur actively only in aqueous solutions.

Water takes an active part in the so-called water-salt exchange. The processes of digestion and respiration proceed normally if there is enough water in the body. The role of water in the excretory function of the body is also great, which contributes to the normal functioning of the genitourinary system.

The role of water is also great in the processes of thermoregulation of the body. She participates, in particular, in one of the most important processes– the process of sweating.

It should be noted that minerals enter the body with water, and in a form where they are absorbed almost completely. The role of water as a source of mineral salts is now generally recognized. This is the so-called pharmacological value of water. And Mineral salts in water are in the form of ions, which is favorable for their absorption by the body. Macro- and microelements in food products are in the form of complex compounds, which, even under the influence of gastrointestinal juice, are poorly dissociated and therefore less easily absorbed.

Water is a universal solvent. It dissolves everything physiologically active substances. Water is a liquid phase that has a certain physical and chemical structure, which determines its ability as a solvent. Living organisms that consume water with different structures develop and grow differently. Therefore, the structure of water can be considered as the most important biological factor. The structure of water can change during desalination. The structure of water is greatly influenced by the ionic composition of water.

A water molecule is not a neutral compound, but an electrically active one. It has two active electrical centers that create an electric field around itself.

The structure of the water molecule is characterized by two features:

1) high polarity;

2) a peculiar arrangement of atoms in space.

According to modern concepts, a water molecule is a dipole, i.e. it has 2 centers of gravity. One is the center of gravity of positive charges, the other is the center of gravity of negative charges. In space, these centers do not coincide, they are asymmetrical, that is, a water molecule has two poles that create a force field around the molecule, the water molecule is polar.

In an electrostatic field, the spatial arrangement of water molecules (water structure) determines the biological properties of water in the body.

Water molecules can exist in the following forms:

1) in the form of a single water molecule - it is a monohydrol, or simply a hydrol (H 2 O) 1;

2) in the form of a double water molecule - it is a dihydrol (H 2 O) 2;

3) in the form of a triple water molecule - trihydrol (H 2 O) 3.

The aggregate state of water depends on the presence of these forms. Ice usually consists of trihydrols, which have the largest volume. The vapor state of water is represented by monohydrols, since significant thermal movement of molecules at a temperature of 100 °C disrupts their association. In the liquid state, water is a mixture of hydrol, dihydrol and trihydrol. The relationship between them is determined by temperature. The formation of di- and trihydrols occurs due to the attraction of water molecules (hydrols) to each other.

Depending on the dynamic balance between forms, certain types of water are distinguished.

1. Water associated with living tissues is structural (ice-like, or perfect, water), represented by quasicrystals and trihydrols. This water has high biological activity. Its freezing point is –20 °C. The body receives such water only from natural products.

2. Freshly melted water is 70% ice-like water. It has medicinal properties, helps increase adaptogenic properties, but quickly (after 12 hours) loses its biological properties to stimulate biochemical reactions in the body.

3. Free, or ordinary, water. Its freezing point is 0 °C.

Dehydration

1) with air through the lungs (1 m 3 of air contains on average 8-9 g of water);

2) through the kidneys and skin.

In general, a person loses up to 4 liters of water per day. Natural water losses must be compensated by introducing a certain amount of water from outside. If the losses are not equivalent to the administration, dehydration occurs in the body. A lack of even 10% of water can significantly worsen the condition, and an increase in the degree of dehydration to 20% can lead to impairment of vital functions and death. Dehydration is more dangerous to the body than starvation. A person can live without food for 1 month, and without water - up to 3 days.

Regulation of water metabolism is carried out using the central nervous system (CNS) and is under the control of the food center and thirst center.

The origin of the feeling of thirst is apparently based on a change in the physicochemical composition of the blood and tissues, in which disturbances in osmotic pressure occur due to their depletion of water, which leads to excitation of parts of the central nervous system.

An important role in the regulation of water metabolism is played by the endocrine glands, especially the pituitary gland. The relationship between water and salt metabolism is called water-salt metabolism.

Water consumption standards are determined:

1) water quality;

2) the nature of the water supply;

3) the state of the body;

4) the nature of the environment, and primarily the temperature and humidity conditions;

5) the nature of the work.

Water consumption standards are made up of the physiological needs of the body (2.5-5 liters per day for physiological functions) to maintain life and water necessary for household and communal purposes. The latest standards reflect the sanitary level of the locality.

In dry and hot climates, when performing intense physical work, physiological norms increase to 8-10 l per day, in conditions rural areas(with decentralized water supply) – up to 30-40 l. Water consumption standards at an industrial enterprise depend on the production ambient temperature. They are especially great in hot shops. If the amount of heat generated is 20 kcal per 1 m 3 per hour, then the water consumption standards per shift will be 45 liters (including showering). According to sanitary standards, water consumption standards are regulated as follows:

1) in the presence of running water and no baths - 125-160 liters per day per person;

2) in the presence of running water and baths - 160-250 l;

3) in the presence of running water, baths, hot water– 250-350 l;

4) in conditions of using water dispensers -30-50 l.

Today in major modern cities Water consumption per capita per day is 450 liters or more. Thus, in Moscow the highest level of water consumption is up to 700 liters. In London - 170 l, Paris - 160 l, Brussels - 85 l.

Water is social factor. Depends on the quantity and quality of water social conditions life and morbidity rates. According to WHO, up to 500 million diseases per year that occur on Earth are associated with water quality and water consumption levels.

Factors shaping water quality can be divided into 3 large groups:

1) factors determining the organoleptic properties of water;

2) factors determining Chemical properties water;

3) factors determining the epidemiological danger of water.

Factors determining the organoleptic properties of water

The organoleptic properties of water are formed by natural and anthropogenic factors. Odor, taste, color and turbidity are important characteristics of drinking water quality. The reasons for the appearance of odors, tastes, color and turbidity in water are very diverse. For surface sources, these are primarily soil pollution coming with the flow of atmospheric water. The smell and taste may be associated with algal blooms and subsequent decomposition of vegetation at the bottom of the reservoir. The taste of water is determined by its chemical composition, the ratio of individual components and the number of these components in absolute values. This especially applies to highly mineralized groundwater due to the increased content of sodium chlorides, sulfates, and, less commonly, calcium and magnesium. Thus, sodium chloride causes the salty taste of water, calcium – astringent, and magnesium – bitter. The taste of water is also determined by its gas composition: 1/3 of the total gas composition is oxygen, 2/3 is nitrogen. There is a very small amount of carbon dioxide in water, but its role is great. Carbon dioxide can be present in water in various forms:

1) dissolved in water to form carbonic acid CO 2 + H 2 O = H 2 CO 3 ;

2) dissociated carbonic acid H 2 CO 3 = H + HCO 3 = 2H + CO 3 with the formation of bicarbonate ion HCO 3 and CO 3 – carbonate ion.

This balance between different forms of carbon dioxide is determined by pH. In an acidic environment, at pH = 4, free carbon dioxide is present - CO 2. At pH = 7-8, the HCO 3 ion is present (moderately alkaline). At pH = 10, the CO 3 ion is present (alkaline environment). All these components determine the taste of water to varying degrees.

For surface sources, the main cause of odors, tastes, color and turbidity is soil pollution coming from atmospheric water runoff. An unpleasant taste of water is typical for widespread highly mineralized waters (especially in the south and southeast of the country), mainly due to the increased concentration of sodium chlorides and sulfates, and less often calcium and magnesium.

Coloring (chromaticity) natural waters more often depends on the presence of humic substances of soil, plant and planktonic origin. The construction of large reservoirs with active processes of plankton development contributes to the appearance of unpleasant odors, tastes and colors in the water. Humic substances are harmless to humans, but they worsen the organoleptic properties of water. They are difficult to remove from water, and they also have a high sorption capacity.

The connection between population morbidity and the nature of water consumption has long been noted. Already in ancient times, some signs of water hazardous to health were known. However, only in the middle of the 19th century. epidemiological observations and bacteriological discoveries of Pasteur and Koch made it possible to establish that water may contain some pathogenic microorganisms and contribute to the emergence and spread of diseases among the population. Among the factors determining the occurrence of waterborne infections are:

1) anthropogenic water pollution (priority in pollution);

2) release of the pathogen from the body and entry into the body of water;

3) stability of bacteria and viruses in the aquatic environment;

4) entry of microorganisms and viruses with water into the human body.

Waterborne infections

Waterborne infections are characterized by:

1) a sudden rise in incidence;

2) saving high level morbidity;

3) a rapid decline in the epidemic wave (after eliminating the pathological factor).

Cholera, typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, dysentery, leptospirosis, tularemia (contamination of drinking water with rodent secretions), and brucellosis are transmitted by water. The possibility of the water factor in the transmission of Salmonella infections cannot be ruled out. Viral diseases include intestinal viruses and enteroviruses. They enter the water with fecal matter and other human secretions. In the aquatic environment you can find:

1) infectious hepatitis virus;

2) polio virus;

3) adenoviruses;

4) Coxsackie virus;

5) basin conjunctivitis virus;

6) influenza virus;

7) ECHO virus.

Amoebiasis. Dysenteric amoeba, common in the tropics and Central Asia, is of pathogenic importance. Vegetative forms of amoeba die quickly, but the cysts are resistant to water. Moreover, chlorination at usual doses is ineffective against amoeba cysts.

Helminth eggs and Giardia cysts enter water bodies with human secretions, and enter the body through drinking or contaminated water.

It is generally accepted that the possibility of eliminating the danger of water epidemics and thereby reducing the incidence of intestinal infections in the population is associated with progress in the field of water supply to the population. Therefore, properly organized water supply is not only an important general sanitary measure, but also an effective specific measure against the spread of intestinal infections among the population. Thus, the successful elimination of the Eltor cholera outbreak in the USSR (1970) in to a greater extent was due to the fact that the majority of the urban population was protected from danger waterway its spread due to normal centralized water supply.

Chemical composition of water

Factors that determine the chemical composition of water are chemical substances that can be divided into:

1) bioelements (iodine, fluorine, zinc, copper, cobalt);

2) chemical elements, harmful to health (lead, mercury, selenium, arsenic, nitrates, uranium, surfactants, toxic chemicals, radioactive substances, carcinogenic substances);

3) indifferent or even useful chemicals (calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron, carbonates, bicarbonates, chlorides).

The chemical composition of water is possible reason diseases of non-infectious nature. We will analyze the basics of standardization of indicators of the harmlessness of the chemical composition of drinking water below.

Indifferent chemicals in water

Iron divalent or trivalent is found in all natural water sources. Iron is a necessary component of animal organisms. It is used to build vital respiratory and oxidative enzymes (hemoglobin, catalase). An adult receives tens of milligrams of iron per day, so the amount of iron supplied with water has no significant physiological significance. However, the presence of iron in the form of large concentrations is undesirable for aesthetic and everyday reasons. Iron gives water turbidity, a yellow-brown color, a bitter metallic taste, and leaves rust stains. A large number of Iron in water promotes the development of iron bacteria, which, when they die, accumulate dense sediment inside the pipes. Bivalent iron is more often found in groundwater. If water is pumped, then, combining on the surface with oxygen in the air, iron becomes trivalent, and the water becomes brown. Thus, the iron content in drinking water is limited by its effect on turbidity and color. The permissible concentration according to the standard is no more than 0.3 mg/l, for underground sources no more than 1.0 mg/l.

Manganese in groundwater it is contained in the form of bicarbonates, highly soluble in water. In the presence of atmospheric oxygen, it turns into manganese hydroxide and precipitates, which increases the color and turbidity of the water. In the practice of centralized water supply, the need to limit the manganese content in drinking water is associated with a deterioration in organoleptic properties. The norm is no more than 0.1 mg/l.

Aluminum found in drinking water that has been treated - clarified during the coagulation process with aluminum sulfate. Excessive concentrations of aluminum give water an unpleasant, astringent taste. The residual aluminum content in drinking water (no more than 0.2 mg per liter) does not cause a deterioration in the organoleptic properties of water (turbidity and taste).

Calcium and its salts cause water hardness. The hardness of drinking water is an essential criterion by which the population evaluates the quality of water. In hard water, vegetables and meat are poorly cooked, since calcium salts and food proteins form insoluble compounds that are poorly absorbed. Washing clothes is difficult; scale (insoluble sediment) forms in heating appliances. Experimental studies have shown that when drinking water with a hardness of 20 mg. eq/l, the frequency and weight of stone formation were significantly greater than when drinking water with a hardness of 10 mg. eq/l Effect of water with a hardness of 7 mg. eq per l on the development of urolithiasis was not detected. All this allows us to consider the accepted standard for hardness in drinking water – 7 mg eq per liter – justified.

Bioelements

Copper It is found in small concentrations in natural groundwater and is a true biomicroelement. The need for it (mainly for hematopoiesis) of an adult is small - 2-3 g per day. It is covered mainly by the daily food ration. In high concentrations (3-5 mg/l), copper affects the taste (astringent). The standard for this criterion is no more than 1 mg/l. in water.

Zinc It is found as a trace element in natural ground waters. It is found in high concentrations in water bodies polluted by industrial wastewater. Chronic zinc poisoning is unknown. Zinc salts in high concentrations are irritating to the gastrointestinal tract, but the importance of zinc compounds in water is determined by their effect on organoleptic properties. At 30 mg/l, water acquires a milky color, and the unpleasant metallic taste disappears at 3 mg/l, so the zinc content in water is normalized to no more than 3 mg/l.

The chemical composition of water as a cause of non-infectious diseases

The development of medical science has made it possible to expand our understanding of the characteristics of the chemical (salt and microelement) composition of water, its biological role and possible harmful effects on public health.

Mineral salts (macro- and microelements) take part in mineral metabolism and the vital functions of the body, affect the growth and development of the body, hematopoiesis, reproduction, and are part of enzymes, hormones and vitamins. Iodine, fluorine, copper, zinc, bromine, manganese, aluminum, chromium, nickel, cobalt, lead, mercury, etc. are found in the human body.

In nature, microelements are constantly dissipated (due to meteorological factors, water, and the vital activity of organisms). This leads to their uneven distribution (lack or excess) in the soil and water of various geographical regions, which leads to changes in flora and fauna and the emergence of biogeochemical provinces.

Among the diseases associated with the unfavorable chemical composition of water, endemic goiter is primarily isolated. This disease is widespread in the Russian Federation. The causes of the disease are absolute iodine deficiency in the external environment and the social and hygienic living conditions of the population. The daily requirement for iodine is 120-125 mcg. In areas where this disease is not typical, iodine enters the body from plant foods (70 mcg of iodine), from animal food (40 mcg), from air (5 mcg) and from water (5 mcg). Iodine in drinking water plays the role of an indicator general level content of this element in the external environment. Goiter is common in rural areas, where the population eats exclusively locally sourced foods and there is little iodine in the soil. Residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg also use water with a low iodine content (2 mcg), but there are no epidemics here, since the population eats imported products from other regions, which ensures a favorable iodine balance.

The main preventive measures against endemic goiter are a balanced diet, iodization of salt, addition of copper, manganese, cobalt, iodine to the diet. Carbohydrate foods and plant proteins should also predominate, as they normalize the function of the thyroid gland.

Endemic fluorosis is a disease that appears in indigenous populations certain areas Russia, Ukraine and others, the early symptom of which is tooth damage in the form of enamel spotting. It is generally accepted that spotting is not a consequence of topical fluoride. Fluoride, entering the blood, has a general tactical effect, primarily causing the destruction of dentin.

Drinking water is the main source of fluoride in the body, which determines the decisive role of fluoride in drinking water in the development of endemic fluorosis. The daily diet provides 0.8 mg of fluoride, and the fluoride content in drinking water is often 2-3 mg/l. There is a clear connection between the severity of enamel damage and the amount of fluoride in drinking water. A previous infection and insufficient milk and vegetables in the diet are of particular importance for the development of fluorosis. The disease is also determined by the socio-cultural living conditions of the population. This disease was first recorded in India, but among the British and the local aristocracy, fluorosis was rare, although the fluoride content in the water was 2-3 mg/l. Among the Indians, who eked out a half-starved existence, enamel spotting was already detected in those areas where the fluoride content was even 1.5 mg per 1 liter.

Preventive measures regarding the effects of fluoride can be considered:

1) drinking water with a high content of mineral salts;

2) consumption of food and liquids with a high calcium content (vegetables and dairy products), since calcium binds fluorine and converts it into the insoluble complex Ca + F = CaF 2;

3) the protective role of vitamins;

4) ultraviolet irradiation;

5) water defluoridation.

Fluorosis is a general disease of the entire body, although it is most clearly manifested in damage to the teeth. However, with fluorosis the following are noted:

1) disturbance (inhibition) of phosphorus-calcium metabolism;

2) disruption (inhibition) of the action of intracellular enzymes (phosphatases);

3) violation of the immunobiological activity of the body.

The following stages of fluorosis are distinguished:

1 – appearance of chalky spots;

2 – appearance of pigment spots;

3 and 4 – the appearance of defects and erosions of enamel (dentin destruction).

The fluorine content in water is standardized by the standard, since water with a low fluoride content of 0.5-0.7 mg/l is harmful, as dental caries develops. Rationing is carried out by climatic regions, depending on the level of water consumption. In the 1st-2nd region - 1.5 mg/l, in the 3rd - 1.2 mg/l, in the 4th - 0.7 mg/l. Caries affects 80-90% of the entire population. This is a potential source of infection and intoxication. Caries leads to digestive disorders and chronic diseases of the stomach, heart and joints. Convincing evidence of the anti-caries effect of fluoride is the practice of water fluoridation. With a fluoride content of 1.5 mg/l, the incidence of caries is the lowest. In Norilsk, after 7 years of water fluoridation, the incidence of caries in 7-year-old children was 43% lower. People who drink fluoridated water throughout their lives have a 60-70% lower incidence of caries. On the island of New Guinea, people do not have caries, since the fluoride content in drinking water is optimal.

Row chemical substances cause microchemical pollution or water intoxication

Thus, there is a group of atherogenic elements (copper, cadmium, lead), the excess of which has an adverse effect on the cardiovascular system.

Moreover, lead in children crosses the blood-brain barrier, causing brain damage. Lead displaces calcium from bone tissue.

Mercury causes Minamata disease (severe embryotoxic effect).

Cadmium causes Itai-Itai disease (lipid metabolism disorder).

Metals with dangerous embryotoxic effects form a gonadotoxic series, which looks like this: mercury – cadmium – thallium – silver – barium – chromium – nickel – zinc.

Arsenic has a pronounced ability to cumulate in the body, its chronic effect is associated with effects on the peripheral nervous system and the development of polyneuritis.

Bor has a pronounced gonadotoxic effect. It disrupts the sexual activity of men and the ovarian-menstrual cycle in women. The natural underground waters of Western Siberia are rich in boron.

A number of synthetic materials used in water supply can cause intoxication. These are primarily synthetic pipes, polyethylene, phenol-formaldehydes, coagulants and flocculants (PAA), resins and membranes used in desalination. Toxic chemicals, carcinogenic substances, and nitrosamines that get into water are hazardous to health.

surfactant(synthetic surfactants) are stable in water and slightly toxic, but have an allergenic effect, and also contribute to better absorption of carcinogens and toxic chemicals.

When using water containing elevated concentrations of nitrates, infants develop water-nitrate methemoglobinemia. A mild form of the disease can also occur in adults. This disease is characterized by indigestion in children (dyspepsia), a decrease in the acidity of gastric juice. In this regard, in the upper intestine, nitrates are reduced to nitrites NO 2. Nitrates enter drinking water due to widespread chemicalization of agriculture and the use of nitrogenous fertilizers. In children, gastric juice pH = 3, which promotes the reduction of nitrates into nitrites and the formation of methemoglobin. In addition, children lack the enzymes that reduce methemoglobin to hemoglobin. The intake of nitrates from infant formula prepared with contaminated water is very dangerous.

Salt composition is a factor that constantly and long-term affects the health of the population. This is a low intensity factor. The influence of chloride, chloride-sulfate and hydrocarbonate types of water on:

1) water-salt metabolism;

2) purine metabolism;

3) decrease in secretory and increase in motor activity of the digestive organs;

4) urination;

5) hematopoiesis;

6) cardiovascular diseases (hypertension and atherosclerosis).

Increased salt composition of water

affects unsatisfactory organoleptic properties, which leads to a decrease in “water appetite” and limitation of its consumption.

Increased hardness (15-20 mg eq/l) is one of the factors in the development of urolithiasis; and leads to the development of endemic urolithiasis;

It is difficult to use water of increased hardness for economic, domestic purposes, and irrigation;

With long-term consumption of highly mineralized chloride waters, there is an increased hydrophobicity of tissues, their ability to retain water, and tension in the pituitary-adrenal system;

The use of chloride class water with a total mineralization level of more than 1 g/l causes hypertensive conditions. !

The influence of water with low mineralization (desalinated, distilled) causes:

1) violation of water-salt metabolism (decreased chlorine metabolism in tissues);

2) changes in the functional state of the pituitary-adrenal system, tension in protective-adaptive reactions;

3) lag in growth and body weight. The minimum permissible level of total mineralization of desalinated water must be at least 100 mg/l.

Water is the most important factor in the formation of the internal environment of the body and at the same time one of the external environmental factors. Where there is no water, there is no life. All processes characteristic of living organisms inhabiting our Earth occur in water. Lack of water (dehydration) leads to disruption of all body functions and even death. Reducing the amount of water by 10% causes irreversible changes. Tissue metabolism and vital processes take place in an aquatic environment.

Water takes an active part in the so-called water-salt exchange. The processes of digestion and respiration proceed normally if there is enough water in the body. The role of water is also great in the excretory function of the body, which contributes to the normal functioning of the urinary system.

Water is a universal solvent. It dissolves all physiologically active substances. Water is a liquid phase that has a certain physical and chemical structure, which determines its ability as a solvent. Living organisms that consume water with different structures develop and grow differently. Therefore, the structure of water can be considered as the most important biological factor. The structure of water significantly affects the ionic composition of water.

The water molecule (Fig. 1) is an electrically active compound. It has two active electrical centers that create an electric field around itself.

The structure of the water molecule is characterized by two features:

● high polarity;

● a peculiar arrangement of atoms in space.

Water molecules can exist in the following forms:

● in the form of a single water molecule it is a monohydrol, or simply a hydrol;

● in the form of a double water molecule - dihydrol;

● in the form of a triple water molecule - trihydrol.

Fig.1. Water molecule.

Depending on the dynamic balance between the forms, certain types of water are distinguished:

water bound to living tissues- structural (ice-like, perfect), represented by quasicrystals, trihydrols. This water has high biological activity. Its freezing point is 20°C. The body receives such water only from natural products;

freshly melted water- 70% ice-like water. It has medicinal properties, helps to increase adaptogenic properties, but quickly (after 12 hours) loses its biological properties to stimulate the biochemical reactions of the body;

free, or ordinary water. Freezing point 0°C.

The body constantly loses oxidative water in various ways:

With air through the lungs (1 m 3 of air contains on average 8-9 g of water);

Through the kidneys and skin

In general, a person loses up to 4 liters of water per day. Natural water losses must be compensated by introducing a certain amount of water from outside. If the losses are not equivalent to the administration, the body experiences dehydration.

A person can live without food for one month, and without water for up to three days.

Regulation of water metabolism is carried out with the help of the central nervous system and is under the control of the food center and thirst center.

The occurrence of a feeling of thirst is based on a change in the physical and chemical composition of the blood and tissues, in which disturbances in osmotic pressure occur due to a lack of water in them, which leads to excitation of the central nervous system centers.