Water Content

"Water is made up of 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom. A human body is made up of mostly water. An adult consists of about 37 to 42 liters of water, or about eighty pounds. Newborns are approximately 70 percent water. Adult males typically are composed of about 60 percent water and females are about 55 percent water. This gender difference reflects the differences in body-fat content, since body fat is practically water-free. This also means that if a person gains weight in the form of fat the percentage of total body water content declines. As we age, total body water content also diminishes so that by the time we are in our eighties the percent of water in our bodies has decreased to around 45 percent. Dehydration accelerates the aging process whereas keeping hydrated decreases headaches, muscle aches, and kidney stones. Additionally, a study conducted at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle found that women who drank more than five glasses of water each day had a significantly decreased risk for developing colon cancer."