Water

[1st Semester Nutrition | UNIT 5 BHM116 | IHM Notes]

An important nutrient 75 to 80 percent of our total body is water.

The total body fluid is distributed among two major components

• Extracellular fluid: contain sodium

• Intercellular fluid: contain potassium

Hydrogen & Oxygen in the ratio 2:1 form water

Sources: Visible & Invisible water.

• Visible water that we can see are- plain water, fruit juices, tea, milk, coffee, etc

• Invisible water that is inside the food s & metabolic water.

• Water quenched our thirst and is the most refreshing & cooling of all liquids.

• It is a structural component of all cells.

• Water is a medium in which all chemical reaction takes place.

• It is an essential component of all body fluid such as blood, cerebrospinal fluid, bile, digestive fluid, urine.

• It acts as a lubricant & helps us in swallowing food or to digest food.

• It acts as a solvent for the products of digestion & helps in transporting this product in different parts of the body.

• It regulates body temperature.

• It helps to throw the waste product from the body.

In a normal individual, the maintenance of water balance is archived by adjusting both water intake & excretion as needed.

The major inputs of water are:

• Fluids that we consume as beverages, including water depending on climatic conditions & habits.

• Different types of foods & fruits that we take in solid form.

• Metabolic water.

Output or loss of water from the body:

• Renal loss: Kidneys excrete about 1-2 litre of water daily

• Skin: The water loss from the skin is through perspiration.

• Intestine: A small quantity of water is normally losses in faeces.

• Lungs: The air expired from the lungs also contains water.

• Sweat: It depends on physical activity & environmental conditions.

It is defined as an excessive loss of body water. It may occur because of inadequate intake of, or abnormal loss of body water or a combination of both.

The symptoms of dehydration are:

• Thirst

• Loss of appetite

• Decreased urination

• Nausea

• Impaired temperature regulation

• Muscular spasms

• Increased pulse rate

Symptoms of severe dehydration appear when Fluid level falls by more than 10%. A 20% loss of fluid from the body can be fatal.

A dehydrated person is usually managed by Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT). The WHO recommended ORS (Oral Rehydration Salt) that are to be dissolved in 1 litre of water & make an Oral Rehydration Solution & have to be finished within 24 hours. He also can take HAF. (Home Available Fluid)

Normally we prepared in home 1 glass of water + 2 spoon sugar + a pinch of salt + few drops of lime juice (lime juice contained potassium & salt contain sodium which helps to maintain the equilibriums among intracellular & extracellular fluid.)

ORS (WHO) for 1 litre

A minimum of +8 glass of water is recommended daily.

Excess of water causes oedema. (Swelling of the skin)