MICRONUTRIENTS: WATER & ELECTROLYTES

Nutrition & Diet Therapy | Monaliza Lee | BSN 2P

Water WATER BALANCE

 It is the most important nutrient in your body H2O Source Amount Water Amount
which consists of 60-65% total body weight of a (mL) Loss (mL)
typical adult LIQUIDS 500-1500 Kidneys 500-1400
 Higher percentage to male than women because (urine)
men are usually have more muscle tissues FOODS 700-1000 Skin 450-900
 Water and mineral cannot be considered (sweat)
separately because water mingles with minerals METABOLIC 200-300 LUNGS 350
to become fluids in which all life processes take WATER (breath)
place
GI TRACT 150
Water Balance (feces)
 The amount of water intake must be equal to the TOTAL 1450-2800 1450-2800
amount of volume of water output to achieve
metabolic equilibrium
WATER INTAKE PER ACTIVITY OR STATE
Water Intake  Athletes
 Ingestion of right amount of water needed by our o Those who lose a lot of water depending
body on activity performed will need to
 Hypothalamus replace losses, usually from one or
o The brain center that initiates drinking more liters per activity
behavior if the blood becomes too  Pregnant
concentrated o Water intake increases in order to
supply the needs of the growing fetus,
increased extra-cellular fluid and the
FUNCTIONS OF WATER IN THE BODY amniotic fluid
1. Carries nutrients and waste products throughout  Lactating
the body o Extra water needed for milk secretion
2. Participates in metabolic reactions
3. Serve as the solvent for minerals, vitamins,
amino acids, glucose and many other molecules
Electrolytes
4. Aids in maintaining body blood pressure and
 Electrolyte solution
temperature
o The body fluid which contains water and
5. Maintain blood volume
partly dissociated salts
6. Act as lubricant and cushion around joints and
inside the eyes, spinal cord and amniotic sac  This is when mineral salt dissolved in water they
surrounding a fetus in the womb separated (dissociate) in charged particles
known as ions which can conduct electricity,
thus, the name electrolytes derived. E.g. Na+,
Water Excretion (output) K+, Mg+
 The vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone) is  In contrast, anions (non-electrolytes) because
released by the pituitary gland which results to they do not show charged particles. These are
regulating the excretion of water in the kidneys. substances which are metabolized product of
 Channels of excretion: glucose, alcohol, urea, and protein. E.g. Cl-,
o Skin (sweating) – insensible perspiration HCO3-, pyruvate
o Lungs – vapor upon exhalation
o GI tract – feces
o Kidney – urine
ELECTROLYTE BALANCE
o Tears, suction, vomiting, diarrhea, Electrolyte composition of the body fluids
bleeding, burns, lesions  This is responsible for maintaining stable
electrochemical neutrality in body fluid solutions.
Brain
 Which monitor blood salts Major Electrolyte Composition of the Body Fluids
 Will stimulate the pituitary gland to release  Sodium
ANTIDIURETIC HORMONE (ADH) if: o Can control the amount of water that
o Salts are too concentrated can be retained in any given
o If blood volume and blood pressure is compartment
too low o is the principal electrolyte in the
extracellular fluid (the fluid outside the
cells)
 Chloride
o The major negative ion of the
extracellular fluids, where it occurs
primarily in association with sodium
2 Electrolytes found in the Intracellular Fluid  Fishes
 Potassium  Nuts
o Can also control the amount of water o Peanut butter
that can be retained in any given o Peanuts
compartment o Walnuts
o Inside the cells, potassium takes the  Vegetables
role of the principal positively charged o Corn
ion o Lentils
 Phosphate
Basic-ash Foods
 Cream
ACID-BASE BALANCE
 Fruits
 The regulation of hydrogen ions in the body o All except cranberries
fluids (pH balance) to maintain fluid and
 Plums and Prunes
electrolytes balance.
 Ice cream
 pH level
 Jams
 Acidic substances run from pH 1 to 7
 Milk
 Alkaline substances run from pH 7 to 14
 Molasses
 Neutral pH – 7
 Nuts
 The kidneys play primary role in maintaining the
 Almonds
acid-base balance by selecting which ions to
retain and which to excrete  Chestnuts
 Person eats affects the acidity not of the body  Coconut, fresh
but the urine  Vegetables
o All except corn and lentils
Acid-ash diet
 A diet consisting largely of meat or fish, eggs, Neutral-ash Foods
and cereals with minimal quantity of milk, fruit,  Butter
and vegetables, that when catabolized leaves an  Candy, plain
acid residue to be excreted in the urine  Coffee
 Cornstarch
Alkali-ash diet  Fats, cooking
 A therapeutic diet prescribed to increase the  Honey
alkalinity of the urine and dissolve uric acid and  Lard
cystine urinary calculi.  Salad oils
 Sugar
 Tapioca
 Tea

MORE REASONS TO EAT FRUIT

 Cherries help calm your nervous system
 Grapes relax your blood vessels
 Peaches are rich in potassium, fluoride, and iron
 Apples help your body develop resistance
against infections
 Watermelon helps control your heart rate
 Oranges help maintain great skin and vision
 Strawberries can potentially fight against cancer
Acid-ash Foods and aging
 Bread and crackers  Bananas are great for athletes because they
give you energy
 Cakes & cookies (plain)
 Pineapples help fight arthritis
 Cereals
o Cornflakes  Blueberries protect your heart
o Macaroni, noodles  Kiwis increases bone mass
 Mangoes protect against several kinds of cancer
 Oatmeal
o Puffed rice
o Rice
o Spaghetti
 Fat, mayonnaise
 Fruits
o Cranberries
o Plums
o Prunes
 Meats
 Cheese
 Eggs