water and electrolytes

• Water is an essential nutrient, more important to life than any other
• The body needs more water each day than any other nutrient
• Water, calcium, and all the other major minerals support fluid balance and bone health
• Water of the body fluids is the "transport vehicle" for all the nutrients and wastes
• It brings to each cell the exact ingredients the cell requires and carries away the end products of its life-sustaining reactions
• Water is involved in just about everything our body does
• Without water, cells quickly die and humans would also die
• We are very dependent on water in order to survive
• Water constitutes about 60 percent of an adult's body weight
• Water is an indispensable nutrient because it carries nutrients throughout the body, serves as the solvent for minerals, vitamins, amino acids, glucose, and other small molecules, cleanses the tissues and blood of wastes, actively participates in many chemical reactions, acts as a lubricant around joints, serves as a shock absorber inside the eyes, spinal cord, joints, and amniotic sac surrounding a fetus in the womb, and aids in maintaining the body's temperature
• Water balance is the balance between water intakes and water losses
• Thirst is the number one reason for water intake
• When water intake is inadequate, the blood becomes concentrated, the mouth becomes dry, and the hypothalamus initiates drinking behavior
• When water intake is excessive, the stomach expands and stretch receptors send signals to stop drinking
• Health experts commonly recommend eight 8 glasses of water per day
• The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine recommends that men drink about 3.7 liters (about 125 ounces) a day and women drink 2.7 liters (about 91 ounces) a day
• The body must excrete a minimum of about 500 milliliters (about 2 cups) of water each day as urine
• The obvious dietary sources of water are water itself and other beverages, but nearly all foods also contain water
• Most fruits and vegetables contain up to 90 percent water, and many meats and cheeses contain at least 50 percent water
• In addition to meeting the body's fluid needs, drinking plenty of water may protect against urinary stones and constipation
• Soft water may dissolve certain contaminant minerals, such as cadmium and lead, from old plumbing pipes
• Dehydration is the condition in which body water output exceeds water input
• Symptoms of dehydration include thirst, dry skin, mucous membranes, rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure, and weakness
• Persistent bad breath, also known as halitosis, is caused by lack of water that inhibits saliva production and causes bacteria to build up on the tongue, teeth, and gums
• Symptoms of persistent bad breath include an unpleasant odor when people talk
• Water intoxication is a condition wherein an individual suffers from a drop of sodium levels in their blood
• Symptoms of water intoxication include confusion, seizures, headache, vomiting, swelling of feet and hands, and even death in extreme cases
• Hypernatremia is rare and occurs when a person doesn't get enough water, causing confusion, neuromuscular excitability, hyperreflexia, seizures, and coma
• Electrolytes are minerals in the body that have an electric charge and produce ions when dissolved in a solvent
• Electrolytes are found in blood, urine, tissues, and other body fluids
• The levels of electrolytes in the body can become too low or too high, affecting fluid and electrolyte balance
• Maintaining balance is crucial, with 2/3 of body fluids inside the cells and 1/3 outside
• Sodium chloride is one of the most important electrolytes in the blood
• Phosphorus, magnesium, and sulfur are essential for proper muscle, nerve, and enzyme function
• When a mineral salt dissolves in water, it separates into ions - positively and negatively charged particles
• Salts that dissociate into ions are called electrolytes, and fluids that contain them are electrolyte solutions
• All electrolytes are found both inside and outside the cells, with each mostly on one side or the other of the cell membrane
• Hypocalcemia, also known as calcium deficiency disease, can lead to tooth decay, brittle teeth, irritated gums, weak tooth roots, and dental problems
• Symptoms of hypocalcemia include muscle aches, lack of energy, dry skin, severe PMS, and dental problems
• Fluorosis is a chronic condition caused by excessive intake of fluorine compounds, leading to stains on teeth and surface irregularities