If the body consists of 70-80 % of water, why do you die from lack of water before lack of food.?

Question

Only serious answers please...

Answer 1

Eventhough our bodies are made up of mostly water, water is easily lost than fat because simply moving around makes you lose water. We have a lot of storage for fat which our body uses up if there is no food source.

Answer 2

Your body stores some of the energy you get from food (as fat). So you have some food source to pull from even if you are unable to eat. However, your body does not store water and cannot pull water from other parts of the body. So you die from lack of water before you die from lack of food.

Answer 3

Water is the only source of protons to the body, the biochemical reactions which involve break-down of food can take place only in the presence of transfer of electrons. So, if you continue to eat but not drink, the lack of electron transfer would not even metabolize the food or break down the fat stored in our body to be used while fasting.
All the more, water helps in regulating the body's temp by sweating etc, so lack of water causes disruption of body's equilibrium rather known as Homeostasis and eventually leads to death.

Answer 4

Because, even though our cells are 90% water (not 80%), it is not necessarily available for distribution tyo where it is needed. Without adequate water, we do not sweat, and our kidneys cannot remove toxins via urine production. Camels can get water from the fat reserves, but unfortunately, humans do not have the same metabolism to utilise our fat reserves as efficiently. You don't have to be much under the 90% to be in mortal danger.

Answer 5

Because the body needs at least 50% water to exist. Without that, life is impossible. And when there is no water left to distribute to the blood, it thickens, thereby making the person experiencing this crazy, and eventually, dead.

Answer 6

water is very important for survival not just because it makes up so much percent of our body but also due to its role in various processes.

I think beezerbea had a nice, comprehensive (very very ) answer.

in simple terms.. lack of water ... blood gets thick.. reduced circulation to vital organs..(and guess what.. human brain is a big time energy user) .. multiple organ failure..
heart finds it difficult to pump leading ti further problems..

but if you starve for food there is always some time for the body to use up ALL remaining sources of energy including fats..

but excess loss of water hs immediate consequences...

hope this helps :)
nice curious question though!

ciao

Answer 7

Blood plasma, which is the transport agent for blood, blood plasma, is made up of 90% water, if you l0ose 10%, you will dehydrate, the oxygen won't reach the whole body, you will die of dehydration as your cells will become hypotonic and give out its water molecule.

Answer 8

We can only last 5 to 7 days without water. But we can last several months without food.

Answer 9

Water is a solvent in which all nutrients are dissolved. If there is no water there will be no full utilization of nutrients, the blood will be highly concentrated and no movement of blood to get more oxygen from the lungs and hence suffocation and death.

Answer 10

i hope this helps



Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluid than it takes in. Dehydration can upset the delicate fluid-salt balance needed to maintain healthy cells and tissues. The human body is generally over 60 percent water. The body works to maintain water balance through mechanisms such as the thirst sensation. When the body requires more water, the brain stimulates nerve centers to encourage a person to drink in order to replenish the water stores. Water intake can vary widely on a daily basis, influenced by such factors as access to water, thirst, habit, and cultural factors.

The kidneys are responsible for maintaining water balance through the elimination of waste products and excess water. Water is primarily absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and excreted by the kidneys as urine. The variation in water volume ingested is dependent on the ability of kidneys to dilute and concentrate the urine as needed.

Children need more water than adults because they expend more energy, and most children who drink when they are thirsty get as much water as their systems require. Dehydration in children usually results from losing large amounts of fluid and not drinking enough water to replace the loss. This condition generally occurs in children who have a stomach flu characterized by vomiting and diarrhea or who cannot or will not take enough fluids to compensate for excessive losses associated with fever and sweating of acute illness. Dehydration can result from illness; a hot, dry climate; prolonged exposure to sun or high temperatures; not drinking enough water; and overuse of diuretics or other medications that increase urination.


Types of dehydration

Dehydration is classified as mild, moderate, or severe based on how much of the body fluid is lost, estimated by loss in bodyweight. Mild dehydration is the loss of no more than 5 to 6 percent loss of body weight. Loss of 7 to 10 percent is considered moderate dehydration. Severe dehydration (loss of over 10 percent of body weight) is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical care.


Complications of dehydration

When the body's fluid supply is severely depleted, hypovolemic shock is likely to occur. This condition, which is also called physical collapse, is characterized by pale, cool, clammy skin; rapid heartbeat; and shallow breathing.

Blood pressure sometimes drops so low it cannot be measured, and skin at the knees and elbows may become blotchy. Anxiety, restlessness, and thirst increase. After a child's temperature reaches 107°F (41.7°C) damage to the brain and other vital organs occurs quickly.