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HLTH 1020
Research Paper
Water
Water is a very important necessity of life and a nutrient all on its own, by helping every
cell in our body to function properly. Every cell, tissue and organ contains some water and
makes up 50% to 70% of the human body. Humans can live for several weeks without food
intake, but we can survive only a few days (if not sooner due to circumstances) without water
intake. Getting enough water every day is important for our health. An average person gets about
20% of their water through food and by drinking water. Water has some astounding properties;
its a versatile solvent, cools and lowers body temperature and act as a lubricant to protect our
internal organs.
Water is known as universal solvent because its capable of dissolving more substances
than any other liquid. This property of water is important to every living thing on earth. Meaning
that wherever water goes, through the air, the ground, or through our bodies, it takes along
chemicals, minerals and nutrients. Its chemical composition and physical attributes make it an
exceptional solvent. Water molecules create a polar arrangement of oxygen and hydrogen atoms.
Hydrogen has the positive electrical charge and the oxygen has a negative charge. This reaction
allows the water molecule to become attracted to different types of molecules such as sodium
and chloride. Because so many compositions dissolve in water, it creates a perfect medium for
the body where a chemical reaction takes place. When carbohydrates, lipids and proteins are
Body temperature is regulated by water. As water changes our body temperature slowly,
it has the sustainability to hold heat. Since the human body is 50% to 70% water, it requires a lot
of energy to change body temperature. When water molecules are charged, it makes them
attracted to each other. This force is strong and energy is required during heating to separate
water molecules. When the body is overheated, the body releases energy and produces
perspiration fluids. As the perspiration evaporates, heat is removed from the skin cooling the
body in a process (Wardlaws, pg. 305) As the temperature increases, the bodys skin blood
vessels become larger allowing more water to pass through perspiration. Approximately 1 liter of
turned into body heat and the other 40% is formed into energy cells. Perspiration is the major
way to prevent rise of body temperature. If the heat cannot dissipate, the body temperature could
Water intake is essential to supporting healthy body and mind. Water for hydration is not
stored in the body, so its important to maintain hydration as much as possible. Water is
continually lost through perspiration, respiration and excretion. To maintain a proper hydration
through fluids and food, the Adequate Intake (AI) for intake of water is 2.7 liters for women, 3.7
liters for men. For just fluid intake itself, 2.2 liters for women and 3 liters for men. Keeping your
body hydrated helps maintain optimum levels of moisture for not only your body but also in the
blood, bones and brain. Water is very vital to the brains health, functions and helps protect the
spinal cord and acts as a lubricant and cushion to your joints. A few examples of hydration
protection for your body include secretions that are water based are produced by the digestive
tract which includes; respiratory tract, urogenital tract, eyes and skin. Saliva is a lubricant which
allows food to travel through the esophagus down to the stomach. Mucus provides protection by
coating the digestive tract with fluid. The lungs are coated as well with a mucus the aids in
important immune functions. Water is also the root of amniotic fluid which functions as a shock
water, the ability of the body to functions and produce these critical secretions would be limited.
Because your body loses water through breathing, sweating and digestion, its important
to rehydrate by drinking fluids and eating foods that contain water. The amount of water you
need depends on a variety of factors including your climate, physical activity and whether youre
experiencing an illness or have any health problems. Simply drinking water can prevent
dehydration. Dehydrating is a condition that can cause unclear thinking, result in mood change,
causes body to overheat, constipation and kidney stones. A person loses 1% - 2% of body weight
in fluids which then will trigger thirst. Thirst is a great indicator of your hydration status and if
you are thirsty, unfortunately you are already dehydrated. Symptoms that can occur are mild
feeling tired, dizzy and headaches. When your body reaches 4% loss of body weight in fluids
your muscles start to lose strength and the central nervous system- memory, patiences and
reaction time- are negatively affected. By 10% reduction of fluids, your body become weak with
no tolerance of heat and can lead to heat stroke, which is deadly. An easy way to determine water
intake is to observe urine color. If your hydration is adequate, urine should be clear or pale
yellow. The best way to avoid dehydration is to stay ahead of your thirst by drinking water
As you know by now, water is essential and vital for everyone. Besides the importance
mentioned above, there is a continuous list of health benefits water provides. Benefits which
include maximizing physical performance, energy levels, constipation relief and weight loss.
Depending on the source of water intake, water can contain certain minerals, such as calcium and
magnesium, which can piece an imperative role in your health. By recognizing and reading
labels or request tap-water reports from your city, you can become aware of the mineral content
in the water you drink. Aside from the obvious glass of water, you can also get the critical
nutrient from food. Vegetable like lettuce, cucumber, tomato and celery and fruits like oranges,
pineapples and strawberries also have high water content. Whenever possible, its smart to
Educating adults and children about the important nutrients water provides us is critical
for our health. Creating a habit of drinking the AI recommendations for water is a great first step
to becoming hydrated and healthy. By maintaining proper water intake through healthy foods
https://www.livestrong.com/article/145633-nutritional-value-of-water/
https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/data-statistics/plain-water-the-healthier-choice.html
https://water.usgs.gov/edu/solvent.html