Nutrition Handbook: Part 7 - Water is the Universal Biological Solvent

Water is the unique universal solvent that forms the biochemical basis for all the processes and reactions of all essential nutrients, biochemicals, and other various solutes eaten, drunk, created by the body, and received from the environment; therefore, water is necessary for the hydration of systems, organs, glands, and tissues of the body to function, grow, develop, and heal.

Nearly all foods contain some amount of water, which is where many nutrients are dissolved in suspension. Eating food, through the processes of mastication and digestion, prepare these nutrients for absorption within the intestines. Supplements, which may be in dried powder form are consumed with water to assist absorption.

All Bodily Systems, Organs, Glands, and Tissues Require Water as Part of their Functioning.

The human body is made up of more than 50% water which is contained and distributed by the various tissues inside the body. And water is used within the body to form various solutions, such as blood and lymph fluids, to distribute many different types of biological substances, including nutrients, enzymes, and hormones, into and out of cells and the body itself.

Quench that Thirst

Thirst is a craving for a fluid that contains water, and possibly other essential nutrients, to increase hydration. The human body becomes thirsty when the amount of water concentration in the body falls below an amount required for optimal functioning, which is recognized by kidney function. Additionally, thirst also becomes apparent when the solutes in bodily fluids become too concentrated and require dilution for optimal hydration and functioning.

Stay Hydrated

Hydration is adding water to a substance. A person hydrates when water is consumed, often with dissolved nutrient solutes, thus adding additional water to their body structure for dissolving, dispersing, and distributing the various substances throughout their systems, organs, glands, and tissues.

Water is the Medium Where Energy is Made

The blood is a liquid medium, upwards of 90% water, which contains a multitude of nutrients and various other substances. Specifically, energy in the cells are produced by the reaction of oxygen and glucose. They are carried by the water in blood to the cells of the body and diffused inwardly through the cell membranes to create adenosine triphosphate (ATP) within the mitochondria.

Carbon dioxide, dissolved in water, as a waste byproduct of energy production, is diffused outwardly through the cell membrane back to the blood and further expelled by the lungs.

Key Nutrients Required for Hydration

Electrolyte Minerals

Minerals, such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and others, in that order of relative concentration are electrical in how they work. Sodium, commonly found and consumed in salt, is a chemical signaler for the kidneys to identify water concentration, to promote nerve impulses, and also required for the transport of substances within the blood to cross cell walls internally and externally.

Potassium is a water-soluble mineral essential to energy production and heart contraction for the distribution of blood, oxygen, and nutrients throughout the body. Calcium and magnesium both are used by the body to control the contraction and relaxation of tissues respectively.

Vitamins

Some vitamins, such as the entire B-vitamin complex, are water-soluble and released by kidney filtration into the bladder for urination; thereby requiring daily replenishment.

The B-complex is necessary for nerve function in all the various systems, organs, glands, and tissues. A lack of daily replenishment of the collective B-complex will limit the functioning of the any system, organ, gland, or tissue.  

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates, such as glucose, are necessary in a certain concentration within the blood and tissues for the creation of energy by cellular mitochondria. Carbohydrates are best consumed as part of a complete meal to achieve a stable solution for long-lasting energy, but can be replenished during times of high activity for sustained physical and mental performance.