The present invention includes a method for MR imaging of a biological matter having H.sub.2O.sup.17 content by performing T1.sub..rho..sup.off imaging of said H.sub.2O.sup.17 content in said biological matter. The T1.sub..rho..sup.off imaging is performed by applying an RF pulse with a resonance frequency offset to said biological matter to create off resonance spin locking conditions in said biological matter. Thus, parts of the biological matter having different H.sub.2O.sup.17 concentrations are differentiated because of their different T2/T1 ratios.