Water
"You're not sick; you're thirsty. Don't treat thirst with medication." Dr. F. Batmanghelidj
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How much water do you require? Factors that influence water requirements. When is it best to drink water? Factors that impact water quality. Diseases associated with dehydration
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Water is the primary chemical component of life. 3/4 of the earth's surface is covered with water and human beings are about 65%. Water is fundamental to all life on earth and is one of the key determinants to health.
Every one of the body’s tissues and organs, as well as every one of the body’s sustaining processes, such as thinking, nerve function, blood circulation, digestion, locomotion and elimination, requires water in order to function properly. The necessity of water, its role in health and life and its ability to stimulate and support healing is immense.
The lack of water is common contributing factor to disease. Drinking it and using it as a therapeutic tool are essential to healing. Water is an inexpensive and versatile necessity to life.
Properties Of Water
The diverse properties of water provide insight into why it is so versatile and essential to life.
Composition: Water is composed of two part hydrogen and one part oxygen. H2O = H – O – H
Neutral Component: The water molecule is electrically neutral. It contains both positive and negatives charges, yet the positive and negative charges are not distributed uniformly. This makes a hydrogen atom always available to "stick" to another element in order to balance its energy. Water plays an essential role in maintaining the acid-alkaline balance within the body. Whenever this balance is disrupted chemical reactions within the body are disrupted resulting in symptoms or the development of disease. The optimal pH level of water is about 6.5-6.8 which is slightly acidic (the pH range is 1-14, with 7 being neutral). If water is too acidic or too alkaline, this can upset the normal pH level of your body.
| Properties of Water |
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Versatile: Water is the only substance that is found as a gas, liquid, and solid in the normal temperature ranges found on the Earth’s surface. The concept of a hydrologic cycle explains the circulating of water from the oceans to the atmosphere to the land and back to the ocean giving us a renewable supply of fresh water and air. The water molecule is in permanent motion and is perpetually exchanging energy with whatever it comes in contact with.
Universal Solvent. Water can dissolve more substances than any other liquid - that's why it is essential not only for many metabolic functions, but also for life on earth. As water circulates it dissolves rocks, minerals and all organic materials, providing the salts and oxygen to all living bodies. Water is the primary means by which chemicals, hormones and nutrients are dissolved and transported throughout the body.
Redox Potential: Redox potential (rH2) indicates whether the water has the capacity to donate electrons to the body. Available electrons in water provide energy to the body by way of cellular respiration and an oxygen-dependent process known as the Krebs cycle. The body needs electrons to make necessary chemical reactions happen. While electrons also come from food, it is essential the water we drink provides energy-rich electrons to help replenish and maintain the high proportion of water our body needs.
Resistivity: Resistivity (r) is a measure of the mineral content of water. Ideally, water will have a resistivity of at least 6,000 ohms, which indicates a fairly low mineral content. Minerals from water are poorly absorbed compared to those found in foods. Water with a high mineral content can put undue stress on kidneys and other organs and tissues in the body.
Buoyancy: Water gets denser as it cools (like most things) but only down to 4° C (39.2° F) and then its density decreases as the temperature continues to go down and it freezes . That is why ice floats on water. Imagine what would happen with the sea life without this water feature.
Heat Capacity: Heat capacity is the ability to gain or lose heat without changing form (go from solid to liquid or liquid to gas). Water has the highest heat capacity of all common liquids and the highest latent heat capacity of any common substance. Latent heat capacity is determined by the amount of extra energy you have to put into a liquid to change its state from solid - liquid - gas. This water property makes it an effective coolant for the human body via evaporation or perspiration, extending the range of temperatures in which humans can exist.
Why Is Water Essential?
| Why Is Water Essential? |
Every system in the body depends on water. When you're born you are about 90% water, as an adult that percentage can drop to about 60%. The average water content of different parts of the body is as follows: lungs 90%, blood 82%, brain 76%, muscles 75% and bones 25%. There is a correlation between the onset of disease and the amount of water within the body.
Moistens tissues: Water provides a moist environment for all mucous membranes including the ear, mouth, nose and throat. It lubricates joints and is the base for saliva and all bodily fluids.
Protects organs and tissues: Every single living cell in made up of water (intracellular fluid) and is surrounded by water (extra cellular fluid). Water acts to cushion and support organs and tissues.
Increases overall energy: The chemical properties of water make it the primary energizer of all functions in the body. It produces hydroelectric energy at the level of cell membranes, particularly in the nervous system.
Water transfers its hydrolytic energy to elements as they are broken down so that the body can use them. Water is also the adhesive that bonds cells membranes. Therefore, it plays an all-encompassing role in energy metabolism and the physiologic functions of the body.
Cellular transmission: Water breaks down all elements to their primary constituents for absorption into the system for further use, for example, proteins to amino acids, starch to sugar, and fats to fatty acids. Water dissolves minerals and other nutrients to make them accessible for transport to every cell in the body.
Cellular Communication: Thoughts, emotions, nervous system transmission thought to be transmitted by water. Making water the primary mode of cellular communication.
Regulation of Body Temperature: The heat capacity of water controls the regulation of body temperature through perspiration and sweating and by shivering.
Excretion of Toxins: There are six main routes of elimination including urine, bowels, sweat, breath and menses. Water is the primary constituent of them all. Water is also responsible for flushing out and dissolving toxins and waste products.
How Much Water Do You Require?
Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine, bowel movements and from other physiological functions. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming adequate water and foods which are high in water. Adequate hydration reduces the likelihood of overeating and improves the function and health of human beings.
The amount of adequate water depends on many factors including body composition, age, activity level, health status and the season. In general, you want to drink enough fluid so that you rarely feel thirsty and so you produce colourless or slightly yellow urine a day. Here are the most common ways of calculating that amount:
½ Body Weight in Ounces. For a regularly active adult the general guideline is to drink ½ your body weight in ounces a day. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds you would plan to drink about 75 ounces or roughly 8 glasses of water a day.
Replacement approach. In general the total water that you require is equal to the amount that you lose plus the amount that the body requires for ongoing metabolic functions. You expel between 2 to 4 cups of water each day simply by normal breathing. This amount increases in cold weather or with increased activity. You also lose about 1 cup of water each time you urinate. Other loses of water including sweating – including the skin and feet and bowel movements. Factors such as increased activity level, hot weather, diarrhea or vomiting and food choices impact the requirement for water.
Your need for water will also fluctuate based on your specific symptoms and diseases. If you're unsure about your fluid intake, check with your naturopathic doctor. They will help you determine the amount of water that's best for you.
Children: Fluid requirements in children are based on body weight according to the Holliday-Segar method. Fluid requirements are better estimated by weight than age, to take into account the possibility of an underweight or overweight child. The table below shows the baseline requirements for a normal healthy child. It is important to note fluid requirements are higher with increased losses (i.e. fever, diarrhea, vomiting, sweating, etc.). Fluid restrictions may be required in some medical cases and those children should be carefully monitored by their physician. It is important, however, to maximize fluid intake within this restriction.
Infant formulas at standard dilution (20 calories/oz) are approximately 95 percent free water. Pediatric formulas at 30 calories/oz are approximately 85 percent free water. Free water refers to what remains after any solids are removed from a formula or food. These numbers are crucial in determining if the child is meeting his or her fluid requirement when placed on a particular formula. Water may need to be added to the tube feeding regimen depending on the total volume of the formula given daily. This may be done with water boluses, flushes to avoid clogging and water given with medications.
Too much free water may contribute to over hydration as too little free water can lead to dehydration. Physical symptoms of dehydration may consist of weight loss greater than one percent per day, increased thirst, decreased urine output, highly concentrated urine, etc. It is always important to check with your doctor or nutritionist to determine if you are giving an appropriate amount of fluid to your child.
http://faculty.olin.edu/~jcrisman/Service/KWTWebNews/Nutrition/fluid.htm
Tip: Bored with plain water – add lemon or lime to the water. Be careful with flavoured water as the addition of “flavour” can modify the chemical structure and properties of water. They also typically have calories, which pure water does not.
When is it best to drink water?
Starting your day with a large glass of water before any other food or drink is a wonderful habit. Throughout the night toxins accumulate in the body and drinking water assists in flushing them out of the body.
Always drink water before, during and after any prolonged or excessive exercise or if you are outside in the heat – whether just relaxing and enjoying the sun or working.
Throughout the day plan to drink about 1 glass of water an hour. Stop ½ hour before meals and resume about 1 hour after meals.
The notion of drinking water while eating is NOT advised for most people. Water dilutes the hydrochloric acid in the stomach thus decreasing the stomachs ability to breakdown food. Some people choose to drink water before a meal or with a meal as it fills up the stomach and decreases appetite. Although this is a common practice for those looking at reducing their weight, it is not advised. Water is essential to health yet, it has no calories or nutrients. Using water in this way is a contributing factor to rebound weight gain and can disrupt health on many levels.
Factors that Influence Water Requirements
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Factors That Influence Water Requirements |
There are many factors that influence your water requirements including the foods that you eat, your activity level, the climate you live in, your health status, and if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.
Food Choices: Substances such as alcohol, coffee and sugar are dehydrating and result in an increased need for water. Meals that are high in meat or that are dry may also require additional water for proper digestion and metabolism. Keep in mind that drinking water is best done away from eating as water can decrease the needed hydrochloric acid of the stomach and decrease the body’s ability to break down food.
Exercise: If you exercise or engage in any activity that makes you sweat, you need to drink extra water to compensate for the fluid loss. An extra 400 to 600 milliliters (about 1.5 to 2.5 cups) of water should suffice for short bouts of exercise, but intense exercise lasting more than an hour (for example, running a marathon) requires more fluid intake, typically with added electrolytes. How much additional fluid you need depends on how much you sweat during exercise, and the duration and type of exercise.
During long bouts of intense exercise or in very hot water it is best to consume drinks that contain sodium or salted foods, as this will help replace sodium lost in sweat and reduce the chances of developing electrolyte imbalance problems, which can be life-threatening. Also, continue to replace fluids after you're finished exercising. Sports drinks are a common choice, but keep in mind that there are other alternatives that have fewer chemicals and food additives. Also if you choose to use sports drinks recognize that they were created for those involved in intense exercise, they are not meant to be consumed on a daily basis under regular activity, by young children or by those that have high blood pressure and other health concerns.
Environment: Hot or humid weather can make you sweat and requires additional intake of fluid. Heated indoor air also can cause your skin to lose moisture during wintertime. Further, altitudes greater than 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) may trigger increased urination and more rapid breathing, which use up more of your fluid reserves.
Illnesses or health conditions: When you have fever, vomiting or diarrhea, your body loses additional fluids. In these cases, you ned to drink more water. With vomiting and diarrhea it is often necessary to consume food or drink that contain salt in order to replace the loss of electrolytes. Also, you may need increased fluid intake if you develop certain conditions, including bladder infections or urinary tract stones. On the other hand, some conditions such as heart failure and some types of kidney, liver and adrenal diseases may impair excretion of water and even require that you limit your fluid intake. Check out the section on Diseases Associated with Dehydration for more information.
Pregnancy or breast-feeding: Women who are expecting or breast-feeding need additional fluids to stay hydrated. Large amounts of fluid are used especially when nursing. The Institute of Medicine recommends that pregnant women drink 2.3 liters (about 10 cups) of fluids daily and women who breast-feed consume 3.1 liters (about 13 cups) of fluids a day.
Sources of Water
There are really only two sources of water for human beings: drinking water and food. Ideally 80% of the water that you require should come from the water you drink. Food provides about 20 percent of total water intake. Fruits and vegetables typically have a high water content. The fruits and vegetables that have the greatest percentage of water are those that grow on vine, for example, watermelon and tomatoes, are 90 percent or more water by weight. Conversely, dried fruits, nuts, meat, grain products and baked goods generally contain little water.
Beverages that contain sugar or caffeine provide little hydration as sugar and caffeine are dehydrating to the body. Water is still the beverage of choice as it's calorie-free, inexpensive and readily available. Another reason why coffee, teas, sodas and juices should not be used as a substitute for water is that their pH is too often too acidic and they are more likely to alter your body's normal pH in a detrimental manner over time. If you consumed only soda pop or even fruit juice as a principle source of fluid, your pH level would likely be low or acidic and the rH2 levels too high. Such an acidic environment can set the stage for disease.
Factors That Impact Water Quality
Toxic bacteria, chemicals and heavy metals routinely penetrate and pollute our natural water sources making people sick while exposing them to long term health consequences such as liver damage, cancer and other serious conditions. We have reached the point where all sources of our drinking water, including municipal water systems, wells, lakes, rivers, and even glaciers, contain some level of contamination. Even some brands of bottled water have been found to contain high levels of contaminants in addition to plastics chemical leaching from the bottle.
A good water filtration system installed in your home is the only way to proactively monitor and ensure the quality and safety of your drinking water. Reverse osmosis water purification systems can remove 90-99% of all contaminants from city and well water to deliver healthy drinking water for you and your family.
Our ordinary drinking water, by contrast, is never chemically pure, especially if it has been in contact with sediments. Groundwaters (from springs or wells) always contain ions of calcium and magnesium, and often iron and manganese as well; the positive charges of these ions are balanced by the negative ions carbonate/bicarbonate, and occasionally some chloride and sulfate. Groundwaters in some regions contain unacceptably high concentrations of naturally-occuring toxic elements such as selenium and arsenic.
One might think that rain or snow would be exempt from contamination, but when water vapor condenses out of the atmosphere it always does so on a particle of dust which releases substances into the water, and even the purest air contains carbon dioxide which dissolves to form carbonic acid. Except in highly polluted atmospheres, the impurities picked up by snow and rain are too minute to be of concern.
Various governments have established upper limits on the amounts of contaminants allowable in drinking water; the best known of these are the U.S. EPA Drinking Water Standards. I encourage you to check out the government standards in your country.
Water Safety: Water safety is a complicated process that involves every level of government (provincial, territorial, federal and municipal), businesses and individual. The drinking water supply can be broken down into three parts: the source water, the drinking water treatment system, and the distribution system which carries the treated water to homes, businesses, schools, and other buildings. The plumbing inside your home is an extension of the distribution system.
As drinking water travels on its journey to you, it can become contaminated in many ways. The multi-barrier approach to managing drinking water supplies is a preventive risk management approach that identifies all known and potential hazards and makes sure barriers are in place to reduce or eliminate the risk of contamination.
Health Canada's Water Quality and Health Bureau plays a leadership role in science and research. Its mandate and expertise lies in protecting the health of all Canadians by developing the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality in partnership with the provinces and territories. These guidelines are used by every jurisdiction in Canada and are the basis for establishing drinking water quality requirements for all Canadians.
Health Canada is recognized as a World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization (WHO/PAHO) Collaborating Centre for Water Quality, and participates in the development of WHO guidelines for drinking water. The Bureau also works closely and shares information with other government agencies such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Checkout the following links in order to ensure safe drinking water, documents about specific drinking water guidelines, and information about standards for products and materials that come into contact with drinking water. You'll also find information about the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Drinking Water, including membership, meeting minutes, and processes for developing guidelines.
I suggest people look to their major water source, which for most of us is the municipal water supply in our homes, and spend a bit of time to make sure this source of water is safe and “clean”.
Water Containers: If you drink water from a bottle, thoroughly clean or replace the bottle often. Every time you drink, bacteria from your mouth contaminate water in the bottle. If you use a bottle repeatedly, make sure that the bottle is designed for reuse. To keep it clean, wash your container in hot, soapy water or run it through a dishwasher before refilling it.
Dehydration
| Dehydration |
Dehydration is the term used to describe a deficiency of water. A mere 2% drop in your body's water supply can trigger signs of dehydration. It is estimated that the majority of people are mildly or chronically dehydrated. Mild dehydration is one the most common causes of daytime fatigue.
Many people believe that thirst is the first sign of dehydration. Yet, typically if you are thirsty you needed water long before hand. The older you are or the less healthy you are, the less you're able to sense that you're thirsty. On the other hand, excessive thirst and increased urination can be signs of a more serious medical condition. Talk to your naturopathic doctor if you experience either.
Fatigue
Lack of energy
Headache
Dry mouth
Chronic pains in joints and muscles
Lower back pain
Constipation
Little or no urination
Muscle weakness
Excessive thirst
Dizziness
Light-headedness
Note that riboflavin, a B Vitamin, will make your urine bright yellow. Also, although uncommon, it is possible to drink too much water. When your kidneys are unable to excrete excess water or when the daily consumption of water is too high, the electrolyte (mineral) content of the blood is diluted, resulting in low sodium levels in the blood, a condition called hyponatremia. Endurance athletes, such as marathon runners, who drink large amounts of water, are at higher risk of hyponatremia. In general, though, drinking too much water is rare.
Causes of Dehydration: Although a lack of drinking water is the primary cause of dehydration there are a number of other factors that cause dehydration. Those factors include:
Decreased consumption of water
Foods and drinks high in sugar or caffeine
Excessive alcohol
Diets low in fruits and vegetables
Excessive exercise
Extreme temperatures – whether hot or cold
Diuretics such as caffeine pills and prescription diuretics
Specific diseases
Steps to Prevent Dehydration: To ward off dehydration and make sure your body has the fluids it needs, make water your beverage of choice. Most healthy adults can follow these tips:
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Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day. Check out How much water do you require? for more information.
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Drink fluids slowly by constantly sipping throughout the day.
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Don't drink caffeinated drinks or alcoholic beverages, which can actually have a dehydrating effect.
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When flying in an airplane, drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol.
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Drink water before, during, and after exercise--slowly!
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Call your doctor if you have a temperature over 102 degrees Fahrenheit, or severe cramps.
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Carry a water bottle whenever possible, especially when participating in outdoor activities in warm weather.
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Remember that fluids can be lost through sweat as well as from diarrhea.
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Check with your naturopathic doctor to see if your symptoms or conditions alter your need for water.
Tips:
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Choose drinks or food with electrolytes (such as V8 juice or broth soup) to replenish the fluids lost from diarrhea.
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Fruit juices can make diarrhea worse, so dilute them with water.
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Don't hesitate to call a doctor if you are concerned about severe dehydration.
Diseases Associated with Dehydration
| Diseases Associated with Dehydration |
Dehydration contributes to and even produces pain and many degenerative diseases that can be prevented and treated by increasing water intake on a regular basis. As a general recommendation – at the first onset of pain (if not due to injury or infection) drink water. Pain, whether headache, digestive, joint or muscle pain, is often due to acute or chronic dehydration. In addition to the daily maintenance of our bodies, water also plays a key role in the prevention of disease. Drinking eight glasses of water daily can decrease the risk of colon cancer by 45%, bladder cancer by 50% and it can potentially even reduce the risk of breast cancer. Drinking enough water can prevent or even cure the followings:
Heartburn: Heartburn is a major thirst signal of water shortage in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract. Taking medication for heartburn will not cure the root cause, which is dehydration. Not recognizing heartburn as a sign of dehydration and treating it with antacids and pill medications will, in time, produce inflammation of the stomach and duodenum, hiatal hernia, ulceration, and eventually cancers in the gastrointestional tract, including the liver and pancreas.
Arthritis or Rheumatoid joint pain: It's a sign of water shortage in the joints. It can affect the young as well as the old. The use of pain-killers does not cure the problem, but exposes the person to further damage from pain medications. Intake of water and small amounts of salt will cure this problem.
Lower back pain: The water cushions that support the weight of the body in the spinal column and disks that are lack of water supply. Low back pain and ankylosing arthritis of the spine are signs of water shortage in the spinal column and discs - the water cushions that support the weight of the body. These conditions should be treated with increased water intake - not a commercial treatment, but a very effective one.
Not recognizing arthritis and low back pain as signs of dehydration in the joint cavities and treating them with pain-killers, manipulation, acupuncture, and eventually surgery will, in time, produce osteoarthritis when the cartilage cells in the joints have eventually all died. It will produce deformity of the spine. It will produce crippling deformities of the limbs. Pain medications have their own life-threatening complications.
High blood pressure: When there is not enough water in the body, blood becomes thicker and needs more pressure to pump and fill all the blood vessels. Hypertension is a state of adaptation of the body to a chronic dehydration resulting in there being an inadequate amount of water to fill all the blood vessels that diffuse water into vital cells. As part of the mechanism of reverse osmosis, when water from the blood serum is filtered and injected into important cells through minute holes in their membranes, extra pressure is needed for the “injection process”. Just as we inject I.V. “water” in hospitals, so the body injects water into tens of trillions of cells all at the same time. Water and some salt intake will bring blood pressure back to normal.
Not recognizing hypertension as one of the major indicators of dehydration in the human body, and treating it with diuretics that further dehydrate the body will, in time, cause blockage by cholesterol of the heart arteries and the arteries that go to the brain. It will cause heart attacks and small or massive strokes that paralyze. It will eventually cause kidney disease. It will cause brain damage and neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease.
Heart pain and angina - is a sign of water shortage in the heart/lung axis. It should be treated with increased water intake until the patient is free of pain and independent of medications. Medical supervision is prudent. However, increased water intake is angina's cure.
High cholesterol: High cholesterol level is a sign indicating early drought management by the body, to shield cells from loosing water when there is not enough of it in the body. High cholesterol levels are an indicator of early drought management by the body. Cholesterol is a clay-like material that is poured in the gaps of some cell membranes to safeguard them against losing their vital water content to the osmotically more powerful blood circulating in their vicinity. Cholesterol, apart from being used to manufacture nerve cell membranes and hormones, is also used as a "shield" against water taxation of other vital cells that would normally exchange water through their cell membranes.
Increased thirst and increased urination, both in volume and frequency, can be signs and symptoms of diabetes. With diabetes, excess blood sugar (glucose) in your body draws water from your tissues, making you feel dehydrated. To quench your thirst, you drink a lot of water and other beverages and that leads to more frequent urination. If you notice unexplained increases in your thirst and urination, see your doctor. It may not necessarily mean you have diabetes. It could be something else. And some people consume large amounts of water and experience increased urine output not associated with any underlying disease.
Migraines and headaches: When the brain and eyes are dehydrated it is common to experience a migraine or headache. Dehydration-induced headaches and migraines might eventually disrupt eyesight.
Asthma - A condition caused by drought management of the body to obstruct free air passage so that water will not leave the body in the form of vapor. Increase water intake will prevent asthma attack. Asthma, which also affects 14 million children and kills several thousand of them every year, is a complication of dehydration in the body. It is caused by the drought management programs of the body. In asthma free passage of air is obstructed so that water does not leave the body in the form of vapor - the winter steam. Increased water intake will prevent asthma attacks. Asthmatics need also to take more salt to break the mucus plugs in the lungs that obstruct the free flow of air in and out of the air sacs.
Not recognizing asthma as the indicator of dehydration in the body of a growing child not only will sentence many thousands of children to die every year, but will permit irreversible genetic damage to establish in the remaining 14 million asthmatic children.
Colitis pain: Colitis pain is a signal of water shortage in the large gut. It is associated with constipation because the large intestine constricts to squeeze the last drop of water from the excrements - thus the lack of water lubrication. Not recognizing colitis pain as a sign of dehydration will cause persistent constipation. Later in life, it will cause fecal impacting: it can cause diverticulitis, hemorrhoids and polyps, and appreciably increases the possibility of developing cancer of the colon and rectum.
Adult-Onset-Diabetes: is a complication of dehydration. Drinking enough water can reverse this condition in the early stage. Adult-onset diabetes is another adaptive state to severe dehydration of the human body. To have adequate water in circulation and for the brain's priority water needs, the release of insulin is inhibited to prevent insulin from pushing water into all body cells. In diabetes, only some cells get survival rations of water. Water and some salt will reverse adult-onset diabetes in its early stages. Not recognizing adult-onset diabetes as a complication of dehydration will, in time, cause massive damage to the blood vessels all over the body. It will cause eventual loss of the toes, feet and legs from gangrene. It will cause eye damage, even blindness.
Depression: loss of sex drive (libido), chronic fatigues syndrome, lupus, muscular dystrophy, and multiple sclerosis. These symptoms are signs of prolong dehydration. Drinking plenty of water along with exercising the muscles will draw excess fluid into the blood circulation and the symptoms will clear up.
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http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/08/07/f-weeklycheckup-swetlikoff-water.html#ixzz0o25yXE00 psychetruth – Nutrition Health Secret – The Powers of Water www.youtube.com Messages from Water – Emoto www.health_benefits_ofwater.com www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/08/07/f-weeklycheckup_swetlikoff_water.html www.nutrition.about.com/od/hydrationwater/a/waterarticle.htm Jacques Collin, the author of "Water the Forgotten Miracle" book |