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Everyday health · 2 min
Water supports key body processes
Your body uses water for temperature control and waste removal.
Reviewed by Velantri physicians on November 13, 2026
What water does
Water helps your body manage its temperature. It also supports the removal of waste. These jobs happen all day long. Your body relies on water to keep these processes running smoothly. Temperature control happens when your body heats up from activity or warm weather. The body releases heat through sweat. Waste removal clears out things your body does not need. This happens through urine and other processes. Both of these processes need water to work well. Without enough fluid, temperature control becomes harder. Waste also builds up when fluid levels drop. Water keeps both jobs moving forward each day.
Where fluids come from
Plain water is not the only source of fluid. Foods add to your total fluid intake. Other drinks count too. All of these together help meet your body's needs. Many fruits contain water. Watermelon and oranges provide a lot of fluid. Vegetables also provide fluid. Lettuce and cucumbers hold plenty of water. Soups and broths add to the total as well. Milk and juice count toward fluid intake. Even coffee and tea contribute. Your body uses all these sources throughout the day. This variety makes it easier to meet fluid needs. Different foods and drinks offer different amounts of water.
Fluid needs change
How much fluid you need depends on several things. Age affects fluid needs. Activity level matters. Pregnancy increases fluid needs. Breastfeeding also raises the amount of fluid your body uses. A person who exercises more may need more fluid than someone who sits most of the day. Exercise makes the body sweat more. Sweating uses up fluid that must be replaced. Older adults may have different fluid needs than younger adults. Pregnant women need extra fluid to support their growing baby. The baby and the fluid around it require more water. Women who breastfeed use additional fluid to make milk. Milk production pulls from the body's fluid stores. These changing needs mean that one target does not fit everyone.
Swapping a sugary drink
Choosing plain water instead of a sugary drink cuts calories. The swap removes the calories from that one drink. This simple change can make a difference in your daily calorie balance. A can of soda might have around one hundred fifty calories. Switching to plain water brings that number down to zero. Doing this swap once a day adds up over time. One swap each day means more than fifty thousand fewer calories in a year. Notice which drinks you reach for most often. Think about whether plain water could work instead. Many sugary drinks add calories without filling you up. Water provides fluid without any extra calories. Small changes in drink choices can support your overall goals.
Try this
Look at one drink you usually choose today. Ask yourself whether plain water could replace it. If you follow a fluid plan from your care team for a heart or kidney condition, talk with them before making any changes.
Quick check
What are two jobs that water does in your body?
Answer: Temperature control and waste removal — Water supports normal temperature regulation and the removal of waste from your body.
Which of these adds to your total fluid intake?
Answer: Foods and other drinks — Foods and other drinks both contribute to your total fluid intake, not just plain water.
What happens when you replace a sugary drink with plain water?
Answer: You reduce calories from that drink — Replacing a sugary drink with plain water reduces the calories you would have gotten from that drink.
Sources
This article is general health education reviewed by physicians. It is not medical advice for your situation. Talk to your clinician before changing medication or treatment, and seek urgent care for symptoms that worry you.