NFS 220 Chapter 9: Nutrition Ch. 9 Outline
Document Summary
Water makes up about 60 percent of the body"s weight. To maintain water balance, intake from liquids, foods, and metabolism must equal losses from the kidneys, skin, lungs, and feces. Electrolytes help maintain the appropriate distribution of body fluids and acid-base balance. All of the major minerals influence the body"s fluids balance, but sodium, chloride, and potassium are most noted for this role. Excess sodium in the diet contributes to high blood pressure. Most of the body"s calcium is in the bones, where it provides a rigid structure and a reservoir of calcium for the blood. Magnesium is critical to the operation of hundreds of enzymes and other cellular functions. The body requires trace minerals in tiny amounts, and they function in similar ways--assisting enzymes all over the body. Eating a diet that consists of a variety of foods is the best way to ensure an adequate intake of these important nutrients.