Dehydration
Student:
Axia Collage of University of Phoenix
Instructor:
Course: SCI 241-The Science of Nutrition
Date:
In the human body, water makes up more than half of the weight. Therefore, a person must drink plenty of water to keep the body hydrated. If a person feels nauseated, light-headed, or dizzy, it is probably because the body is dehydrated. Dehydration is not having enough water in the body, which causes the body to react to not having enough nutrients in the body. Water is essential to sustaining life.
Health Maintenance
Water is essential for maintaining a healthy body but most people take it for granted because it is so easily attainable. A person can survive up to two months without water, but can only survive a few days without water. The body is a complex structure made up of different systems and every one of them must have water in order to function properly. Water in the bloodstream helps to carry the necessary nutrients and oxygen through the body in and out of cells (Grosvenor and Smolin, 2006).
Functions of Water
In order for the body to function properly, it must stay hydrated. The body loses about 2-3 quarts of water through sweating, urinating, and breathing in a day. Water aids in keeping the body temperature where it should be, 98 degrees and by keeping it cool when sweating. Water acts as a solvent to dissolve many substances in cells. Water also plays a role in flushes out toxins in the body when urinating. Saliva and mucous lubricate the lining of the digestive system so it can function in a proper manner. The mucous membranes located in the nose and eyes are able to function better if they are well hydrated by water. It is important to make sure that water is being replenished in the body by drinking eight to ten glasses of water a day (Grosvenor and Smolin, 2006).
Not Enough Water
If the body does not get enough water that it needs, it will become dehydrated and could cause many complications....