Expert: Walter Hintz - 1/19/2009

Question
QUESTION: Why do humans and animals have to eat and drink to stay alive? Why doesn't eating alone do the trick?

ANSWER: No because foods do have enough water content to satisfy the need for water.  Some insects can never drink water but can get enough from food but all verebrates need water

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I guess my question is, what does water do for the human body that food alone cannot?

Answer
Water is a solvent.  Body chemistry depends upon organic molecules in solution.  The system system depends upon water (blood)  Molecules passing in and out of the cell must be in solution.  Water is necessary for digestion of all foods as food is broken down into basci units by hydrolysis. (chemical additin of water)