Water: neglected, unappreciated and under researched

Abstract

Water, an essential nutrient, is often ignored in reports of dietary surveys and nutrition.Although it is ubiquitous in foods and beverages, the attention is often focused on the minerals or calorific values of the fluids imbibed rather than the water per se. Water is often taken for granted by many in Western countries due to its abundant availability through water systems.In developing countries, however, water and sanitation raise significant problems. This review overviews (i) the global perspective of the potable water supply, (ii) human rights and water, (iii) dietary guidelines and sources of water, and (iv) the physiology of water balance. Gaps in knowledge and understanding around hydration and water requirements are also discussed.Nutritionists are urged to look at the bigger picture of the global water supply and to use good judgement and common sense when advising on water requirements.

Improving health through diet and exercise in children

“…The way that a child's growth trajectory is assessed is against reference curves such as those provided by the World Health Organisation 14 and macro environment and their context need to be looked at and permanent changes need to take place so that quality, 'huff and puff' PA and healthier eating and drinking become the easy, habitual norm. For example to ensure that safe, free water is available at all times for children 15 .…”

Agua: la importancia de una ingesta adecuada en pediatría

“…11 Una revisión sistemática de Özen y sus colaboradores encontró que la ingesta de agua en niños de 13 países varía de 0.6 a 1.8 L/ día. En México, para los niños de 1 a 4 años de edad, de 794 mL; y para los niños de 5 a 11 años, de 1,254 mL, lo que está por debajo de las recomendaciones de la Autoridad Europea de Seguridad en Alimentos para niños de 1 a 4 años, similar a lo encontrado por Arredondo-García y su grupo en 16 estados de la República (escrito en elaboración), reportando una ingesta media Uruguay tuvo el menor porcentaje de no adherencia a las recomendaciones de la Autoridad Europea de Seguridad en Alimentos en niños y adolescentes con 10% en hombres y <20% en mujeres; en comparación con Bélgica, que fue el país con mayor porcentaje de no adherencia tanto para niños como adolescentes, el cual fue mayor de 90% para hombres y mujeres.…”

Authorised EU health claims for water

“…For many years, water has been overlooked as a nutrient with the focus tending to be on other dietary components, or the mineral and energy values of fluids (Rush, 2013). This is reflected by the historic absence of water from European dietary reference values (DRVs) until they were included by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA, 2010).…”