Importance of water in our life

Water Roll of in Nutrition

Water is a clear, colorless, tasteless and nearly odorless liquid which is essential for plant and animal life. Our body is mostly 50-70 percent water. Water is our body’s most important nutrient. Water is the nutrient the body needs in the greatest amount. Water itself supplies no calories; however, it is fundamental to all life on Earth.

Functions of Water

Ø  Water is involved in almost every bodily function. Every cell in our body needs water to carry out a variety of essential functions. Essential for nearly all physiological, water lubricants and cushions organs, transport nutrients, flushes toxins from the body, and participants in many normal chemical reactions.

Ø  Water is used in the digestion and absorption of our food; it also helps our stools soft to minimize constipations. Our body’s internal temperature regulation depends upon water. As we perspire, heat is lost during the evaporation process to keep us cool. Water is many complex processes inside our bodies that keep our water levels balanced.

Ø  Water is the major component of our body. It makes up approximately 60 percent of the total weight of an adult and almost 75 per cent in the ease of the infant.

Ø  Water plays an important role in the regulation of body temperature. Under normal circumstances our body temperature is maintained at 98.4^o F or 37⁰ C. We know that heat is produced in the body by the burning of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Water helps to distribute this heat throughout the body. Some amount of water is lost from the body by evaporation and cools it down. This is because the water uses the body heat to evaporate.

Our body needs each day needs (RDA)

Ø  850-1200 milliliters is lost in breath and perspiration.

Ø  600-1600 milliliters is lost in urine.

Ø  50-200 milliliters is lost in feces.

Lack of deficiency of Water causes for all deices invitation. Our thirst mechanism usually signals us when we need water. If we do not drink enough water, we can become dehydrated and our kidneys and other cell will not function properly.

Food Sources of Water

Foods                                                           Water Content (100 g. of edible portion)

Spinach                                                                                    92.10

Pumpkin                                                                                   92.60

Peas                                                                                         72.10

Apple                                                                                       84.60

Milk                                                                                          87.50

Wheat                                                                                       12.80

Rice (Raw, Milled)                                                                      13.70

Bengal gram                                                                             09.80

 

Deficiency and Disease of Water

Dehydration:

Water is the largest component of the body, accounting for more than half of body weight. To replace fluid losses, adults generally need to consume 2 to 4 liters of fluid daily in cool climates, depending on degree of activity, and from 8 to 16 liters a day in very hot climates. Dehydration may develop if water consumption fails to satisfy thirst; if the thirst mechanism is not functioning properly, as during intense physical exercise; or if there is excessive fluid loss, as with diarrhea or vomiting. By the time thirst is apparent.