In my earlier posts, I’ve been concentrating on setting the stage for making lifestyle decisions to enhance your health and wellbeing. Hopefully by now, you’ve gained some 
insight into your Attitudes, Beliefs and Commitments that might be keeping you in your present state of health – whether it be ideal, or in need of some ideas…
Today we’re going to focus on WATER. We may live on the “third rock from the Sun,” but in reality it’s a Blue Marble or should we say a “blue marvel.” Over 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered in water, albeit much of it oceans and ice, but nonetheless, we are blessed with an abundance of this vital elixir of life. And thank heavens for that. While we can go weeks without an adequate food supply, we can only last a few days without water.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the water content in our body: it comprises 80% of blood, 73% of the brain, 73% of muscle, and 22% of bone. I don’t know about you, but I’m getting thirsty just thinking about that…Without a sufficient and steady supply of this life-sustaining fluid, many of our major bodily processes would simply shut down.
So, let’s explore the wonderful world of water: what’s its role in keeping us healthy, how much is “enough,” what’s the best kind of water to drink and does blessing our water really make a difference?
What Good is it Anyway?
It’s pretty clear that Oxygen is essential for life. Just hold your breath for a minute or two (if you’re a gifted athlete…) and see what happens. But for some odd reason, we don’t seem to recognize the essential role that water plays in our life moment-to-moment. Truth be known, it’s involved in almost every bodily function. Fundamentally, water has two primary roles in our body: life-sustaining properties and life-giving functions. Here are just a few notable activities of this amazing liquid:
• Converts food into energy
• Key energizer for the brain
• Foreman of the neurotransmitters
• Acts as a giant cooling system to regulate body temperature
• Carries oxygen and nutrients to ALL our cells
• Protects & cushions our vital organs & joints
• Keeps the liver & kidneys functioning effectively
• Helps to metabolize fats
• Detoxifies and removes waste from our bodies
• The basis for ALL our fluid secretions (saliva, lymph, tears, etc.)
Come on, admit it, NOW you’re getting thirsty! There’s simply no end to its value in sustaining life, but also in enhancing our overall health and well-being.
So How Much is Enough?
We’re constantly reminded: drink 6-8 glasses of water a day! But is that based on scientific evidence? Is there any solid basis for that perennial reminder?…
I recently had the pleasure of reading one of the most important books on getting and staying well: Your Body’s Many Cries for Water, by Fereydoon Batmanghelidj, MD. If this book is not in your “health library,” please be sure to add it to your collection! He is a practicing physician in Northern Virginia who presents a compelling rationale and solid evidence for the importance of increasing the ingestion of water in our daily routine. His specific recommendations for “how much” are simple and clear:
• 1 oz. of water for every 2 pounds of body weight, AND
• 1.5 oz. of water for every 1 oz. of liquid with either caffeine or alcohol.
In terms of how to do this during the course of a day, he advises drinking a glass of water an hour before each meal, another glass 2-3 hours after each meal and a final glass just before going to bed. The beauty of this approach is that he simplifies the times when it is best to drink, make sure we get sufficient volumes of water to prevent dehydration, and most importantly, explains why our bodies need this much water.
Now, this may seem like a lot of water (which was my initial reaction when I read this), but the number of degenerative diseases that result from insufficient water are far too long to list here. He makes a convincing argument for role that a lack of water plays in hypertension to high cholesterol to asthma and countless other conditions plaguing our society. All because of a lack of water…
And be careful not to deceive yourself into thinking that because you’re drinking fluids, i.e., fruit juices, coffee, diet soda or similar types of drinks, that you’re getting sufficient amounts of “water.” While I agree that these drinks are liquid, they do not metabolize the same way pure water does. And given the amount of caffeine most of those drinks have, the diuretic effect only adds to the daily hydration needs your body craves, as noted above.
That may not be what you want to hear, but we at Liberation Wellness are dedicated to providing you with the truth on this blog site. And besides, if you’re really seeking to improve your health, there’s nothing more fundamental than a steady supply of good, clean water.
What are the best Sources of Water?
Ideally, we should get our water from a spring that has worked its way from the mountains. Not likely for many of us, and certainly not practical. Just for the record, I’m not a fan of tap water having read one too many articles about studies done of public water supplies across the country. The latest is the “Toxic Water” Series being written by the New York Times. In the latest installment written December 16, 2009, they point out that some 60,000 chemicals are now being used across the country to “treat” our water supply – only 91 are regulated by the federal government!
So that leaves either bottled water or filtered water. I don’t know about you, but I am growing weary of spending upwards of $15/gallon for bottled water. (And we complain about the cost of gasoline!…) And if you go this route, please be sure to use a metal water container that you can easily find at your local camping supply or hardware store. Using a re-useable bottle will do much to ease the burden on our ever expanding recycling centers.
And if you prefer filtering, there are numerous models to choose from, but your best bet is either reverse osmosis or a top of the line carbon filter unit. The former is a considered the best path, but it is a bit more expensive. The latter, is more economical, easily installed and will last 18 months to 2 years. Do your research, but be sure to install some process of “cleansing” your local water supply that added measure.
Preparing your water for optimal benefit
Now, one last step… For those of you who have seen “What the Bleep Do We Know,” or have had the opportunity to read The Hidden Messages in Water, by Masaru Emoto, you’ll understand the vital importance of “blessing” your water before you drink it. Sounds strange, right?
Presented below are just two of the pictures, among hundreds that Dr. Emoto has taken over the last several years to demonstrate the structural impact our thoughts and emotions have on this ubiquitous liquid we know as, water. And when you consider the fact that some 3/4ths of our body is composed of water, please consider the impact your thoughts and emotions are having there, as well. A bit humbling when we stop to consider that dimension of our healthy lifestyle.
It takes but a second, but these photos are striking evidence of the energetic dimension our thoughts and feelings have on our lives, day-to-day.
OK, I think that’s a wrap. Thank you, as always, for taking the time to read and reflect on the ideas and recommendations outlined in this blog. Should you have any questions, feel free to contact me and I will be delighted to follow-up with you directly.
À votre bonne santé!
Pic of EarthPic of Flowing WaterEmoto Water pics
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Jane Casey is a a foodie, author, speaker and mother of 11 year old twin boys’ who light up her life. However, there was a time when their days weren’t so bright – when her kids were diagnosed with Autism. The diagnosis given to them at 2.5 years old has now been reversed. She believes Autism is a term that describes a variety of treatable symptoms – not a life-long road of managed misery. Her boys recovered thanks to a treatment of nutrient dense foods, homeopathy, biomedical therapy and a positive attitude.
