Dehydration/Hydration Facts

I had the honor of speaking today with Ms. Rhonda Fincher one of the founders of www.kendrickfincher.org who tragically lost their teen-aged son, Kendrick 6 years ago due to dehydration while playing football. Their site is dedicated to their son and to the cause of hydration education in teens and their teachers...teens should be allowed to drink when thirsty. Please visit and support them in their important efforts, Here are some hydration facts from their site.

	Hydration Facts
	75% of the body is made up of water 80% of the brain is made up of water 75% of the muscles are made up of water 92% of the blood is made up of water Water carries nutrients and oxygen to all cells in the body Water helps convert food into energy Water regulates body temperature 1% dehydration results in thirst There is a 10% decrease in your mental performance when you feel thirsty 2% dehydration reduces your ability to work 4% dehydration results in lethargy, apathy and mental symptoms If you are dehydrated you are more likely to have trouble concentrating, be more irritable and have more headaches Long-term effects of being dehydrated include kidney and urinary tract infections, constipation, continence problems, and kidney stones. Drinking more water helps reduce obesity and bed-wetting in children If you are well hydrated, exercise feels more and more enjoyable. How much should you drink? Recommended quantities of water for school age children range from 50 oz for a five-year old to 60 oz for a ten-year old. The minimum fluid intake recommended for adults or children over 100 pounds is your weight divided by 2 (100 pounds = 50 oz of water)