The 2025 J.U.C. Awards | Submitted Category: WRITING | Submission Code: W12 #JUC2025 | Dedication Theme: #WaterActionDecade | Word count: 1295

The Essence of Life and Health Alone is Water

[#JUCAwards2025] Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it. Water is life and clean water means health. Water is essential for life. With 60% or two third of the human body composed of water, it is actually overwhelming how much of the significance there is. As we all know water can be used to reduce the high temperature of machinery not to mention it can also regulate the human body temperature as well. So, it’s fair to say that water plays an inseparable role in the lives of all the living and nonliving organisms including microorganisms as well. According to research done by mayo clinic staff, as per the saying of The United States National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the adequate daily water intake should be, about 15.5 cups (3.7 litres) of water for men and about 11.5 cups (2.7 litres) of water for women. With the world developing at an express rate, the need for clean water has increased immensely. It has become a global challenge to ensure clean water for all.

If we talk about water as per a biological need, water is indispensable for almost all the functions of the body. For example, just like a radiator cooling a vehicle engine, water helps to regulate the body temperature and gives a favourable temperature for the body. Through sweating and respiration water evaporates and not to mention how after an intense workout, water from your skin evaporates from the skin making your skin cool. Another factor is that for cellular functions and processes water is vital. For example, just like xylem tissue transports water with minerals to the plant and also the Golgi complex uses water to remove waste materials from cells in the human body and cells in the plant. And also, it helps towards food digestion and nutrition absorption. Just like water is needed to make saliva and other digestive juices that would break down food. Water also helps to absorb nutrients to the body. Nutrients like Folate, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Biotin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C and many more. A study published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics found that adequate hydration improves digestive health significantly. And also, another crucial factor is the necessity for waste removal of the human body. Water also helps towards smooth waste removal. The kidneys which are a vital organ in our excretory system help filter waste from blood. But it relies on water to create urine to pass out the waste. Also talking about dehydration, insufficient water intake can lead towards concentrated urine which also lead to harmful diseases like kidney stones, weight gain and urinary tract infections and also have side effects like fatigue, seizures, dizziness, heat exhaustions, low blood pressure, tachycardia and Xerostomia.

If we talk about hydration and health more, we can understand that staying properly hydrated is vital for one’s health. Just like we talked previously, not hydrating properly can lead you to kidney diseases and kidney problems and not to mention urinary tract problems. Hydration directly affects physical performances. Therefore, not properly hydrating would lead to a decrease in physical performance. Especially if you are an athlete or a hard worker you need to be hydrated properly. A study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that even mild dehydration (about 1.5% of body weight) can impair endurance and reduce strength. You can see how important it is to be properly hydrated. For example, marathon runners actually use hydration strategies to emphasize the need for adequate hydration. They consume electrolytes and water prior to a race to rehydrate before a race. Organisations around the world emphasize the importance of hydration to runners to prevent fatigue, low blood pressure and seizure and also enhance performance. Research from the University of Connecticut shows that dehydration can impair concentration, alertness, and short-term memory. By this you can understand how water and hydration actually help bodily functions and mostly for cognitive tasks. In another study that was done using a bit dehydrated participants and hydrated participants, the people who were mildly dehydrated performed worse on cognitive tasks compared to those who were well-hydrated, highlighting the importance of water for mental clarity and cognitive tasks.

Access to clean water is a pressing global issue that people and leaders all over the world talk about almost all the time. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water. Specifically in areas like South Asia and Africa. The cause for this is as they say is the rapid growth in population and quick and extreme climate change, and therefore those regions still continue to have water scarcity. The United Nations estimates that by 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population may face water-stressed conditions due to global water scarcity. So, protecting water is really important as water is life. Not only water scarcity but also contaminated water is also a huge problem that makes one’s health go down hill day by day. For example, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) the 2010 cholera outbreak in Haiti resulted in over 700,000 cases of and thousands of deaths, largely due to inadequate access to clean water. Moreover, according to the NRDC website the Flint water crisis in Michigan highlighted the dangers of lead contamination, affecting thousands of residents and resulting in long-term health consequences. For all the above-mentioned problems we can use effective water purification methods. For example, using chlorination, filtration and UV purification. This ensures water safety and water quality. Countries like in the European Union have strict water quality regulations. Therefore, they have significantly lower rates of waterborne diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that improved water quality could prevent approximately 500,000 deaths annually from diarrhoea. Not only that, as citizens living in this world, we can initiate community projects. Many non-profit organizations work towards providing clean water through sustainable and eco-friendly solutions. In most parts of South Asia and Africa, they give an education about water sanitation and they use wells, rainwater harvesting systems and drip water irrigation. Hydration is linked not only to physical health but also to mental well-being. Research has shown that dehydration can lead to increased feelings of stress and anxiety. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that even mild dehydration can negatively affect mood and cognitive performance. Participants reported feeling more fatigued and confused when dehydrated. Adequate hydration helps regulate cortisol levels in the body which is a hormone associated with stress in the brain. For example, individuals who drink sufficient water during stressful periods report feeling calmer and more focused. That’s why most psychologists say to always drink water when you are angry or stressed. When talking more about practical implementation, for individuals looking to enhance their mental health and well-being, maintaining hydration should be a priority, especially in high-stress or high anxiety situations. Simple strategies like carrying a water bottle and setting reminders to drink water can actually promote hydration. Even eating water rich fruits, vegetables and green leaves like tomato, watermelon, zucchini, cucumber, lettuce and celery.

As you can see water is essential not only for life but also physical and mental well-being. Access to clean and purified water is a global challenge but we have to face that by getting together and coming up with sustainable and eco-friendly solutions. By prioritizing hydration and advocating for clean water access, we can improve our health and support communities worldwide. As we navigate an increasingly water-scarce future, it is vital to recognize that water is not just a resource; it is a fundamental human right that underpins health and prosperity for all human beings.

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The 2025 J.U.C. Awards | Submitted Category: WRITING | Submission Code: W12 #JUC2025 | Dedication Theme: #WaterActionDecade | Word count: 1295

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