Question

Chapter 7

1. Human cannot drink salty water (like ocean water). In large amounts it will cause severe health problems. Based upon your understanding of Hypertonic solutions. What is the problem with salt water from a cellular hydration perspective?
2. Chapter 7.2 lists the functions of water in the body. Create a list of the functions and define each in a sentence or two.
3. How does the brain detect water status and respond by altering thirst?
4. How do the kidneys an adrenal glands regulate the amount of water and salt in the body?
5. Sodium is one of the primary electrolytes in the body. It is also the primary mineral lost in sweat. What happens if sodium concentrations are too high or too low? .
6. Imbalances of Potassium can be disastrous to health. Explain the health problems associated with too much or too little potassium.
7. How does dehydration affect the body (heart rate, Blood pressure, etc). How does dehydration affect sports performance?

Chapter 8

1. What are free radicals and how does the body neutralize them using enzymes and made chemicals like glutathione?
2. The antioxidant vitamins are A,C, & E (remember the word ACE). Describe the role of each of these in disease prevention.
   1. A
   2. C
   3. E
3. Three key groups of phytonutrient are listed below. For each define and give examples of their health benefits
   1. Carotenoids
   2. Flavonoids (especially anthocyanidins)
   3. Organosulfur compounds
4. What is the only anti-oxidant mineral? What are the health benefits to adequate intake of this mineral?
5. What dietary choices are necessary to ensure adequate intake of these antioxidants and phytonutrients? What are the dietary recommendations?

Answer 1

Ocean water or Seawater is full of salt. When human beings drink seawater, their cells are taking in water and salt. Though we all take salt in small quantities in our food, The concentration of salt is much higher in seawater.

The salt we intake with our food gets diluted with the help of liquids we consume along with it and keep it at a healthy level. Living cells depend on Sodium Chloride to maintain the body's chemical balances and reactions. However too much salt can be deadly.

Kidney's that help in excretion can only make urine that is less salty than saltwater. So to get rid of excess salt from drinking seawater, one would need to urinate more water than you drank. That'll lead to dehydration and ultimately death.

Excess salt intake can lead to high blood pressure which can be a cause of heart stroke, kidney failure, etc.

7.2  

1. It creates Saliva: Water is the main component of Saliva. It carries electrolytes and enzymes. Saliva is essential in breaking down complex food and keeping the mouth healthy.

2. Water helps in maintaining body temperature:  The body loses water through sweat during any physical activity or in a hot climate. Body temperature rises if the water level in the body goes down.

3. It maintains lubrication in the body: Water consumption helps lubricate and cushion your joints, spinal cord, and tissues. It helps in providing cushion and reduces discomfort caused by conditions like arthritis.

4. Water helps in bowel movements like urination, excretion. Water is also required in the system to have a healthy stool and to avoid constipation.

Neurons in the lamina terminalis receive messages regarding the water needs in the body. Their location is next to ventricles in the brain which allows them to directly sense key indicators of water need like sodium levels and osmolality. These neurons can also indicate whether the body requires more water or less water. If it requires more water, The feeling of thirst is increased with appetite suppression. If it needs less water, The brain will send signals telling you to stop drinking water.

ADH (antidiuretic hormone) from the posterior pituitary acts on the kidney to promote water reabsorption, thus preventing its loss in the urine. (2) Aldosterone from the adrenal gland acts on the kidney to promote sodium reabsorption, thus preventing its loss in the urine.

Hyponatremia occurs when blood sodium goes below normal levels. When sodium levels in the blood are too low, extra water goes into body cells causing them to swell. This swelling can be especially dangerous for brain cells, resulting in neurological symptoms such as headache, confusion, irritability, seizures, or even coma.

Hypernatremia is when sodium levels become abnormally high in the blood — more than 145 mEq/L. It causes water to move out of body tissues and into the blood in an attempt to equalize the concentration between the two. Water can be lost from brain cells, causing them to shrink, which can be dangerous.

Hyperkalemia is a condition in which too much potassium remains in the blood and due to kidney disease, this potassium could not be removed from the body. Having too much potassium can also lead to a heart attack or death.

Hypokalemia is a condition in which potassium levels are too low. A low potassium level results in weak, cramps, twitch or even become paralyzed, and abnormal heart rhythms may develop.

Dehydration includes thirst, darker urine, and decreased urine production. Urine color is one of the best indicators of a person’s hydration level – clear urine means you are well hydrated and darker urine means you are dehydrated.

If a person is dehydrated, The Heart has to work harder to pump blood, which can increase the heart rate and cause an irregular heartbeat. Dehydration thickens the blood and makes blood vessel walls constrict which can cause hypertension, or high blood pressure, and strain your heart.

Staying hydrated replaces the water lost through sweating and is essential for thermoregulation, helping to prevent cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke.