The Great Body Drought
How To Prevent It

Alternate title:

Maybe you're not sick - maybe you're just thirsty!

By Ariana Estelle-Symons, Ph.D., Copyright August 1997

This article is about water - but it's not about types of water supply, quality of water, water contaminants or the best water purification systems. That's for another time - another newsletter. This is about the importance of consuming enough water.

Every function of the body is monitored and calibrated by the flow of water.

The human body is composed of 75% water and 25% solid matter however, there are variations according to sex and age. The body of an infant may contain as much as 77% water, while an adult male body may contain about 60%. It is believed that brain tissue is 85% water. According to the American Medical Association Home Medical Encyclopedia, "Water is the most common chemical in the human body... about 99% of the molecules in the body are water... it makes up a smaller proportion of body weight. (about 60% in an average man). Thus, a man weighing 155 pounds (70 kg) contains about 87.5 pints (42 liters) of water, of which about 58 pints (28 liters) are within the body cells themselves; 29 pints (14 liters) are extra cellular. Of the extra cellular water, about 6.25 to 8.3 pints (3 to 4 liters) are in the blood plasma, lymph, and cerebrospinal fluid; the remaining 21 to 23 pints (10 to 11 liters) are in 'tissue fluid'. Water provides the medium in which all metabolic reactions take place. It also provides the medium for transportation of chemical substances dissolved in it, such as ions... the interchange of water between the blood and tissue cells occurs via the tissue fluid, which bathes all the individual cells. Water is lost from the body in urine, sweat, feces and as water vapor breathed out"

The body's water supply is responsible for and involved in nearly every bodily process, including digestion, absorption, circulation, and excretion. Water is also the primary transporter of nutrients throughout the body and so is necessary for all building functions in the body. Water helps maintain normal body temperature and is essential for carrying waste material out of the body. Therefore, replacing the water that is continually being lost through sweating and elimination is very important. To keep the body functioning properly, most health care practitioners recommend drinking a minimum of eight - 8 oz. glasses of water during each 24 hour period.

An easy 'water prescription'

Since all of us don't weigh the same, it makes sense that 8 glasses of water might be great for 'Bob' who weighs in at 160. But, what about 'Bill' who weighs 220? Here's an easy 'formula'.

Take your weight - divide it by 2 - and drink that many ounces of water each 24 hour period. In other words, if you weigh 130 pounds, you should drink 65 ounces of water a day. If you weigh 200 pounds, you'll need 100 ounces per day.

But, I never drink water - I don't like it!

I know, I know, it's not easy to drink that much water if you've never done it. All my life I thought that water was for bathing, watering plants, or swimming in. I just plain didn't like it!

About 15 years ago I began to 'train' myself to drink water. Actually, it was an attempt to lose about 10 unwanted pounds. My doctor told me that every time I wanted to put a snickers bar, a cookie, a twinkie, a piece of candy in my mouth... to substitute a glass of water for the tempting snack. I thought he was nuts - and walked out of his office thinking he needed to go back to school. How in the heck did he think that something as unappetizing and boring as a glass of water could help me lose weight??

At first it was very difficult, I had to force myself to drink an extra glass of water during the day - and there was no way I could even imagine drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning. But, I tried his suggestion - when I went on a coffee break and everyone else was enjoying the typical donuts, sweet rolls & candy bars, I sipped a big glass of water with a slice of lemon. I played 'head games' with myself - every time I'd take a sip I'd tell myself (silently) how absolutely delicious it was and how very much I was enjoying it. I said it silently because everyone was already having a good laugh about my 'water diet'. Well, guess what - it worked! In a matter of weeks, I'd lost the weight. But, more than that - I felt better! My afternoon 'slump'was a thing of the past as were the 3 o'clock headaches.

It took about 5 years to develop the 'habit' of drinking water. Nowadays I drink at least 72 ounces a day and I weigh about 125 pounds. The first thing I want when I wake up is a big glass of water.

I recently read the book "Your Body's Many Cries for Water" by F. Batmanghelidj, M.D. (ISBN#0-0629942-3-5). It's a fascinating read, and the writer suggests that many chronic illnesses and conditions are caused by 'body dehydration'. It makes absolute sense, and if you are one of those that finds the very idea of drinking water repulsive - read this book. It will change your mind.

Kombucha - With a Water Chaser

When you received your Kombucha, you were undoubtedly told to be sure to increase your intake of water, and you probably wondered why.

As you know, Kombucha, with it's abundance of gluconic acid and other helpful components, has the ability to help detoxify the body. Well, that's great. But if the toxins in the liver are released - if the body is not able to 'flush'them out via normal elimination - then what? Do they just move around the body and take a firm hold in another area?

Take a look at your toilet. Yes, your toilet. If there is water in the tank, the toilet can be flushed. If there's NO water in the tank - what happens? It's the same with your body. No water in the tank - no flushing. Over the years, when someone reports a 'side effect' from Kombucha, such as a rash on the body or around the mouth or anus, my first question is: "how much water are you drinking?" In every case, they reply 'little or none'. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out.

So, make it a habit to 'chase' your KT with at least as much water. Whenever someone does a 'taste test' of Kombucha in my shop, I hand them a 'water chaser'.

This publication is copyrighted and the publication or portions thereof may not be used in any way without written permission from the author. All rights reserved.


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