water the nutrient most essential to life. water requirements the body needs more water per day than...
TRANSCRIPT
Water Requirements
The body needs more water per day than
any other nutrientOne can only survive a few days without
waterIn less than a day, a lack of water alters
the body’s chemistry and metabolism
Functions of Water
Water makes up ≈60% of an adult’s body weight
Water is found in– Blood vessels
– Cells
– Chemical structure of cells, tissues, organs
• Water participates in many chemical reactions
Why Is Water the MostIndispensable Nutrient?
Delivers nutrients and removes waste fromcells
Water is a, nearly, universal solvent Dissolves amino acids, glucose, minerals, etc.
for transport
Why Is Water the MostIndispensable Nutrient?
Water is the body’s cleansing agent– Nitrogen wastes, produced during metabolism,
dissolve in blood and must be removed before they build up to toxic levels
– Kidneys filter these wastes from the blood and, mixed with water, excrete them as urine
Why Is Water the MostIndispensable Nutrient?
Water plays a role in thermoregulation– Sweat cools the body
Meaning that the skin is a major route of water loss
Some loss via exhaled breath and fecesBlood routed through capillaries in the skin
gets rid of excess heatThe cooled blood then flows back to the
body’s core
The Body’s Water Balance
Water balance– Water intake needs to equal water loss– Otherwise dehydration or water intoxication can occur
The Body’s Water Balance
• Dehydration– Water loss– Progression of symptoms: thirst → weakness → exhaustion and delirium → death
The Body’s Water Balance
Water intoxication– Dangerous dilution of body fluids resulting from excessive water ingestion– Symptoms: headache, muscular weakness, lack of concentration, poor memory, loss of appetite
--Rarely leads to death
The Body’s Water Balance
• Body’s water content– Varies by pounds at a time• Especially in women who retain water during menstruation• High-salt meal leads to water retention– Water is lost over a 1-2 day period as the sodium is excreted• Fluctuation in water weight does not reflect gain or loss of body fat
How Much Water Do INeed to Drink in a Day?
• DRI meets ≈ 80% of day’s need for water– Men: 13 cups of fluid from beverages anddrinking water– Women: 9 cups of fluid from beverages anddrinking water– Remaining water need is met from consumedfoods– Body produces water from the breakdown ofenergy-yielding nutrients
Beverages
The best source of water is water!Other beverages are good sources of
fluids too Milk and Juice
Some beverages actually dehydrate the body more and do not count toward daily fluid intake Soda, Coffee, Tea, and Alcohol