Question

The title of your presentation is "Water: An Overlooked Essential Nutrient." A law firm has requested that you introduce yourself, explain why you are at the firm, and discuss the value of hydration. Once those elements have been addressed, the goal of this Lab is to create an essay or handout that compares water, Gatorade, and Powerade on the following categories.

Daily recommendations

Nutrient content

Varieties/sources

Cost

Advantages of consumption (include research reviews)

Safety levels

Disadvantages of consumption (include research reviews)

Conclusion

Ultimately, you need to make a recommendation on which beverage meets the needs of the law firm, and you need to back your recommendation with three pieces of evidence.

Answer 1

Answer:

When we think about nutrition and health we usually think about calorie counting, eating less
sugar or harmful fats, consuming more fiber, etc. but quite often we overlook the benefits of
adequate water consumption. It is not uncommon for people to go the entire day without
drinking water or worse they supplement with sodas instead of water which throws their
metabolism completely off balance.
Our bodies are comprised of over 60% water; this essential nutrient keeps our body in a state of
balance and provides us with energy and nutrients. The functions of these bodily fluids, which
is primarily water, include digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of
nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature.
Water is found in non alcoholic liquids, plain water and water dense foods. Drinking water is
essential for optimal health. Kaiser Permanente nephrologist Steven Guest, MD, agrees: "Fluid
losses occur continuously, from skin evaporation, breathing, urine, and stool and these losses
must be replaced daily for good health," he says. When your water intake does not equal your
output, you can become dehydrated. Fluid losses are accentuated in warmer climates, during
strenuous exercise, in high altitudes, and in older adults, whose sense of thirst may not be as
sharp.
A general recommendation for consuming water is aim for about half of your body weight in
ounces per day. If your goal is optimal health and weight loss, plain water is the best option.
You can add some fresh cut fruit in the water for flavor without adding too many calories.
Lemon, lime, berries, or melons are all great in pain water. This will not drive up insulin levels
like flavored coffee drinks, juice, sweet tea or soda does. Keeping insulin levels under control
will allow the body to burn fat rather than store it. Artificially sweetened diet drinks have been
shown to alter blood sugar levels, in addition to the increased risk of certain cancers and
thyroid disruption that goes along with consuming artificial sweeteners. For optimal results,
stick with plain water.
Often the early signs of hunger are actually thirst or dehydration. If thirst is ignored or
overlooked it could result in excessive calories being consumed. By drinking 1-2 cups of water
before meals we tend to eat a significantly less amount of calories, also resulting in weight loss
if done regularly.
Water provides your muscles with energy. If muscle cells don't maintain their balance of fluids
and electrolytes they shrivel, which can result in muscle fatigue and poor performance. Simply
put, when muscles do not have enough water they will not be as strong and energy and
performance will suffer. This is especially true for those who play sports or do work outside in
hot climates. Our kidneys do an amazing job of cleansing and ridding your body of toxins as long as your
intake of water is adequate every day. Body fluids (which are mainly water) transport waste
products in and out of cells. The main toxin in the body is blood urea nitrogen, a water-soluble
waste that is able to pass through the kidneys to be excreted in the urine. When you're getting
enough fluids, urine flows freely, is light in color and free of odor. When your body is not
getting enough fluids, urine concentration, color, and odor increases because the kidneys trap
extra fluid for bodily functions. Over time if you chronically drink a low amount of fluids, you
may be at higher risk for kidney stones, especially during the hot months.
Some tips to increase your fluid intake and increase your overall health through the benefits of
water are:
Have 1-2 cups before every snack and meal, avoid drinking a lot while eating, this could dilute
digestive enzymes, resulting in an upset stomach and bloating.
If you are bored with plain water add fresh fruit to it and let it sit in a glass pitcher over night
to fully absorb the flavor of the fruit; you're likely to drink more liquids if you like the way they
taste.
Eat more fruits and vegetables. Their high water content will add to your hydration. About 20%
of our fluid intake comes from foods.
Keep a container of water with you in your car, at your desk, or in your bag. Preferably drink
out of BPA (Bisphenol A) free containers like glass bottles or stainless steel containers.
If possible drink filtered water. The preferred filtration system is reverse osmosis; this has
been proven to remove the most toxins including lead, excessive sodium and parasites. These
toxins could potentially disrupt your metabolism including thyroid and sex hormone balance
and contaminated water could compromise the immune systems of children, elderly, and those
who are going through cancer treatment or any auto-immune disorder.