IMPORTANCE OF WATER TO HUMAN

BEINGS

Figure 11.1

The Composition of the Body

© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Figure 11.5

Water Balance between Fluid Compartments Body fluid is located

• Intracellular • Extracellular

© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Figure 11.2

Why Is Water So Important?

• Excellent solvent in the body

• Essential in maintaining acid-base balance

Functions of Water in the Functions of Water in the BodyBody

• Water lubricates Water lubricates joints and lets you joints and lets you move freelymove freely

• Water maintains Water maintains elasticity and easy elasticity and easy movement for movement for connective tissue connective tissue of jointsof joints

• Water relives Water relives arthritic painarthritic pain

Figure 11.3

Water Helps Regulate Body Temperature

Your digestive system and Your digestive system and waterwater

• Food needs water Food needs water to properly digestto properly digest

• Hydration can Hydration can reduce: heartburn, reduce: heartburn, acid stomach, gas, acid stomach, gas, and constipationand constipation

• Dehydration can Dehydration can cause: weight gain, cause: weight gain, poor muscle tone, poor muscle tone, water retentionwater retention

Figure 11.6

Osmosis

Your brain and waterYour brain and water• Brain 90% waterBrain 90% water• When body is well When body is well

hydrated one will hydrated one will notice an increase notice an increase clarity in thinkingclarity in thinking

• Less water decreases Less water decreases energy generation in energy generation in the brainthe brain

• Dehydration can result Dehydration can result in headaches, in headaches, depression, memory depression, memory loss, chronic fatigue loss, chronic fatigue syndromessyndromes

Figure 11.9

DISADVANTAGES OF HYDRATION:• A mere 2% drop in our body's water supply can

trigger signs of dehydration.• When the body gets too little water, it siphons

what it needs from within, particularly from the colon. This leads to constipation

• The symptoms of dehydration can include: - Headaches & feeling light headed, - Fatigue- Hunger & cravings  - Fluid retention

Conclusion Water is a means of transporting nutrients and

wastes, a physical cushion, a lubricant. When exhaled or perspired, water removes

excess heat energy from the body. Within the cell, it is the solvent in which all

chemical interactions occur. Adequate hydration is important for normal

health and for increased activity.