Water: An Overlooked Essential Nutrient. Term Paper

Our company encourages that its personnel stay in good physical shape and exercise at least three times a week. Our employees' health and mental well being is a highest priority.

Because of this importance on health, it is essential to choose the most essential foods and beverages for the largest number of people.

Hydration during sporting activities is a necessity. Heat exhaustion and dehydration can lead to major health problems and even injuries.

According to nutrition experts, when exercising for less than 60 to 90 minutes, water should be adequate to meet one's fluid needs.

Water is a great source of fluid when exercising for one hour or less.

According to an article in the Journal of the American Dietary Association (by SM Kleiner, 1999, p. 200), the following are the standards for fluid intake.

Drink a minimum of 1 quart (4 cups) of fluid for every 1,000calories you eat every day.

Drink at least 5 cups of water every day.

Fluids should be cool.

For moderate exercise that lasts an hour or less, water is sufficient for replacing lost fluids.

Drink 2 cups of fluid 2 hours before exercise.

Drink 4-6 ounces every 15 to 20 minutes during exercise.

After exercise, drink 16-20 ounces (2-21/2 cups) of fluid for every pound of body weight lost.

Water contains minerals and electrolytes as Gatorade and Powerade does; however, water can also contain calcium, nitrates, sulphates, and zinc, in addition to the electrolytes

Here's how costs compare:

Product Unit Cost Price per Gallon

Gatorade $1.59 / 20 oz $10.17 per gallon

Evian water $1.49 / 9 oz $21.19 per gallon

Given all this information, our company believes that a contract will be signed with the bottled water company. For those individuals who exercise more than an hour at a time, we recommend that they speak…