A Word About Water and Minerals

A Word About Water

How long can you live without:

Air – about 2 to 5 minutes

Water – about 3 to 5 days

Food – about 2 to 3 weeks

Which is more important to your body?  First, oxygen; second, water; and third, food.

Babies are about 75 – 80% water

We decrease in water % as we age.  We should be about 70% water as adults, but most are between 50% and 60%

Most have dehydrating and acidic diets --see this website for more info: http://www.suite101.com/content/health-suffering-from-acidic-diet-a34051

The effects of aging and many diseases can be attributed to a gradual dehydration

Tap and bottled water are either stripped of naturally occurring healthy minerals or contain vast amounts of toxins

Dissolved minerals are the easiest for the body to absorb and use

Water is needed to digest our food, process fat, flush toxins, and allow all the body’s systems to work properly

Minerals the body uses dissolved in water are called electrolytes

Water metabolizes and transports nutrients essential to our body functions, including transporting oxygen to your brain!

Muscles contain much more water than fat does

Ionic minerals are required to absorb vitamins

Caffeine is a diuretic--that is, it makes you retain water and gain weight.

Sugary and salty foods take a lot more water to digest properly

Drinking too much water devoid of the proper mineral content will cause leaching of these minerals from bone and tissue, causing cramps and poor function of the body’s systems.

Brad King-Performance Nutritionist, fitness and Wellness Expert, Member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, author of 10 books says in his book, Xtreme Health:

"We are a miracle at birth. Our body is the vehicle to take us through our life's
journey. When we are born, we are approximately 70% water, however, as we age, our
water content diminishes. Unfortunately, most individuals between the ages of 30 &
40 have already lost 10 to 15% of their water stored and by the age of 65, are
lucky to still have 50%."

Aging is the process of drying up from the inside out- dehydration
Brad King- "Next to oxygen, water is unquestionably the most important nutrient
for sustaining life. Then why don't the majority of us drink enough of it? Water,
tea, soft drinks & juices are not a substitute for water- they dehydrate you."

Many so-called signs of aging are also signs and symptoms of chronic dehydration

including:

Heartburn

Dyspepia

Back pain

migraine headches

Old-age diabete

Hypentension

Rheumatoid joint pain

Autoimmune diseases

Cholesterol build-up

Dry skin

Constipation

Colitis

Tiredness

Anxiety

Depression
Dehydration is the primary cause of daytime fatigue, which slows down the
metabolism and impairs focus, concentration and physical performance.

Brad King- Xtreme Health: "Thirst is the obvious sign of dehydration, but the

truth is your body is in need of water long before needs water to create energy."

Dr. Henri Coanda- Nobel Prize winner originated the expression, "You are what you

drink." He said that water effects our health more than any other nutrient.

Even if you are drinking water daily, you are probably still dehydrated. Normal water molecules have a surface tension rating approximately 70 - 74 dynes. Our cells have a surface tension rating of approximately 45 dynes. To hydrate the cells more efficiently, the surface tension of water needs to be lower, closer to 45 dynes.

Dr. Alexis Carrell, 1912 M Nobel Prize - Medicine- "Since the molecular structure of water is the essence of all life, the man who can control that structure in cellular system will change the world."

OK, if you were able to "absorb"  (ha ha, my little pun) all that info, basically what I'm saying is this:  Not only does your body need a lot of water to function correctly, but it also needs the right mineral content in that water, both to make your body less acidic, fight disease, fight fatigue, and lose weight.  While drinks like Gatorade or Powerade say they have electrolytes, they also have a whole lot of sugar in the form of high fructose corn syrup, and they make your blood MORE acidic.

I have found that the best way to add minerals to my diet is to have them dissolved in my water.  There are several products out there that do this.  I've found one that my family has enjoyed for years--it's called X20 by Xooma.  I just stick a little packet, or "sachet" of minerals in my water bottle and shake it up, then drink it like normal and it doesn't change the taste.  If you're interested in trying it, let me know--I can let you know where to get some.  

I don't want to "flood" you with info (sorry, the puns just keep coming!) but I think cellular hydration through correct minerals is vital to optimum health, and I've been sort of keeping it a secret from the rest of the Biggest Loser seasons, but if it's one of the reasons I've felt more healthy, gotten sick a lot less, and been able to lose weight a lot quicker in the past few years, I decided I'd better share it with the group!