Water, Water, Everywhere

This three atom molecule, water (H20) is second to none, except perhaps Oxygen (O2), for the functioning of all living creatures. Water is used in literally thousands of metabolic body functions such as energy production, growth and detoxification. What, how, when and why about water? We should all drink the cleanest and purest water possible. Clean water from a natural source such as a well I believe to be the best. Rain water would be a great source but these days it needs to be purified. Purification with carbon filters is preferred over reverse osmosis. This is because reverse osmosis (RO) also removes some of the vital positively charged nutrients such as magnesium, zinc, calcium and so on.

Water should be consumed at room temperature or slightly cool and not during meals. For the stomach to digest food properly digestive juices need to be concentrated, very acidic and warm. That is why drinking a glass of iced water with meals is a no no. It cools and dilutes the stomach juices. Speaking of drinking while eating, note this. You will never see a wild predator drag its prey to a river, take a few bites of its prey then go to the river for a drink of water. We are the only creature on this planet that eats this way. Probably because we tend to over salt our foods or ingest foods that are poor in hydration. We are also, probably, the only creatures who suffer from GERD and other digestive symptoms. I don’t think a panther has ever needed to take a TUMS or has to lay around bloated after eating.

It's ok to sip during meals but do not drink excessively. If you feel the need to drink heavily during a meal you have probably salted your food too much. Since hunger pangs and thrust pangs feel similar, drinking a large glass of clean, room temperature water 30 minutes before eating will quench your thirst pang and consequently inform your brain of the body's actual caloric need. To make things worse, most americanized foods are lacking in water and one would have to eat a lot of calories to quench the brain's thrust button. The typical person, who is actually thirsty, will consume far too many calories of food in order to quench the brain's thrust center.

I learned early on in my practice that by just having a patient drink 16 oz of water 30 min before meals, they can automatically lose 10 to 15 lbs and do nothing else. As a general rule, consume one half of your body's weight in ounces each day, i.e. if you weigh 100 lbs you should drink 50 oz of water a day between meals. Be sure to wait at least an hour or so after eating to drink again because it takes a few hours to break down the food in the stomach. Cooling or diluting the stomach contents can dramatically reduce the stomach's digestive abilities.

If you put into practice these simple tips on water, you will lose weight, detoxify better, and have more energy throughout the day. You'll know when you're drinking enough water when you have to urinate five to six times a day and the urine is light in color and at a decent volume. Some supplements, like B vitamins, and certain foods can discolor the urine, so keep that in mind. Remember, we are made up of mostly water so take care of your body’s hydration and exchange it regularly.