Have you heard of anyone you know with urinary tract infection or someone hospitalized for dehydration? These disorders and more are provoked by water imbalance or shortage in the body system. Dehydration occurs when your body intake of water and fluids falls below the minimum requirement for normal body function. Did you know that your body is composed of 75 percent water and only 25 percent solid matter? This means that three-quarters of your body weight is water. Your brain is 85 percent water and swims in saline cerebral fluid.
Water is the solvent in our systems where chemicals dissolve and get transported to different organs in the body. We depend on water for survival, because it is the physiological regulator of our body systems. Proteins, enzymes, nutrients and other substances circulate in the blood and body due to their water content. The cells in your body and brain depend on water for generating electrical energy. It helps transport oxygen, and removes waste gases. The kidneys and liver need water to clear toxins from the system. The intestinal tract requires water to reduce acidity, assimilate nutrients, and prevent constipation.
Did you sometimes feel energized after drinking a glass of water when breaking fast during Ramadan? I did and I shall explain why this burst of energy happens. Water is a main energy provider. It irrigates your vascular, digestive, hormonal, glandular, circulatory and immune systems. Water regulates your body temperature through sweating and electrical signals.
One very important warning should be addressed to pregnant women. Your need for water increases during gestation. Your fetus swims in amniotic fluid drawing all its needs of water from your body. Unless you replenish your system with enough water to provide your requirement and your baby’s, you will suffer from internal dehydration resulting in several disorders as I did.
I was young and unaware of this vital need. Due to morning sickness, I was under the impression that the nausea increased with drinking. So I drank minimal liquids inducing hyper-acidity, the less water the more acidity, more digestive problems, more constipation complications, and more suffering marking my health for years. Fortunately after many years, I discovered by chance that increased water intake put an end to my years of misery with hyper-acidity that disturbed my sleep, damaged my gums, upset my digestive tract, and destroyed my pleasures for food. I was afraid of trying anything new, solid or liquid; lest it sparked acidity, coughing, and an endless sore throat (I thought I had throat cancer).
After reading Dr. Batmanghelidj’s book about the importance of water to the human body, I, furthermore, increased my water intake to 8 to 10 glasses a day (one glass a half hour before meals to reduce acidity). Now, I feel more energetic and free of acid reflux.
Please review your water intake and reduce dehydrating substances such as coffee and tea. They are negative liquids that induce the body to rid itself from essential fluids resulting in unnoticeable dehydration that appears with symptoms of body aches, pains and other disorders.
Chronic dehydration symptoms can mask the underlying cause (water deficiency) of many physiological ailments for which you continue popping pills and medication sparking more pain and symptoms. Symptoms start with headaches, allergies, fatigue and hypertension to become chronic migraines, auto-immune diseases, cancer, depression and heart disease.
Our bodies daily utilize as much as 6 to 8 glasses of water through the respiratory, vascular, digestive, circulatory and other systems. We need to replenish this loss that results from evaporation and elimination with at least the same amount of pure water. Don’t wait for signs of thirst because sometimes hunger pangs can mask the sensation of thirst. The next time you feel hungry drink a glass of water to identify the true sensation. This way you also avoid unnecessary snacks that lead to obesity.
The elderly in particular should drink without waiting for thirst signals as thirst sensation diminishes with age, leading to dehydration. Water also helps prevent memory loss. A recent German study indicated that water deficiency in school children temporarily diminishes their abilities to learn and concentrate. Pure water is also essential in cleansing the body systems from toxic deposits in the kidneys, liver, brain, joints, tissues, and other parts. To keep the skin taut and young, you should nourish it with enough water. Athletes and active people should increase their water and mineral intake as they loose much of both elements with perspiration. Summer high temperatures require you to drink sufficient water, too.
Natural spring or well water (Hada and Najran) come in all size bottles. Foreign bottled water from France and other countries are also available everywhere in town. Locally purified water in gallons can be delivered to your home by the distributor. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of water, because it appears to be the cure to the root of many diseases. Water is the essence of life as the Qur’an asserts: “And We have created all living things from water.” (21:30).
(Mariam Alireza is a holistic science specialist. Send comments to [email protected].)
