HEALING POWERS OF WATER

Most people believe that we feel thirsty whenever our body needs water. While this is true, research has shown that there are several indicators of inadequate water in our body parts. Ignoring these indicators can lead to several major diseases.

 

IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS OF WATER IN OUR BODY:

• Necessary for all chemical reactions in our body.
• Provides an additional source of energy to our body.
• Needed for the transport of food, enzymes, hormones, and chemicals in our body.
• Regulates body temperature
• Helps in the detoxification of our body.
• Maintains normal volume of blood and lymph

 

DEHYDRATION:

Excessive loss of water from the body resulting in an imbalance in sodium, potassium, and chloride levels is dehydration. Though this term is often associated with acute conditions, however, chronic dehydration may be present in specific cells or organs of the body causing chronic disorders such as:-

DYSPEPSIA:

Inadequate water intake results in (a) increased acid secretion

(b) Changes in the normal function of the pancreas

These changes lead to damage of the stomach lining, pain, and reflux.

Drinking water at least half an hour before meals is helpful as the water forms a protective layer that prevents the acid from damaging the mucosal lining of the stomach.

STRESS AND DEPRESSION:

Water is a very important ingredient of the brain and nerve functioning. Chronic dehydration may reduce the production of electrical impulses in the brain leading to depression.

ALCOHOL AND CAFFEINE:

Alcohol suppresses the secretion of vasopressin, while caffeine and alcohol act as diuretics, leading to chronic dehydration in some organs of the body.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE:

Whenever there is a water shortage in the body, the compensatory mechanism takes water from the cells as well as from the blood. This may lead to High Blood Pressure.

OBESITY:

Inadequate water intake stimulates the thirst and hunger impulses simultaneously in the brain leading to overeating and eventually weight gain. Drinking adequate water before meals reduce the intensity of thirst and also hunger and prevent overeating.

ASTHMA AND ALLERGIES:

People suffering from allergies have a high level of histamines. Studies have indicated that increased water intake helps reduce histamine production over a period of time, thus reducing the tendency to allergies.

 

Thus, drinking adequate water is essential for maintaining good health. The quantity needed by an individual varies according to age, climate, season, physical activity, type of food, etc. On an average, we get two-thirds of our body’s requirements from our daily diet. Eight to ten glasses a day help meet the remaining one-third requirement.

 

WHEN TO DRINK WATER:

• The ideal time is to drink on an empty stomach or 3 hours after meals.
• Half to one hour before meals
• Take water in sips and slowly to allow it to mix with the saliva in the mouth.
• Cold ( not chilled ) water helps cool the body, helps detoxification, dilutes the blood, and stimulates the kidneys and intestines to function optimally.
• Warm water too has its benefits as it reduces acid secretion in the stomach.

One way to ensure that you are drinking adequate water is to observe the color of the urine. A yellow tint indicates inadequate water intake while an almost white color of urine indicates that all parts of the body are hydrated.