By Karen C Groves
(c) Karen C Groves – All Rights Reserved
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_C_Groves
“Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink”. Or is it that we don’t drink water or drink enough water. Why is water so important? In Part 2 of Stress Busters, I am going to discuss the role that water plays in stress management and and minimizing the effects of stress.
Why we need water
Our bodies are about 70%+ water and we use that water for most of the functions of these bodies.
What most people don’t realize is that we lose water when we breath, sweat and go to the bathroom. Caffeinated drinks add to that loss by acting as diuretics.
Another thing many don’t realize is that when we drink something with water in it such as iced tea, cold drinks, coffee, etc., our bodies have to take that drink through the digestive process which could cover one or more hours. When we drink plain water, on an empty stomach, that water flushes our kidneys (which they need occasionally) and collects toxins that are then flushed out from our bodies. That doesn’t happen when we drink or eat things with water in them.
Yes, we do hydrate to an extent when we drink any liquid and we do need the other benefits as well.
Many people have thicker than normal blood. This is caused by dehydration. Some researchers have found that many people are dehydrated. Dr. Batmanghelidj, MD (known as Dr. Batman or Dr. B.) was a doctor who treated thousands of his patients with just water instead of drugs and achieved amazing results. He concluded that most of his patients dis-ease was caused by dehydration.
Dr. Batman wrote several books including “Your Body’s Many Cries for Water”, “Water: For Health, For Healing, For Life” and “Water Cures, Drugs Kill”. He found that the fifth lumbar vertebra in the back (low back pain) is the first place that dehydration shows up. The last place it shows up is Thirst! When you are really thirsty, it is already too late. You are already dehydrated and should take steps to get hydrated as quickly as reasonably possible. Thirst can also be mistaken for hunger and many people eat instead of drinking water.
Dr. Batman found that his patients with high blood pressure had their blood pressure become more normal when they were hydrated properly. Apparently, when we are dehydrated, our blood is thicker and it takes more Pressure to move the blood through our bodies to perform its functions. Hence, our blood pressure is elevated.
High blood pressure causes extra stress on our bodies. Not drinking enough plain, clean water can make us dehydrated and lead to possible high blood pressure and, possibly, other problems as well.
For myself, I drink distilled water. Why? Because the water in the fruits and vegetables that we eat, I understand, is distilled water.
Most of the mineral supplements on the market today are inorganic minerals. This means that they have no carbon attached to the minerals. The scientific definition of organic is “having the carbon molecule” and carbon is what enables the body to recognize the minerals.
Another substance called Fulvic Acid is also needed to transport the minerals throughout our bodies for use. However, another major use of Fulvic Acid is when it is found in the soil with the minerals for plants to pull up. Fulvic Acid then attaches carbon to the minerals the plants use that we eat. If either carbon or Fulvic Acid is missing from the minerals, my understanding is that our bodies only use about 10-15% of the minerals And store the rest: in the joints, the muscles, in fact, any place our body wants to store it.
Apparently, these minerals are never used because our bodies Never recognize them. And how many people today are suffering with arthritis from minerals stored in the joints.
Now much has been written about distilled water leeching out minerals from our bodies. You want to bet that the distilled water is flushing out inorganic minerals that would ordinarily be stored in the joints, etc.? Do the tests and the testers distinguish between inorganic and organic minerals? It’s an interesting question.
I am 67 years young and to my knowledge my joints are basically clear of any buildup of excess, unused minerals. What bothers me is that I wonder if Fulvic Acid is missing from most of the farmland that huge companies mass farm. If that is the case, then the minerals in most of our food supply are inorganic. And if, in the future, that proves to be true, then drinking water, good water is very important so that inorganic minerals are flushed out of the body where they can’t cause any trouble.
Arthritis, high blood pressure and the other dis-eases that mankind is experiencing place tremendous stress on our bodies. Doesn’t it make sense to drink enough water so that our bodies can function properly, so we deal with less problems and feel better?
So what kind of water should we drink? I am partial to distilled water for the reason I mentioned and the fact that when I travel I get Montezuma’s Revenge from the city water of wherever I go. Can’t handle the dozens or even over a hundred chemicals found in some city water supplies. If you also have a problem with that, consider bottled water of some sort. Try different ones to see which seem to help you the most.
Today many are advocating city tap water. In the area where I live, if I want to set up a fish tank, there are two chemicals that have to be added to the water before the fish can be introduced. These chemicals take out the chlorine, chloramines, ammonia and heavy metals. If these chemicals are not used, the fish die. This is one of the major reasons I don’t drink tap water.
For over 25 years I have drunk, cooked with and given my animals Albertson’s distilled water. Albertson’s employees seem to be careful in the handling of the water the stores carry.
Occasionally, I try other bottled water, but I even find that some bottled water (particularly the ones with minerals, inorganic?, added) even upset my stomach. So I have found that distilled water seems to work best for me. My cats have even done better on distilled water, particularly the neutered males who are prone to bladder stones. My last bottle fed baby was 20 years old when he died. Bottle fed cats usually only live to about 10 or 11 years of age. Most of my cats live between 15 and 20 years. And that’s with a good commercial dry food supplemented with fresh chicken, canned tuna/salmon or fresh fish. When I reach a point when I can give them only fresh food and distilled water, who knows how long they will live.
My lovebird was around 25 years old when he died and I gave him distilled water as well.
How much water to drink? Experts recommend 6-8 glasses a day depending on your size, the weather and how active you are. Larger people may need more water. If it is hot and you are sweating a lot, you may need more water. And if you are real active, particularly in hot weather, you may need more water, not just sports drinks. The web site for Dr. Batman’s information is http://watercure.com. In the FAQ’s there are recommendations for quantity of water according to body weight. Knowing how much water to drink is important.
Dr. Batman not only recommended about 8-12 glasses of good water a day, he said that we need to take ¼ teaspoon of salt (preferably sea salt) for every 8 glasses that we drink. Oh, I can hear the medical people screaming now. “Salt is bad for you”. How come, outdoor workers, especially in the summer time, take salt tablets? Because of they didn’t, they could not hydrate with anything that they drank and they would die. Salt is needed along with the water so one can hydrate properly.
In other words, take ¼ teaspoon of salt, drink up to 8 glasses of good water and then take another ¼ teaspoon of salt is what Dr. Batman recommended. That is Not a ton of salt.
And did you know that water is one of the best diuretics that there is? Most people might not have a problem with too much salt and water retention if they were drinking enough water in the first place and they are healthy. If there is a problem in spite of drinking enough water, the individual may have a problem with the kidneys or another health problem that is causing the retention.
Dr. Batman treated high blood pressure, asthma and a host of other dis-eases with just plain water and got good results in most cases. And he treated thousands of people in his time.
But, you say, “I can’t drink that much water in a day”. Not in the beginning, I agree. I started with ½ glass and added ½ glass each day until I was consuming 8 glasses a day. It works much easier that way. And your body will love you for it.
So include drinking water as part of your stress management to minimize the effects of stress. You will feel better, look better and function better.
Next time I will consider how important it is to take time for yourself as part of your stress management program.
Have a great week.
Stress Busters – http://BustingStress.com – Stress Management, Anxiety and Insomnia Programs, EBooks, FREE reports, MP3′s, Newsletter and more
DISCLAIMER: This article is issued with the understanding that while every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained within is accurate, the author will not accept any responsibility for any loss or otherwise, as a consequence of using any of the information that has been presented. The opinions are those of the author who has researched the information and lives by these principles and techniques as well. Users are urged to seek medical advice before embarking upon or changing a course of medication or fitness program or before making extreme changes in their life style.
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