Drink More Water. Here's Why...
(Tools for the Toolbox)
It’s your desire to stay looking and feeling healthy and youthful, right? Hey, isn’t it everybody’s? Yet, did you know that one of the keys to the kingdom may be right before your eyes, is free, and you may need to make better use of it? In this article, I’d like to enlighten you. I want to share what I know about your best guard against aging—one that is in front of you and easily accessible. Let’s discuss then why you should drink more water.
Are You Dehydrated?
You may not even know it, but your body could be dehydrated. After all, it takes a lot of water to make your engine go. Before we discuss how much, let’s first establish your body’s environment; it’s no secret it is comprised predominately of water. Your brain, your cells, and your blood are all primarily water. In his book You’re Not Sick You’re Thirsty, Dr. Batmanghelidj makes the leap: if you suffer from any of the following conditions, your body is telling you that it’s dehydrated. Here they are [1]:
Asthma
Allergies
Hypertension
Constipation
Type II diabetes
Autoimmune diseases
For anti-aging and longevity purposes, prematurely drying and wrinkling skin is another sign of dehydration. In his book, Dr. Batmanghelidj imagines a ripe plum dried in the summer sun to create a wrinkly, bitter prune. What if, just with the addition of water, all of our prunes could become plumbs once again (or never prune in the first place)? Now you’re talking my language (smiling).
Drink More Water? How Much Water?
I’m not here to suggest drinking your fair share of water can reverse or even prevent all of these afflictions (although Dr. B does). I suggest that by upping your water intake, you can improve your health and how you look. Why would you not do it?
Dr. B. suggests drinking eight, eight-ounce glasses of water daily for his Water Cure. He does indicate that the timing of that water drinking is a crucial element, but I, like you, am busy, so I don’t think about the exact timing of my water drinking—in fact, I drink my water in “flushes.” I aim to drink one-half gallon of water daily, and you could do worse than following this protocol. I do try to space it out over time because, of course, there is an elimination process to deal with. If I “flush” with one large glass at a time, the trips to the bathroom are minimal. I’ll tell you more about my “flushing” program soon.
But, Laura, I'm not too fond of Water.
My dear father, whom I love to the moon and beyond, would never heed my recommendation to drink more water. He liked coffee, some soda, mostly milkshakes, and any other beverage that wasn’t water. He’s not alone; I have many people who give me a similar stance. “But, Laura, I don't like water,” they say frequently. If you are a soda drinker or like “pop,” as they say here in Upstate New York, you may want to ask yourself—if I am what I consume, what am I doing to my body? Water will flush toxins, plump your cells into that elusive plumb condition, hydrate your blood, and, arguably, prevent illnesses. Don't you owe it to yourself to give it a try?
True story: I have been slack about my water consumption in the past. I started slipping, consuming less and less, and eating more sugary “comfort foods,” as it were. After a trip to the doctor, my insulin was creeping up into the “resistant” range—it was quite a wake-up call. Therefore, between visits, I made some changes. This time, on my trip to the M.D., my insulin was back within normal limits. I cut out much of the extra “cheat day” cookies and sweets and started back on my water-flushing cure.
Why Fluoride Is Not Your Friend.
If you’ve decided for your health, for your longevity, or for other reasons, you may want to heed my advice and increase your water intake to make your body that precious plum I speak of, there's another issue at hand. What kind of water should you drink? This is where the rubber hits the road, and things get a bit more complicated. The reason? Fluoride is not your friend.
With all the best intentions to please the dentistry profession, adding fluoride to water does not make it safer. I’m not the only one saying this. In his book Never Be Sick Again, author Raymond Francis, M.Sc., says, “Fluoride is more toxic than lead and only slightly less toxic than arsenic [2].” This idea and all other inorganic compounds that come with municipal water (some may include medications, lead, arsenic, and other toxic chemicals) prove that you must do your best to remove them.
How Do You Do This?
According to the research I’ve read, if your answer is to drink bottled water, you might be misguided. In most cases, bottled water is glorified tap water, and many studies on the interwebs will back this information up. What’s a body to do?
You will want to filter your water.
The best process, according to research, is through reverse osmosis, a filter that attaches to your water system and removes the gook before the water exits your tap. Yet, I’m realistic. Most people want to avoid sticking a filter under their sink. If this is the case with you, and you’re ready to become a precious plum, do your research concerning water pitchers. Some new ones, Zero Water and pH Restore, claim they can filter fluoride from water. It’s worth checking out. Where I live, we have a beautiful water source from our nearby Canandaigua Lake. However, I’ve realized that they add fluoride to our water after further research. Thus, I’m shopping around until I can find a reasonable replacement for my faithful Brita.
Why I Started Thinking About Drinking More Water As An Anti-Aging Regimen.
In her New Put Old On Hold, one of my favorite authors on aging, Barbara Morris, touts water as one of the main ways she keeps herself vibrant and youthful. Barbara is in her late 80s, and I've been following her through her writings since she was in her early 70s. She’s promised me that with some sound, doable ideas, we could all Put Old On Hold and not meet with our maturity by playing shuffleboard at the local Senior Center. Her mission has been to help others live life (in mind and body) at a rate 20 years their junior. She is living proof, and I am pleased to consider her my mentor. She’s a living example of vibrant maturity! Please check her work out for yourself. My favorite books include Put Old On Hold, and I Don’t Want to Be My Mother.
Drink More Water And Lose Weight.
One of the most exciting things I’ve read in Dr. B’s book You’re Not Sick Your Thirsty is his prescription for losing weight using water. During the chemical metabolism of food in the body, lipase is an enzyme that helps to break down fat stores. During this emulsification of fat, you lose weight even if you don't do much to change your eating program.
Although I promote a calorie-reduction diet program to lose weight and increase longevity, his premise rings true. If you up your water intake, the water will bind to the fat molecules. This action will assist lipase in doing its work in the body to excrete fat stores and help you lose weight [3]. The added water also makes you feel full, so the tendency for you to eat less is advanced. If you are not at your ideal weight, I suggest upping your water intake first before tackling your diet program. Why not see if you can’t shed some initial pounds with his method before going full force?
Drink More Water and Help Prevent or Reverse Osteoarthritis.
If you think about how your joints are created, a cartilage cushion between them gets worn away or depressed in size over time and with active use. Dr. B makes the case that by increasing your water intake, the cells between your joints are “plumped up,” increasing the cushioning effect [4]. I, too, have found this to be true. My main acid testing of all joint theories lies in using the stairs. If I hear creaking, grinding, or any other such noises when I’m walking upward, I know it's time to implement a new joint management strategy. Since I’ve been drinking more water, there is an ease in my ability to climb. I’m in no pain, and the noises I once heard are gone. I continue to exercise with the McKenzie method, of course, and frequently walk outside and on the treadmill, but these activities have become much smoother, and my joints have an increased glide to them. Power to the plumb!
Drink More Water: Try My Water “Flush.”
I hope I’ve convinced you that you’d like to increase your water intake and see what benefits it may offer. If true, may I also suggest you get your eight to 10 eight-ounce glasses through my “flushing” method? It is uncomplicated and will take a little of your time. It will also decrease your trips to the bathroom due to increased water intake.
To flush, I fill a 25-ounce bottle with cold, filtered water and down the contents in minutes. I practice this method four times daily and spread my flushes throughout the day or when it’s most convenient. It’s really that simple. I do one solid flush in the morning when taking the bulk of my vitamins, then follow up with a second. I then repeat the process in the evening, “flushing” twice. This alone has helped me to feel hydrated—and then, if I desire, I can sip some “bonus” water in the gaps of the day.
As a sidebar: Please feel free to drink your water before you feel thirsty. Your body will be dehydrated well before this time, and you’ll need to keep it hydrated all day long. As we age, the desire to drink water decreases, so you will do well to take it upon yourself to get your “flushes” in. That's just my two cents (smiling).
Drink More Water, In Conclusion.
If longevity and quality of life are your game, as mine, you will want to get used to drinking more water to hydrate your body and keep it healthy for the long haul. If you are on any medications, this especially rings true. Medications are a separate subject altogether, and I hope you keep them to a bare minimum as you age. Like fluoride, they are not your friend. But, if you must take them, drink your share of water and flush as many of the medicinal toxins from your organs as possible.
Will drinking water prevent or reverse all of the issues as touted by Dr. B in his book? I do hope so. Yet, I cannot make the claims to say for sure. We could all do well to drink more water, however. As I’ve stated here, there are so many reasons to add this strategy to your longevity arsenal. I hope this information helps you think about the free and easy ways you can help build a body that is meant to last. That is my mission to keep you well-informed.
Disclaimer: This article was written for informational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat, or give counsel on any healthcare issues. Before beginning any significant changes to your healthcare program, please consult your doctor first.
References:
1. Batmanghelidj, F., M.D., You’re Not Sick You’re Thirsty. New York: Warner Books, Inc.
2. Raymond, F., M.Sc. Never Be Sick Again. Florida: Health Communications, Inc.
3. Batmanghelidj, F., M.D., You’re Not Sick You’re Thirsty. New York: Warner Books, Inc.
4. Batmanghelidj, F., M.D., You’re Not Sick You’re Thirsty. New York: Warner Books, Inc.