78 Unit 2 Nutrition and Food Choices
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Water
Water is necessary for most bodily functions. In fact, although people
can live for several weeks, and even months, without taking in any other
type of nutrients, they can survive only a few days without water.
Water helps your body in a number of ways, including
maintaining a normal temperature;
cushioning and lubricating your joints;
protecting your spinal cord and other sensitive tissues;
getting rid of wastes (through urination, perspiration, and bowel
movements); and
moving oxygen, nutrients, wastes, and other materials throughout
the body.
Because your body loses water every day through urination, sweat, and even
exhaling breath, you need to ingest water to replace what your body loses and
prevent dehydration. Dehydration is a dangerous condition in which the body’s
Jessica is 15 years old and a sophomore in
high school. She is very busy with many activities—
performing in the choir, volunteering with Big
Brothers/Big Sisters, and playing on the junior
varsity softball team. She often fi nds herself eating
in the car as she races from one activity to another.
Because Jessica is a vegetarian, she typically eats
lots of carbohydrates (such as breads and pasta),
vegetables, and fruits.
Over the last few months, Jessica has found
herself feeling very tired and out of breath during
softball practice. She even fi nds herself struggling
to climb a fl ight of stairs. She is also having regular
headaches.
Jessica’s parents took her to the doctor to
fi gure out what was causing her to feel so tired.
Blood work revealed that Jessica is showing signs
of anemia, which is caused by a defi ciency of iron
in her blood. She is now making changes to her
diet in an effort to take in more iron in the foods she
eats. Jessica is also taking an iron supplement.
Thinking Critically
1. What do you think are the primary factors that
led Jessica to become anemic?
CASE STUDY
Why Is Jessica Weak and Tired?
2. What are some strategies that you think
could help Jessica eat more nutritious foods,
including more foods that are high in iron?
3. What advice would you give other teenag-
ers who fi nd themselves in the same situ-
ation as Jessica to help prevent them from
adopting unhealthy eating habits?
dehydration
a condition in which the
body’s tissues lose too
much water
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