General Functions of Water: Water is the most important nutrient; made of oxygen and hydrogen. After air, water is the most important factor to human life. Accounting for approximately 60% of your body weight, humans can exist for several weeks without food, but only a few days without water.

Get into your kitchen groups and come up with a list of things Water does in your body! Challenge Accepted!!!!

Water makes up the majority of the fluids in and around cells and other structures. Water’s most important functions include: Hydration: the maintenance of optimal levels of water for health. Transportation: used in the transportation of bodily fluids (i.e. blood plasma). Temperature regulation: water is used to lower body temperature (i.e. secretion of sweat). Lubrication: water is the primary component of saliva, making it possible to swallow dry foods. Solvent: known as the “universal solvent”, water is used by the body to dissolve solutes in the blood. In relation to weight loss: Water can prevent overeating when consumed before a meal (Davy 2008). Dehydration can trigger hunger, resulting in overeating.

Calculating the amount of Water you need in a day! You need approximately 30 ml of water per kilogram of bodyweight per day. This would be approximately 2.3 litres of water for a 77 kg (170 lb) person. 1 Kg =.45 lbs Calculate how much water you need for one day!

Ways to obtain water: Plain water is the form that most people should consume the majority of their water. Water within other beverages is much less desirable and should be minimized compared to plain water. Non-nutritious: Soda, alcohol, etc. should be reduced or eliminated. Semi-nutritious: Tea, coffee, fresh squeezed juices, etc., are acceptable in small quantities (1-2 servings per day)

Food Serving % Water Weight Lettuce 125 ml 95% Watermelon 125 ml 92% Broccoli 125 ml 91% Grapefruit 125 ml 91% Milk 125 ml 89% Orange juice 175 ml 88% Carrot 125 ml 87% Apple 1 medium 84% Cottage cheese 125 ml 79% Fruit juice 90 gm 78% Yogurt 250 ml 75% Baked potato 1 medium71% Canned tuna 90 grams 70% Cooked rice 250 ml 69% Cooked pasta 250 ml 66% Roasted chicken 90 grams65% Food containing water is the second largest way that you should be obtaining the correct amount of water.

How important is water?

What’s the deal with bottled water? know-about-your-bottled-water-pt-1 know-about-your-bottled-water-pt-1 Test Question: Is bottle water better than tap water? (5 marks)

Remember our digestion diagram? Where is water used?

The Scoop on Poop The useable nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream from the small intestine. The leftover material continues on to the large intestine, where fecal matter (feces, or “poop”) is created. The large intestine absorbs water and some electrolytes from the leftover material, and that water is returned to the body to prevent dehydration. If too much water is absorbed, constipation occurs; if too little water is absorbed, diarrhea occurs. Once the feces are created, they pass to the colon, where they are stored. When the colon is full, a signal is sent to your brain telling you that you need to relax your anal sphincter and release the feces.

8 Ways to improve your digestive health: While watching the slide show from Dr. Oz, make notes of the 8 suggestions and some tips. your-digestive-health your-digestive-health