Define Water - Important Nutrient?
Macronutrients, you know, are those nutrients which are required in large amounts by our body namely, carbohydrates, fats and proteins. We studied about their functions, role and food sources. Other than the Macronutrients, we do require certain other nutrients, some of which are required in very small amounts, but these are extremely important. We shall learn about these nutrients, i.e. the micronutrients in the next few units. Now in this unit, we shall focus on water, the most important nutrient of all the essential nutrients required by the body. The absence of water affects us more quickly than the absence of any other nutrient. Meeting our need for a continuous supply of life-sustaining water and maintaining the body water in different compartments are major nutritional and physiologic tasks. What is the role of water in the body? How is the water distributed and held in the body? What is meant by water balance'? What is our water requirement'? What do the disturbances in fluid balance lead to?