Nutrition - Water
Use your mouse to roll over the parts of the faucet & sink to learn more about water.
Where do we get clean water?
In the U.S., we are lucky to have clean water readily available. Just turn on a faucet to get surface or ground water from a public water supply that has been cleaned by several different processes to remove harmful pollutants. The Environmental Protection Agency regulates drinking water both from your taps and in bottles to make sure that the water is safe for us to drink. In some places where water has been contaminated with bacteria, people must boil their water before drinking or cooking with it. In other cases where water has high levels of lead or nitrates, boiling the water concentrates those dangerous toxins to lethal levels, especially for infants, the elderly, and the infirm. Water in public systems starts as ground or surface water and travels to a treatment facility where contaminants are removed. Then chlorine is added and the water is stored in a closed tank until it is pumped through pipes into your house.
In the U.S., we are lucky to have clean water readily available. Just turn on a faucet to get surface or ground water from a public water supply that has been cleaned by several different processes to remove harmful pollutants. The Environmental Protection Agency regulates drinking water both from your taps and in bottles to make sure that the water is safe for us to drink. In some places where water has been contaminated with bacteria, people must boil their water before drinking or cooking with it. In other cases where water has high levels of lead or nitrates, boiling the water concentrates those dangerous toxins to lethal levels, especially for infants, the elderly, and the infirm. Water in public systems starts as ground or surface water and travels to a treatment facility where contaminants are removed. Then chlorine is added and the water is stored in a closed tank until it is pumped through pipes into your house.
Water Facts: Water covers three-fourths of the Earth’s surface but only 1% of that is useful since 97% is salt water and 2% is frozen in polar ice caps and glaciers. Americans use about 50 gallons of water for washing, cooking, drinking, and general upkeep each day. Humans can survive for up to a month with no food, but would die without water after just a few days. Your body uses about 10 cups of water to function each day. The foods we eat replace about 4 cups of that so to keep your body hydrated, you should take in at least 6 cups of water to replenish fluids in order to keep your body working correctly.
• Mild dehydration causes dry mouth, fatigue, headaches, muscle cramps, decreased urination, irritability, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Even a small amount of dehydration can cause memory problems, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on computer screens or paper.
• Symptoms of moderate dehydration include nausea, vomiting, chills, vision problems, disorientation, heat exhaustion, and excessive sweating. Prolonged dehydration is even more serious for an infant who could experience a sunken soft spot or eye sockets.
• Severe dehydration can cause heat stoke, loss of consciousness, a dramatic increase in body temperature, seizures, difficulty breathing, hallucinations, coma and even death.
• Drinking contaminated water can be very dangerous as well. Effects of drinking impure water include nausea, vomiting, skin rashes, dizziness, and prolonged use can cause cancer, birth defects organ damage, damage to the immune and nervous systems, or even death. Many deaths in underdeveloped countries are caused by the lack of clean drinking water.
• Symptoms of moderate dehydration include nausea, vomiting, chills, vision problems, disorientation, heat exhaustion, and excessive sweating. Prolonged dehydration is even more serious for an infant who could experience a sunken soft spot or eye sockets.
• Severe dehydration can cause heat stoke, loss of consciousness, a dramatic increase in body temperature, seizures, difficulty breathing, hallucinations, coma and even death.
• Drinking contaminated water can be very dangerous as well. Effects of drinking impure water include nausea, vomiting, skin rashes, dizziness, and prolonged use can cause cancer, birth defects organ damage, damage to the immune and nervous systems, or even death. Many deaths in underdeveloped countries are caused by the lack of clean drinking water.
• Our bodies are 65% water. That supply needs to be replenished often to maintain a constant state of homeostasis.
• Drinking water maintains a stable body temperature through perspiration.
• Drinking water rids the body of toxins with tears and urine.
• Drinking water keeps the eyes moist and the skin hydrated.
• Drinking water helps loosen up the joints making it easier for you to move.
• Drinking water creates saliva and digestive juices and allows the blood to flow more freely to carry nutrients throughout the body.
• Drinking water cuts down on hunger pains and helps metabolize stored fat
• You should drink 6-10 glasses (48-80 ounces) of water each day.
• If you are thirsty, you are already mildly dehydrated. The feeling of thirst is so similar to the feeling of hunger that sometimes you might think you are hungry even though you are really thirsty.
• Caffeine causes frequent urination so for every soda consumed, you should drink additional water to make up for that loss in fluid.
• Drinking water maintains a stable body temperature through perspiration.
• Drinking water rids the body of toxins with tears and urine.
• Drinking water keeps the eyes moist and the skin hydrated.
• Drinking water helps loosen up the joints making it easier for you to move.
• Drinking water creates saliva and digestive juices and allows the blood to flow more freely to carry nutrients throughout the body.
• Drinking water cuts down on hunger pains and helps metabolize stored fat
• You should drink 6-10 glasses (48-80 ounces) of water each day.
• If you are thirsty, you are already mildly dehydrated. The feeling of thirst is so similar to the feeling of hunger that sometimes you might think you are hungry even though you are really thirsty.
• Caffeine causes frequent urination so for every soda consumed, you should drink additional water to make up for that loss in fluid.