Just a Simple Glass of Water

When my children were growing up I always made sure that no one left the house without breakfast. But I never thought about making sure they drank a simple glass of water or even took water bottles with them (not even sure if they had water bottles then!) Now, research indicates that cognitive function can be diminished with even just a slight bit of dehydration in children.

One of my reference books that I keep on my shelf is by Dr. F. Batmanghelidj, author of Your Body’s Many Cries for Water and You’re Not Sick, You’re Thirsty! Water for Health, for Healing, for Life. He has spent more than 20 years of clinical and scientific research into the role of water in the body and believes a simple glass of water can relieve a stunning range of medical conditions. Simply adjusting your fluid and salt intakes can help you treat and prevent dozens of diseases, avoid costly prescription drugs, and enjoy vibrant health.

According to Batmanghelidj, children need water for cell growth. During growth, 75% of the cell volume has to be filled with water. He believes this is the reason why children develop asthma and allergies during the growing phase of their physical development. The water needs of the body cannot be fully replaced by juices or even milk. And we all know the detrimental affects of caffeine-containing sodas.

He further states, “If you don’t drink water regularly every day of your life, and don’t understand the significance of pain, shortness of breath, and allergies as signs of dehydration, you will force your body into a disease state. Any of the conditions such as asthma, allergies, hypertension or high blood pressure, type II diabetes, constipation and autoimmune disease will herald the beginnings of body decay produced by local or general water shortage and the associated chemical environmental changes.

Did you know that asthma affects more than 17 million Americans, mostly children? Batmanghelidj’s experiences and research tells him that allergies and asthma are the body’s crisis call for water. They denote a state of dehydration in the human body and herald continuing degeneration of the body until other complications of dehydration get established and can cause early death.

It is now physiologically apparent that water by itself has very strong antihistaminic properties. Simply by supplying the body with water causes a disappearance of histamine from areas where it should not be present. With adequate water supply, histamine production, and its excess release, is inhibited proportionately.

With the millions of dollars spent each year (particularly around springtime when pollen count is high), this doctor is claiming that chronic dehydration is the primary cause of allergies and asthma in the human body ~ and that simply increased water intake ~ on a habit-forming, regular basis ~ should become the treatment of choice. Since there are always side effects to the many drugs being prescribed, I would follow this advice!

Another huge percentage of Americans ~ roughly sixty million Americans ~ suffer from hypertension or high blood pressure. And the treatment is simply to take pharmaceutical products for the rest of their shortened lives. In a graph in the book, the doctor describes the role of capillary bed in hypertension ~ water loss in chronic dehydration, 66% is lost from water held in some cells, 26% is taken from water volume held outside of cells, 8% is taken from water held in the vascular bed, blood vessels close lumen to compensate for the water loss, and lumen closing causes the rise in tension we recognize as hypertension. (I am already on my second bottle of water as I am reading this!)

Hypertension is actually associated with aging and “inevitable” as we age. The doctor differs with this theory and states that an increase in daily water intake and sea salt that contains other minerals will correct this problem, not the diuretics that so often are prescribed. Water by itself, he states, is the best natural diuretic and the complications associated with hypertension, including coronary thrombosis and repeated strokes, are, in effect caused by persistent dehydration. Correct the established dehydration in your body with an adjustment to daily water intake and adequate intake of minerals to replace those lost through increased urination, and the adaptive need to raise the blood pressure from its normal levels will not arise.

An article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1997, by Dr. David McCurron of the Department of Nephrology at Oregon Health Science University, Portland, found that with adequate daily intake of potassium, calcium, and magnesium, not only will salt not raise blood pressure, it might actually lower it. The doctor reminds us that salt regulates the water levels outside the cells. Potassium, magnesium, and calcium are the vital minerals that balance the water volume inside the cells.

As I reach for another bottle of water, I urge you to purchase this book and learn more about the value of hydrating each and every day. If you are concerned about the quality of your water I recommend this product. Drink up!