WATER

10 Myths and Facts About Water

Everyone needs to drink eight glasses of water a day.

10 Myths and Facts About Water

Myth. Though water is the easiest and most economical fluid to keep you hydrated, the latest Institute of Med. recommendation is that women should strive for about 2L or 8 glasses a day and men should aim for 3L or 12 glasses a day of any fluid. notes Georgia Chavent, MS, RD, director of the Nutrition and Dietetics Program at the University of New Haven in West Haven, Conn. The new requirement from the Institute of Medicine is much more generous and includes recommendations for total beverage consumption, not just water.

10 Myths and Facts About Water

Drinking water flushes toxins from your body.

10 Myths and Facts About Water

Fact. Though water doesnt necessarily neutralize toxins, the kidneys do use water to get rid of certain waste products. If you dont drink enough water, your kidneys dont have the amount of fluid they need to do their job properly. If the body does not have sufficient water, then metabolic wastes will not be removed as efficiently as they should, In essence, the body would be holding in toxins instead of expelling them, as is required for proper health.

10 Myths and Facts About Water

Bottled water can cause tooth decay.

10 Myths and Facts About Water

Myth. Bottled water in and of itself doesnt cause the teeth to decay, and it usually doesnt contain any fluoride, which is added to tap water to help prevent tooth decay. Fluoride is an important element in the mineralization of bone and teeth,

10 Myths and Facts About Water

Drinking water can help keep your skin moist.

10 Myths and Facts About Water

Myth. While it used to be believed that staying properly hydrated led to youthful, vibrant skin, the reality is that the amount of water you drink probably has very little to do with what your skin looks like. Unless the individual is severely dehydrated, drinking large quantities of water will not prevent dry skin. Basically, the moisture level of skin is not determined by internal factors. Instead, external factors such as skin cleansing, the environment, the number of oil glands, and the functioning of these oil-producing glands determine how dry the skin is or will become. The water that is consumed internally will not reach the epidermis

10 Myths and Facts About Water

Drinking water helps you lose weight.

10 Myths and Facts About Water

Fact. Drinking water wont specifically trigger weight loss, but it can aid in the process. Water replaces other calorie-laden beverages in the diet, causing you to reduce your overall number of calories. Plus, it can make you feel fuller, so you may eat less at each meal. Water, particularly cold water, may even play a role in increasing your metabolism. A new study seems to indicate that drinking water actually speeds up weight loss, Researchers in Germany found that subjects of the study increased their metabolic rates by 30 percent after drinking approximately 17 ounces of water.

10 Myths and Facts About Water

Yellow urine is a sign of dehydration.

10 Myths and Facts About Water

Myth. It can be, but not all yellow urine is cause for alarm. Dark yellow urine may be a sign of dehydration. The kidneys filter waste products and reabsorb water and other useful substances from the blood, so they control the volume and concentration of urine output. Dehydration leads to increased urine concentration, turning your urine dark yellow. Ideally your urine should be straw yellow in color. Other factors, though, such as taking a multivitamin, can also lead to yellow urine.

10 Myths and Facts About Water

If youre thirsty, you are already dehydrated.

10 Myths and Facts About Water

Myth. If you start to feel thirsty, then you are headed in the wrong direction and should grab a drink of water, but thirst doesnt necessarily mean youre dehydrated. Thirst begins when the concentration of [substances in the] blood has risen by less than 2 percent, whereas most experts would define dehydration as beginning when that concentration has risen by at least 5 percent.

10 Myths and Facts About Water

You need sports drinks, not water, to function at a high level in athletics.

10 Myths and Facts About Water

Myth. Sports drinks may have fancier advertising campaigns, but water is really all you need to get the fluid necessary to participate in most athletic endeavours. Adequate fluid, esp. water, is most important for athletes of all ages as it is the single most important way the body has to transport nutrients and energy and remove heat during exercise. A sports or vitamin beverage may taste better, but is not necessary for hydration and is expensive. Keep in mind though that people who run marathons or compete in highly strenuous activities may need to supplement their water intake with sports drinks to offset the salt they lose due to heavy sweating over long periods of time. This doesnt apply to most people who are simply exercising to get fit at the gym, for instance.

10 Myths and Facts About Water

Its possible to drink too much water.

10 Myths and Facts About Water

Fact. People with certain health conditions can put themselves at risk of complications if they drink too much water. People with some heart conditions, high blood pressure, or swelling of the lower legs [edema] need to avoid excess water. If you have a history of kidney problems, especially if you have had a transplant, consult your doctor before increasing your fluid intake.

10 Myths and Facts About Water

You should not reuse plastic water bottles.

10 Myths and Facts About Water

Fact. Plastic water bottles can present a couple of risks to people who drink their contents and then fill them up time and again. These bottles leach chemicals into your water after multiple uses. The bottle, if not properly cleaned, may also harbor bacteria from your mouth.

Water

Mostly (50 to 70%) water. Exactly how much water depends on how old you are and how much muscle and fat you have. Muscle tissue has more water than fat tissue. Because the average male body has proportionately more muscle than the average female body. You can live without food for weeks, getting subsistence levels of nutrients by digesting your own muscle and fat. But waters different. Without it, youll die in a matter of days more quickly in a place warm enough to make you perspire and lose water more quickly.

Water
SOURCES OF WATER
1.

Groundwater - may be defined as that portion

of the total precipitation which has percolated downward into the porous space in the soil and rock where it remains, or from which it finds its way out to the surface. Is far most the practical and safe in nature. It is the most important source of supply for most rural communities of the world. Examples of groundwater are wells and springs.

Water
Advantages of groundwater:
1.

2.

3. 4.

It is comparatively likely to be free from disease causing micro-organism It can be used without further treatment if properly protected and treated immediately after the completion of construction work on the well or other source where groundwater is available. It is most practical and economical to obtain and distribute. Groundwater can be found near a family or a community.

Water
Disadvantages of groundwater:
1.

2.

It may contain excess amounts of dissolved minerals. It is poor in oxygen content.

Water
SOURCES OF WATER
1.

Surface water - is found non-uniformly

distributed over the earths surface. As the rain reaches the surface of the earth, it becomes surface water or runoff. Surface water includes rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, etc. The quantity and quality of surface water depend upon the conditions of the surface or catchment area over which it flows.

Water
SOURCES OF WATER
1.

Rainwater - can be a good source of water

supply for individual families and for small communities. The storage of rainwater is particularly important in areas with a long dry season. It can be stored in cisterns or ponds. In some rural area, cistern water is used for all domestic and farm purpose, including drinking.

Water
Advantages of Rainwater:
1.

2.

3.

It is a reliable source even if it rains once or twice a year only. It is cheap and a safe means of water supply that may not need pipes or pumps and is available at the doorstep. Its storage needs no fuel, no spare parts, but only very little skill to construct and maintain. Since the cistern will be in a closed container, it will not permit spreading of diseases which are often found in an unprotected source such as rivers or ponds.

Water
Advantages of Rainwater:
1.

2.

It is a system that can be used even in arid and semi-arid areas. Since rainwater is soft, little soap is needed for laundry purposes.

Water
SOURCES OF WATER
1.

Ocean Water - is unfit for human consumption

even though it comprises the largest portion of water on the earth's surface. It is also too salty for irrigation and for domestic purposes. To make the ocean water fit for these purposes; it must pass through a process known as desalination (a process of removal of salt from water). However, it is too expensive to consider.

Water
Water-Associated Disease
Water-associated disease can be defined as a disease in relation to water supply and sanitation. There are four categories:
1. 2. 3. 4.

Waterborne disease Water-washed disease Water-based disease Water-related disease

Water
Waterborne disease:
Several infections enteric or intestinal diseases of man are transmitted through water contamination by fecal matter. Pathogens excreted in water by an infected person include all major categories such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa and parasitic warms. Water acts only as a passive vehicle for the infectious agent.

Water

Water
The cycle of infection due to waterborne diseases:

Water
Water-washed diseases:
These comprise diseases linked to a lack of water for personal hygiene.
1. 2. 3.

Dermatological disease such as scabies Ophthalmic disease such as trachoma and conjunctivitis Louse-borne diseases such as louse borne typhus and relapsing fever. Lack of good personal hygiene and unability to wash clothes encourages the proliferation of lice and the problems associated with their presence (itching, scratching, skin sores).

Water
Water-based diseases:
These are diseases caused by infectious agents that are spread by contact with water. The essential part of the life cycle of the infecting agent takes place from an aquatic animal. Typical examples is schistosomiasis.

Water
Water-related diseases:
These are diseases transmitted by insects that live close to water. Infections are spread by mosquitoes, flies and other insects that breed in water or near it. Example: Malaria, sleeping sickness, yellow fever, Onchocerciasis.

Water
Functions: Digest food, dissolving nutrients so that they can pass through the intestinal cell walls into your bloodstream, and move food along through your intestinal tract.

Carry waste products out of your body.

Provide a medium in which biochemical reactions such as metabolism (digesting food, producing energy, and building tissue) occur.

Water
Functions: Digest food, dissolving nutrients so that they can pass through the intestinal cell walls into your bloodstream, and move food along through your intestinal tract.

Carry waste products out of your body.

Provide a medium in which biochemical reactions such as metabolism (digesting food, producing energy, and building tissue) occur.

Water
Functions: Send electrical messages between cells so that your muscles can move, your eyes can see, your brain can think, and so on.

Regulate body temperature cooling your body with moisture (perspiration) that evaporates on your skin.

Lubricate your moving parts.

Water
Where do water goes?

Interstitial fluid (the fluid between cells) Blood plasma (the clear liquid in blood) Lymph (a clear, slightly yellow fluid collected from body tissues that flows through your lymph nodes and eventually into your blood vessels) Bodily secretions such as sweat, seminal fluid, and vaginal fluids and Urine

Water
A healthy body has just the right amount of fluid inside and outside each cell, a situation medical folk call fluid balance. Maintaining your fluid balance is essential to life. If too little water is inside a cell, it shrivels and dies. If theres too much water, the cell bursts.

Water
Your body maintains its fluid balance through the action of substances called electrolytes, which are mineral compounds that, when dissolved in water, become electrically charged particles called ions. Many minerals, including calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, form compounds that dissolve into charged particles. But nutritionists generally use the term electrolyte to describe sodium, potassium, and chlorine. The most familiar electrolyte is the one found on every dinner table: sodium chloride plain old table salt.

Water
Under normal circumstances, the fluid inside your cells has more potassium than sodium and chloride. The fluid outside is just the opposite: more sodium and chloride than potassium. The cell wall is a semipermeable membrane; some things pass through, but others dont. Water molecules and small mineral molecules flow through freely, unlike larger molecules such as proteins.

Water
The process by which sodium flows out and potassium flows in to keep things on an even keel is called the sodium pump. If this process were to cease, sodium ions would build up inside your cells. Sodium attracts water; the more sodium there is inside the cell, the more water flows in. Eventually, the cell would burst and die. The sodium pump, regular as a clock, prevents this imbalance from happening so you can move along, blissfully unaware of those efficient, electric ions.

Water

Hydration

Every cell, tissue and organ in your body needs water to function correctly. Keep the body temperature down, Aids the passage of food through the digestive system Serves as a transport mechanism in the body by carrying nutrients, waste products and internal secretions. Being properly hydrated can also help you lose weight.

Hydration

Poor hydration can lead to constipation, repeated urinary tract infections, and headaches and fatigue, which can be the result of toxins building up in our bodies. Poor hydration weakens the body's immune system and leads to chemical, nutritional and pH imbalances, which can eventually cause sickness and premature aging.

Tips for staying Hydrated

Keep a bottle of water with you during the day. Consider carrying a reusable water bottle and filling it from the tap rather than purchasing bottled water, which is expensive and creates plastic bottle waste. If plain water doesnt interest you, try adding a slice of lemon or lime to your drink. If youre going to be exercising, make sure you drink water before, during and after your workout. Start and end your day with a glass of water.

Tips for staying Hydrated

When youre feeling hungry, drink water. The sensation of thirst is often confused with hunger. True hunger will not be satisfied by drinking water. Drinking water may also contribute to a healthy weight loss plan, as some research suggests drinking water will help you feel full. Drink on a schedule if you have trouble remembering to drink water. Drink water when you go to a restaurant. Not only does it keep you hydrated, but its free!

Dehydration
Means your body does not have as much water and fluids as it should. Can be mild, moderate, or severe based on how much of the body's fluid is lost or not replenished. When it is severe, dehydration is a life-threatening emergency.

Most occurrences of dehydration can be easily reversed by increasing fluid intake, but severe cases of dehydration require immediate medical attention.

Dehydration
What Causes?
The immediate causes of dehydration include not enough water, too much water loss, or some combination of the two. Sometimes it is not possible to consume enough fluids because we are too busy, lack the facilities or strength to drink, or are in an area without potable water (while hiking or camping, for example).

Dehydration
What Causes?

Diarrhea - the most common cause of dehydration and related deaths. The large intestine absorbs water from food matter, and diarrhea prevents this function, leading to dehydration.

Vomiting - leads to a loss of fluids and makes it difficult to replace water by drinking it.

Dehydration
What Causes?

Sweating - the body's cooling mechanism releases a significant amount of water. Hot and humid weather and vigorous physical activity can further increase fluid loss from sweating. Fever - In general, the higher your fever, the more dehydrated you become. If you have a fever in addition to diarrhea and vomiting, you lose even more fluids.

Dehydration
What Causes?

Frequent urination - This is most often the result

of undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes, a disease that affects the way your body uses blood sugar and that often causes increased thirst and more frequent urination. Diabetes Insipidus, is also characterized by excessive thirst and urination, but in this case the cause is a hormonal disorder that makes your kidneys unable to conserve water. Certain medications diuretics, antihistamines, blood pressure medications and some psychiatric drugs as well as alcohol can also lead to dehydration, generally because they cause you to urinate or perspire more than normal.

Dehydration
What Causes?

Burns - doctors classify burns according to the depth of the injury and the extent of tissue damage. Third-degree burns are the most severe, penetrating all three layers of skin, and often destroying sweat glands, hair follicles and nerve endings. People with third-degree burns or extensive first- or second-degree burns experience profound fluid loss, and the resulting dehydration can be life-threatening.

Dehydration
What Causes?

Athletes - especially those in endurance events such as marathons, triathlons, and cycling tournaments.

Dehydration
Who is at risk of dehydration?

People in higher altitudes - Higher altitude means lower air pressure. This results in more rapid evaporation of moisture from skin surface, and from your lungs. Most high altitude areas are also very low in humidity, which means evaporation is further accelerated. The combination of those two factors means that the higher up you are, the more water you need to keep your body functioning.

Dehydration
Who is at risk of dehydration?

People with chronic illnesses - having uncontrolled or untreated diabetes puts you at high risk of dehydration. But other chronic illnesses also make you more likely to become dehydrated. These include kidney disease, cystic fibrosis, alcoholism and adrenal gland disorders. Even having a cold or sore throat makes you more susceptible to dehydration because you're less likely to feel like eating or drinking when you're sick.

Dehydration
Who is at risk of dehydration?

Infants, and children - Infants and children are especially vulnerable because of their relatively small body weights, low sweating capacity, and high turnover of water and electrolytes. They're also the group most likely to experience diarrhea. Older adults - As you age, you become more susceptible to dehydration for several reasons: Your body's ability to conserve water is reduced, your thirst sense becomes less acute and you're less able to respond to changes in temperature.

Dehydration
Who is at risk of dehydration?

Endurance Athletes - Anyone who exercises can

become dehydrated, especially in hot, humid conditions or at high altitudes. That's because the longer you exercise, the more difficult it is to stay hydrated. During exercise, your body can absorb about 24 to 32 ounces of water an hour, but you may lose twice that amount in hot weather. With every hour, your fluid debt increases. Dehydration is also cumulative over a period of days, which means you can become dehydrated with even a moderate exercise routine if you don't drink enough to replace what you lose on a daily basis.

Dehydration
Symptoms:

First sign is thirst, that unpleasant dryness in your mouth caused by the loss of water from cells in your gums, tongue, and cheeks The second sign is reduced urination No tears when crying Lethargy or coma (with severe dehydration) Sunken eyes and Sunken fontanelles (the soft spot on the top of the head) in an infant

Dehydration
How is dehydration diagnosed?
A

physician will use both physical and mental exams to diagnose dehydration. A patient presenting symptoms such as disorientation, low blood pressure, rapid heart beat, fever, lack of sweat, and inelastic skin will usually be considered dehydrated.

Dehydration

Prevention:
Even

when you are healthy, drink plenty of fluids every day. Drink more when the weather is hot or you are exercising. encourage a person who is sick to drink fluids. (fever, vomiting, or diarrhea)

Always

Dehydration
Treatment:

Correction of a dehydrated state is accomplished by the replenishment of necessary water and electrolytes (rehydration). Even in the case of serious lack of fresh water (e.g. at sea or in a desert), drinking seawater or urine does not help, nor does the consumption of alcohol. The sudden influx of salt into the body from seawater will cause the cells to dehydrate and the kidneys to overload and shut down.

Dehydration
Treatment:

When dehydrated, unnecessary sweating should be avoided, as it wastes water. If there is only dry food, it is better not to eat, as water is necessary for digestion. The best treatment for minor dehydration is consumption of an electrolyte-balanced fluid like a sports drink. For severe cases in patient which is incapable of standing or thinking clearly emergency attention is required. Fluids will be given through an IV, and within a few hours, the patient will return to normal unless a complication occurs.

Dehydration
Food To Eat When dehydrated:

POPSICLES - are high in water content.

According to Discovery Health website, popsicles are a way to help kids remain hydrated. When rehydrating with popsicles, look for ones that are lower in sugar or are made with some amount of real fruit. This will help avoid adding unnecessary calories to a person's diet.

Dehydration
Food To Eat When dehydrated:

FRUITS - according to BreastCancer.org, some fruits

are made up of 90% water and eating these fruits can help overcome dehydration. While all fruits contain high amounts of water, some contain more than others. Fruits that contain high amounts of water include watermelon, grapefruit, cantaloupe, berries and bananas. Discovery Health says that bananas are especially beneficial when a person is experiencing dehydration, because in addition to their high water content, they also provide a significant amount of potassium. Potassium is one electrolyte that is lost when a person becomes dehydrated.

Dehydration
Food To Eat When dehydrated:

SOUP - The high liquid content of some soups can

help a person rehydrated. FamilyDoctor.org recommends consuming soups with a high broth content to help overcome dehydration. Soups tend to contain higher salt contents, and consuming this salt will help replenish the body with salt that was lost during dehydration.

Dehydration
Food To Eat When dehydrated:

VEGGIES - Similar to fruit, vegetables can provide a

person with a substantial amount of water because they are made up of a significant amount of water. BreastCancer.org suggests eating the following vegetables to help overcome dehydration: broccoli, celery, cucumbers, lettuce, sweet peppers, spinach, zucchini, tomatoes, radishes, cabbage or cauliflower. Using vegetables as a way to rehydrate will not only help increase a person's water content, but vegetables also are an important addition to an overall healthy diet. People should be consuming vegetables in abundance at least four servings a day.

Dehydration
Food To Eat When dehydrated:

YOGURT - When a person becomes dehydrated, she

loses electrolytes in addition to the overall water that is lost. Therefore, when eating to overcome dehydration, yogurt is a helpful food choice. Discover Health says that yogurt contains substantial amounts of potassium and sodium, which will help replace the electrolytes that have been lost.

Water

You need @ least 2 quarts or 64 ounces a day. Makes up two-thirds of your body Keeps levels of other nutrients in balance Regulates body temperature Transports water soluble vitamins Allows for the passage of gases, nutrients, and wastes (dark urine means you need to increase your water intake) A state of dehydration may occur if you lose more water than you take in. (dehydration may occur as a result of
heavy physical activity, vomiting, diarrhea, or fever)