Dehydration

Assignment: Dehydration

Lisa A. Caughell

September 10, 2011

The Science of Nutrition

Andrew Pasquenilli

University of Phoenix/Axia

Water is a colorless, tasteless, odorless liquid compound made up of oxygen and hydrogen. The body must have it to survive. It is absolutely necessary. Dehydration is the excessive loss of water that occurs when the amount of water exiting the body is more than the amount taken in. (Grosvenor & Smolin, 2006).

Water provides the body with many functions. It is also one of the best cures for whatever is ailing a person. Unfortunately, water id free so the big pharmaceutical companies encourage doctors and hospitals to use their prescription drugs and most people just forget about water.

Water helps regulate the body’s temperature. Water holds heat and the temperature changes slowly so that keeps the body temperature level. The water in blood helps to regulate the body temperature by either increasing or decreasing the amount of heat loss the body’s surface goes through. When a person sweats it is cooling the body. The brain triggers the sweat glands and tells them to produce sweat. As the sweat evaporates off the skin heat is lost and the body starts cooling down. (Grosvenor & Smolin, 2006).

Water is also the perfect diet food. It helps reduce hunger; it lowers the sodium build-up, and helps to maintain good muscle tone. Water helps the body metabolize the fatty deposits that are stored and it is also responsible for the elimination of wastes and toxins. If you do not give your body enough water it will store the water it has leading to a bloated feeling. Eating foods with high water content will also aid in the elimination of toxins from your body. (Kreufter, 2011).

Water also serves as the body’s lubricant. It is essential in digestion. It is the water that makes up the saliva that is used to make the swallowing of food easier. The water in the other fluids keeps the digestion...