I’ve always been a huge proponent of water, so a few years ago I started looking for books to explain – in layman’s terms – just what it is that’s so whizz-bang, golly-gee good about drinking water. “Your Body’s Many Cries For Water,” written by F. Batmanghelidj, M.D., was quite effective in convincing me of the fact that water is more closely tied to our overall health and well-being than I ever imagined. Instead of writing up a huge review, however, I’m just going to type out some of the more interesting points that I highlighted in the book. Kind of a “Kevin’s Notes,” on it all, if you will.

Kevin
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Since every function of the body is monitored and pegged to the flow of water, “water management” is the only way of making sure that adequate amounts of water and it’s transported nutrients first reach the more vital organs that will have to confront and deal with any new “stress.”

The brain is 1/50th of the total body weight, but it receives 18-20 percent of the body’s circulation.

The human body is composed of 24% solid matter (solute), and 75% water (the solvent). Brain tissue is said to consist of 85% water.

The regulating neurotransmitter systems become increasingly active during the regulation of water requirements of the body. Their actions should not be continuously blocked by the use of medication.

Water is a natural medication for a variety of health complications.

Morning sickness is a thirst signal for both the mother and the fetus.

Since the water we drink provides for cell function and its volume requirements, the decrease in our daily water intake affects the efficiency of cell activity.

Chronic pains of the body that cannot be easily explained as injury or infections should first and foremost be interpreted as signals of chronic water shortage in the area where pain is registered.

Dehydration plays a major role in the precipitation of migraine headaches.

With dehydration, the level of energy generation in the brain is decreased. This “depressive state” causes dehydration, and can to chronic fatigue syndrome. Consequently, dehydration causes stress, and stress will cause further dehydration.

Everytime a cell gives rise to a daughter cell, 75% or more of its volume has to be filled with water. In short, growth depends on the availability of water.

The natural stimulants in coffee and tea are larger quanities of caffeine, and, hence a strong central nervous stimulant. At the same time, they are dehydrating agents because of their strong diuretic action on the kidneys.

The effect of caffeine may at times be considered desireable, but constant substituting of caffeine-containing drinks for water will deprive the body of it’s full capacity for the formation of hydroelectric energy.

Excessive caffeine intake will eventually exhaust the heart muscle because of its over-stimulation.

It has been shown that caffeine inhibits a most important enzyme system – PDE (phoso-di-esterase) that are involved in the process of learning and memory development.

Dehydration is the number one stressor of the human body – or ANY living matter.

Brain cells are said to be made up of 85% water. 20% of our blood circulation is allocated and made available to the brain. When food is eaten, only about 20% of it reaches the brain. The rest will gradually become stored if muscle activity does not use up it’s allocated portion. With water as a source of energy, this storage does not happen. Excess water is passed out in the form of urine.

The mistake assumption that all fluids are equivalent to water for the water needs of the human body is a main cause of many of the ills of the human body, and is frequently associated with the initial and excessive gain in weight.

Caffeine, one of the main components of most sodas, is a drug. It has addictive properties because of its direct action on the brain. Caffeine has diuretic properties. Physiologically, it is a dehydrating agent.

Hence, caffeinated diet sodas in sedentary persons must cause weight gain; they indirectly stimulate more food intake because of the brains forced use of its energy reserves.

Reduce orange juice intake to one or at most two glasses a day. Orange juice has a high potassium content, and high loads of potassium in the body can promote more than usual histamine productions.

Salt is a natural anti-histamine. People with allergies should begin to increase their salt intake to prevent excessive histamine production.

In order of their importance, oxygen, water, salt and potassium rank as the primary elements for the survival of the human body.
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Bottom Line? Whatever ails you, try drinking two 8 oz. glasses of water to see if your problem stems from a lack of hydration. Be sure to visit his website at www.watercure.com for more information and interesting anecdotes.