Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 25: Problem 5

Why are persons on a high-protein diet (such as the Atkins diet) advised to drink lots of water?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Individuals on a high-protein diet are advised to drink lots of water because water aids the kidneys in diluting and expelling urea which is produced more due to the high protein intake.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding protein digestion

The body processes protein through a mechanism known as deamination, which happens in the liver. In this process, the liver breaks down the protein into amino acids and a byproduct called ammonia (NH3).
02

Conversion of ammonia to urea

Ammonia is a toxic compound. The body, therefore, converts it into a less harmful substance called urea. This conversion also takes place in the liver.
03

Role of kidneys in eliminating urea

Urea gets transported to kidneys where it is eliminated from the body in the form of urine. This is where water comes into play. The kidneys need a sufficient amount of water to effectively dilute and excrete urea.
04

Need of additional water on a high-protein diet

A high-protein diet leads to the production of larger amounts of urea, which means kidneys work harder to expel it. Hence, drinking a good amount of water helps in providing the necessary fluid for this added kidney workload. Insufficient water intake could hence burden the kidneys and potentially lead to kidney-related health issues.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Vitamins \(\mathrm{B}_{6}, \mathrm{B}_{12},\) and folate may be recommended for individuals with high blood serum levels of homocysteine (a condition called hyperhomocysteinemia). How might these vitamins ameliorate homocysteinemia?

People with phenylketonuria must avoid foods containing the lowcalorie sweetener Aspartame, also known as NutraSueet. Find the structure of Aspartame in the Merck Index (or other scientific source) and state why these people must avoid this substance.

What is the oxidation number of \(\mathrm{N}\) in nitrate, nitrite, \(\mathrm{NO}, \mathrm{N}_{2} \mathrm{O}\) and \(\mathrm{N}_{2}\) ?

Suppose at certain specific metabolite concentrations in vivo the cyclic cascade regulating \(E\). coli glutamine synthetase has reached a dynamic equilibrium where the average state of GS adenylylation is poised at \(n=6 .\) Predict what change in \(n\) will occur if: a. [ATP] increases. b. \(P_{11} / P_{110}\) increases. c. \([\alpha-\mathrm{KG}] /[\mathrm{Gln}]\) increases. d. \(\left[P_{i}\right]\) decreases.

Which vitamin is central in amino acid metabolism? Why?
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Chemistry Branches

Read Explanation

Chemical Analysis

Read Explanation

Making Measurements

Read Explanation

Physical Chemistry

Read Explanation

The Earths Atmosphere

Read Explanation

Ionic and Molecular Compounds

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free