Life on the planet Essay

piddle supply is a vital element for the survival of liveliness on the pla net profit. In human beings, pee comprises fifty to seventy part of an adults soundbox weight. In humans the abstinence from urine results in death in a few days. Water is woolly-headed from the human proboscis loses receivable to urination, sweating and cellular respiration. The clays pissing content has to be maintained by regular intake of wet and people who fail to consume sufficient body of water become dehydrated. They climb headaches, tiredness and detriment of concentration. Persistent dehydration results in serious wellness problems such(prenominal) as constipation and gall bladder stones (Hicks, 2005).The human consistence gets water from water in the pure form and beverages, solid foods such as products and vegetables and through the chemical processes in the carcass. According to the British dietetic Association, an average adult must consume at least dickens and half liters of water per day. Of this, nearly two liters should be through beverages. During summertime the intake of water has to be change magnitude. Physical activities also require the role of more(prenominal) water. It is the major ingredient of all juices and carbonated drinks contain cardinal five percent, diluted squashes eighty six percent and growth juices 90 percent water.However, drinking plain water is the most effective intend of compensating for depleted carcass fluids (Hicks, 2005). Water is the chief element of human clay and its essential nutrient. In particular, a human being can get without food for a considerable period of time but cannot brook for more than a week without water. Water is essential for breathing as it bedews oxygen and supplies it to every cell in the body. Water makes the skin more shiny and supple. It controls the body temperature and discards toxins and different waste material from the body.It distributes essential nutrients throughout th e body and helps in removing waste materials from the kidneys and the large intestine. The digestive mechanism is intensify by water and it is essential for the development and maintenance of good ponderousness tone. It protects and cushions vital organs and acts like a lubricant for the joints by contribute to the special fluids which protect swot from friction and erosion. Water increases the activity of the mentality and improves mental quickness in reflex responses (Dr. Susan Kleiner Ph. D. ). Water is a vital nutrient which contributes to every responsibility of the body.It acts as a vehicle in transporting essential nutrients to the cells and waste material out of them. Water is necessary for the functions of digestion, absorption, circulation and emptying and for the absorption of water soluble vitamins. It is essential for regulating the body temperature (Functions of Water in the Human Body). The water in saliva allows foods to slide swimmingly down the esophagus an d the watery fluids dissolve enzymes, hormones and coenzymes. Water acts as a solvent for waste materials like urea, carbon dioxide and other electrolytes in the body.It plays a major role in Hydrolysis in which water molecules divide into atomic number 1 H+ and hydroxyl OH- ions. This chemical process forms the basis for the reaction of substances in the human body. For instance, sucrose is hydrolyzed into fructose and glucose. Moreover, water serves as a gun in intercellular reactions and maintains the electrolyte parallelism in the body (Water in the Body). light water results in dehydration, formation of kidney stones and particularly in women, urinary brochure infections. Its scarcity affects physical and mental performance and the function of the salivary glands. desiccation causes kidney function infirmitys, harmful changes in hormonal levels, chronic illness and throttle mobility (Dehydration). Electrolytes be obtained from food and atomic number 18 absorbed in the i ntestines. The kidneys maintain the infallible electrolyte levels in the body. These electrolyte levels are affected by complaints and dehydration. Potassium, the chief cation in the intracellular fluid, plays an important role in activating enzymes and processing and retaining carbohydrates. It acts as specialty for transmitting kindling impulses to the heart and skeletal muscles.Its deficiency leads to major health problems. Its depletion is caused by the use of diuretics like thiazides that are used in the interposition of hypertension and heart ailments, excessive perspiration, repeated enemas, trauma, diabetes, diseases of the intestinal tract and disease of the kidney due to the use of tetracycline and excessive intake of licorice. The loss of grand causes weak pulse, faint heart sounds, low blood pressure and fatigue. way out of large amounts of potassium results in death (Hecht, 1986). Magnesium is another electrolyte that is generate in the intracellular fluid.It helps in muscle contraction, nerve transmission and acts as catalyst for enzymes. Deficiency of magnesium results from an improper diet, looseness, steatorrhea, alcoholism, diabetes, pancreatitis, damage of kidneys and diuretics. Functional dis coordinate of kidneys raises the magnesium levels of the body and persons with kidney ailments have to avoid laxatives and antacids, which contain magnesium. This is due to the fact that excessive levels of magnesium lead to depressed reflexes, paralysis of muscles and decreased respiration (Hecht, 1986).Sodium is another important cation in the extracellular fluids, whose main function is to maintain the bodys fluid balances. Low sodium body levels result from dehydration, sweating, the use of diuretics and diarrhea, which result in muscular weakness, anxiety and convulsions. shortsighted water intake and malfunction of the kidneys increases the sodium concentration. Depletion of sodium levels in the body result in dry mucous membranes, fl ushed skin, rise in body temperature, dry eyes and un sated thirst (Hecht, 1986). Chloride is the major anion of the extracellular fluid.It is important for muscle contraction, balancing the fluid levels in the cells and maintaining the acid base balance of extracellular fluid. In order to prevent the accumulation of bicarbonate, there should be a sufficient supply of chloride ions (Hecht, 1986). Calcium is present in the extracellular fluid and is important for nerve impulse transmission, contraction of muscles and the clotting of blood. It generally exists in the body in the non change state in the bones and the teeth. Pancreatitis, chronic kidney disorders and the surgical removal of the parathyroid tissue decrease the ionized calcium levels.Insufficient calcium levels cause abdominal and muscle cramps, shudder of the finger tips, numbness and overactive reflexes. Excessive calcium levels in the body cause a significant loss of appetite, nausea, weight loss, kidney stones an d body song (Hecht, 1986). Alcohol induces water loss by suppressing the production of the anti diuretic hormone vasopressin, which works on kidneys to concentrate urine by increase the reabsorption of water and electrolytes into the body. Suppression of this hormone results in the increased loss of body fluid through urination leading to dehydration.Alcohol bring forth loss of water also results in the loss of magnesium, potassium, calcium and zinc, which are essential for maintaining the fluid balance of the body and muscular activity. Researchers in the UK examine the effect of alcohol on hydration and electrolyte balance after exercise bring on dehydration. They found that the volume of urine produced in the consequent six hours of rehydration had increased on par with the intake of alcohol. However, the rate of increase of the blood plasm during rehydration was considerably slower (Hamilton).Coffee and tea are rich in caffeine or trimethyl xanthine. caffeine stimulates t he central nervous system. It blocks the binding of adenosine with the nerve cells, which enhances nerve activity and leads to the release of epinephrine. It also increases the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine. The ergogenic properties of caffeine produce lesser muscle activity by reducing glycogen thereby allowing more calcium into muscle cells, which would enhance the power of muscle activity. caffein is a diuretic and in higher doses results in heavy water loss through urination.It also increases the blood flow to the kidneys and reduces the reabsorption of sodium by the body (Hamilton). Dehydration is prevented by drinking eight specs of water per day and abstaining from caffeinated drinks and alcoholic beverages. The common cause of dehydration is due to the loss of fluids from body as a result of gastrointestinal ailments, diarrhea and vomiting. In order to compensate for the lost fluids large amounts of water and fruit juices have to be consumed. Wearing loose fitt ing clothes keeps the body cool and prevents sweating.Those who participate in sports, have to drink water and fruit juices at regular intervals. Moreover, people should avoid the consumption of coffee, tea and other caffeinated beverages, because they act like diuretics (Gavin, 2006). In the absence of adequate hydration, true health remains a chimera. The minimum daily intake of water has been stated to be half as many ounces as there are pounds in ones body weight. The reason for this is that in order to function properly and optimally, every organ in the body requires water to a major extent. A human beings body consists mostly of water and in its absence life is not possible.ReferencesDehydration. (n. d. ). Retrieved June 30, 2007, from http//www. betterhealth. vic. gov. au/bhcv2/bhcarticles. nsf/pages/Water_a_vital_nutrient? open Dr. Susan Kleiner Ph. D. , R. (n. d. ). Health & Hydration . Retrieved June 30, 2007, from http//www. calistogawater. com/health/ Functions of Water in the Human Body. (n. d. ). Retrieved June 30, 2007, from http//www. resultsproject. net/water_functions. html Gavin, M. L. (2006, January). Dehydration. Retrieved June 30, 2007, from http//www. kidshealth. org/teen/safety/first_aid/dehydration. html Hamilton, A. (n. d. ).Caffeine dehydration Caffeine and alcohol just how dehydrating are they? Retrieved June 30, 2007, from http//www. pponline. co. uk/encyc/caffeine-dehydration. htm Hecht, A. (1986, January 1). ELECTROLYTES. Retrieved June 30, 2007, from Electrolytes the charge in the bodys power system. http//www. encyclopedia. com/doc/1G1-4293240. html Hicks, R. (2005, September). Why do we need water? Retrieved June 30, 2007, from bbc. co. uk http//www. bbc. co. uk/health/healthy_living/nutrition/drinks_water. shtml Water in the Body. (n. d. ). Retrieved June 30, 2007, from http//www. dehlgroup. com/wbody. html