WaterThe Most Important Nutrient
By: Casha and Chase
• Water is the most overlooked of all the 6 Nutrients
• Water is very essential to the body• It has to be replaced everyday• You can only survive a few days without it• Water is in every cell located in the body• Water is the main component for the
following body fluids: saliva, blood, urine, and perspiration
Water the Forgotten Nutrient
Vital Functions• Most adults body weight is 50-70% water• Fat tissue is 20-35% water• Muscle tissue is 75% water• The total percent of body weight from water
depends on the ratio of fat to lean body tissue• The higher percent of lean tissue; the higher
the percent of water weight• Water also controls the body temperature
Vocabulary Words• Reactant- a substance that enters a chemical reaction
and is changed by it• Solvent- Liquids in which substances can be dissolved• Lubricant- A substance that reduces friction between
surfaces• Intracellular Water- Water inside the cells• Extracellular Water- Water outside the cells• Diuretics- Substances that increase urination• Dehydration- A state when the body contains a lower-
than-normal amount of body fluids
Water Content in Foods• Lettuce-96%• Salsa-92%• Milk-91%• Cola-89%
• Orange Juice-87%• Tomato Soup-85%• Apple-84%
•Bread-38%•Cheese-37%•Butter-16%•Cookie-6%
•Milkshake-74%•Egg-75%•Potato-80%
Nearly every food existing contains water
•Tuna-84%•Pasta-66%•Chicken-65%
•Hotdog-54%•Beef-53%•Pizza-48%
Water Intoxication• Water intoxication is when you drink too much water
and become sick• Severe cases can result in death • It’s a very rare condition and happens when a large
quantity of water is consumed• It dilutes the concentration of electrolytes in the
extracellular fluid and when the electrolyte level stays low you become sick with muscle weakness and headaches
• There are bad effects from drinking too much water, but there are also bad effects from not drinking enough
Dehydration• A lack of water or loss of
water in the body
• The body takes steps to help conserve water by urinating less, sweat less, and the volume of fluids decrease the concentration of sodium in the bloodstream
Facilitates Chemical Reactions
• Chemical reactions that occur in the body needs water -such reactions break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins for energy
• Makes formations of new compounds
• Helps enzymes• Water is a reactant in many chemical
reactions
Lubricates Surfaces• Water is an excellent lubricant in your bodyExamples:• Water in saliva lubricates food as you swallow
it• Water in the digestive system assists the easy
passage of nutrients• Tears lubricate your eyes
Transports Nutrients & Waste Products
• Water is a solvent• Water can also dissolve most substances• Blood is primarily made up of water• Water removes waste from the body through
perspiration
Regulates Body Temperature
• Blood and Perspiration is responsible for two levels that need to be balanced.
-The water inside cells and outside
-The water intake and excretion
Source of the Body’s Water Supply
• Most people need 2 to 3 quarts of water per day because usually you lose 2 to 3 quarts a day
• 12% of water needs are met through metabolism
• The human loses water through urine, skin as you sweat, moisture in your breath as you breathe, and bowel wastes
Factors that Increase Water Loss
• Hot weather causes sweating which then causes a loss of water
• Dry climates causes quick skin evaporation• Illness like vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, and
fevers cause a loss of water-Drink plenty of liquids to replace the loss water
Water Loss• Water loss increases in higher altitudes due to
harder breathing• Exercise increases water loss because of sweat
and harder to breathe• When trying to lose weight, the first couple
pounds are made up of water• Not replacing water can make you become
dehydrated
The End
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