Sometimes stepping back for the big picture is important.  Sometimes, taking something we see everyday and looking at it more granular helps us see something new.  Sometimes, I say things that make no sense, crayola box.

Today, I was carrying my bottle of water back from an all important refill when it suddenly struck me how odd water really is. We, as humans, are almost entirely made up of "water" (according to scientists, but what do they know anyway).  What is interesting is that "going out for water" is not something I do on Friday nights, or really anytime - nope, I go out for good food.  Complicated food.  Varied food.  Something different each time - I tire of the same ol' thing day after day.  Yet, at the end of those days, my body needs and craves a simple combo of hydrogen and oxygen.

Weird.

Why can't my body be a bit more complicated?

It's just "water" - it's free at most restaurants.  But my body is made up of  around 60% H2O.  I'm glad it's not 60% spinach.  That'd be weird.  Or 60% kumquats.  Or red licorice.

It's just ironic to me that things break down so 'simply'.  Yes, I'm oversimplifying - I encourage you to do the same in random areas of your life just to see what you uncover  :-)

-Tait

The water in you

Think of what you need to survive, really just survive. Food? Water? Air? MTV? Naturally, I'm going to concentrate on water here. Water is of major importance to all living things; in some organisms, up to 90 percent of their body weight comes from water. Up to 60 percent of the human body is water, the brain is composed of 70 percent water, and the lungs are nearly 90 percent water. About 83 percent of our blood is water, which helps digest our food, transport waste, and control body temperature. Each day humans must replace 2.4 litres of water, some through drinking and the rest taken by the body from the foods eaten.

There just wouldn't be any you, me, or Fido the dog without the existence of an ample liquid water supply on Earth. The unique qualities and properties of water are what make it so important and basic to life. The cells in our bodies are full of water. The excellent ability of water to dissolve so many substances allows our cells to use valuable nutrients, minerals, and chemicals in biological processes.

Water's "stickiness" (from surface tension) plays a part in our body's ability to transport these materials all through ourselves. The carbohydrates and proteins that our bodies use as food are metabolized and transported by water in the bloodstream. No less important is the ability of water to transport waste material out of our bodies.