If weight is gained, dramatically increase your consumption of water to lose weight, bulk and size.  One gallon per day is needed for optimal health.  By the time thirst kicks in, we are already 40% dehydration. Additionally, living and structured water helps with:

• enzyme activation
• assists in the efficient removal of toxins
• provides super cellular hydration and revitalization
• increased oxygenation at the cellular level
• neutralizes free-radicals
• and assists in deep cleansing. (Keszainn)

The brain is said to be 85% percent water, and is extremely sensitive to depletion.  Without sufficient water to constantly wet all cells, our body’s drought-management system kicks into action.  Over time, and consistently depriving the body of water, causes the chemical messenger systems that would normally be activated, to arrange for a new, low quota of water for the drought-stricken area.  So over time we feel that we are not thirsty even though we are actually quite dehydrated.

It is important to note that Pain is related to dehydration in the body.  Pain is from lack of water. Common pains from dehydration:

• Heartburn
• Rheumatoid Pain
• Back pain
• Anginal pain –Heart
• Headaches
• Leg pain on walking

In advanced societies, thinking that tea, coffee, alcohol, bottled drinks, and sodas are desirable substitutes for the “stressed” body is a catastrophic mistake.  Although these beverages contain water, they also contain dehydrating agents.  These dehydrating agents get rid of the water they are dissolved in, plus some more water from the reserves of the body.  (Batmanghelidj 6) While stimulating the central nervous system, they act as dehydrating agents because of their strong diuretic action on the kidneys.

These central nervous system stimulants liberate energy from the ATP storage pool, and convert ATP to its burnt stage of cyclic AMP in the cells.  ATP is the source of biological energy. (Cousens 475-497)  As water flows across the cell membrane, it creates hydroelectric energy.  As it crosses, it creates a cell membrane electrical differential.  The movement of healthy water into the system actually brings energy into the whole system.  Higher energy levels are conducive to weight loss.

We all know about the final effect of caffeine which seems desirable at times, but constant substituting of caffeine drinks for water deprives the body of its full capacity for the formation of hydroelectric energy.  (Batmanghelidj 68-69)  Excess caffeine will also deplete the ATP-stored energy in the brain and body. Caffeine drinks bind to hydrogen and prevent hydration.   This is a possible contributing factor for short attention spans in some cola-consuming people, or chronic fatigue syndrome as a result of excess coffee consumption.

Although these sugar drinks do not contribute directly to the caloric intake of the body, diet sodas ultimately cause weight gain.  Again, caffeine has diuretic properties, and is physiologically a dehydrating agent.  This is why a person is compelled to drink so many cans or bottles of soda each day and are never satisfied.  The water does not remain in the body long enough.

At the same time, many persons confuse their thirst with hunger.  Assuming that they have had enough water through the drinking of the soda, they then further assume themselves to be hungry, when they are actually thirsty.  They then begin to eat more than their bodies need for food.  Thus, dehydration caused by caffeine containing sodas, in due time, will cause a gradual gain in weight from overeating as a direct result of confusion of thirst and hunger sensations. (Batmanghelidj 105-6)

Know that continued and prolonged dehydration quiets the body’s sophisticated thirst signals, shuts off capillaries, and then allows disease to ensue in the affected area.  Because of a gradually failing thirst sensation, our body becomes chronically dehydrated from an early adult age.  Unfortunately, medical practitioners silence these signals with chemical products such as aspirin, and other prescription drugs, when the simple physiologic cure of water could prevent a multitude of common illnesses.

 

The Role of Water in Fat Metabolism

 

The metabolism slows down with dehydration.  Incredible as it may seem, water is quite possibly the single most important catalyst in the metabolism of fats.  Studies have shown that a decrease in water consumption may enhance fat storage, while an increase in water intake can suppress the appetite naturally.

The importance of water consumption may be related to the kidneys inability to function properly without an adequate supply of water.

An increase in the consumption of water is the most effective treatment for fluid retention.

Although diuretics may temporarily reduce water retention, they also deplete the body of essential nutrients and impair metabolism.

Water also aids in the relief of constipation.

Water acts as a solvent of poisons and waste.

Water has an electrical and mineral content that helps to regulate all the functions in the body.

Another wonderful quality of water is its role as a universal antioxidant.  The high-electron charge of healthy water brings electrons into the system so they are able to destroy free radical activity. (Cousens 481-2)

On the average, an individual should drink approximately 96 ounces, (3 liters) of water at least per day. However, individuals desiring to shed pounds should drink an additional eight (8) ounces of water for every 25 pounds over their ideal weight. (see chart below)  Water intake should also be increased if the individual is exercising briskly or residing in a hot climate.  For superior health, a gallon of water should be consumed each day.

 

For example:

If one is:	Ideal Weight	25 pounds overweight	50 pounds overweight	75 pounds overweight	100 pounds overweight
Minimum water consumption	96 ounces (3 liters)	96 ounces	<96 ounces	96 ounces	96 ounces
Plus		+8 oz.	+16 oz.	+24 oz.	+32 oz.
Equals Total Daily Water Intake	96 ounces	104 ounces	112 ounces	120 ounces	128 ounces

 

When the body gets the water it needs to function optimally, its fluids are perfectly balanced.  When this happens, you have reached the “breakthrough” point.  What does this mean?

1. Endocrine gland function improves
2. Fluid retention is alleviated as stored water is lost.
3. More fat is used as fuel because the liver is free to metabolize stored fat resulting in weight loss.
4. There is a loss of hunger almost overnight translating into further weight loss.

 

Other Dehydration Issues:

 

• Pregnancy: The first indicator for water needs of the fetus and the mother seems to be morning sickness during the early phase of pregnancy. Stated another way, morning sickness of the mother is a thirst signal of both the fetus and the mother. (Batmanghelidj 15)
• Headaches / Migraines: Brain function takes precedence over all other body systems—the brain is 1/50^thof the total body weight, yet it receives 18-20 percent of blood circulation. The brain uses electrical energy that is generated by the hydrogen ions crossing the cell membrane barrier, or the water drive of the of the energy generation pumps. With dehydration, the level of energy generation is decreased and headaches, and or depression ensues.  Got a headache?  Drink water to alleviate this pain. (Batmanghelidj 56)
• Dyspeptic (Stomach) Pain: The cells in the lining of the stomach need to be hydrated and flushed between meals to get rid of acids and to develop a certain alkalinity.  When we are dehydrated, or we don’t drink before meals, we actually cause a thinning of the stomach cell membrane buffer zone, and it does not protect our stomachs from naturally secreted stomach acids. (Cousens 482)  When a glass of water is drunk, it immediately passes into the intestine and is absorbed.  Within a half hour, nearly the same amount of water is secreted into the stomach for food digestion.  (Batmanghelidj 29)  (Note: *Water should be drunk prior to meals—not necessarily during the meal.   The act of digestion is dependent upon copious amounts of water to break the food down into a homogenized fluid state that can pass through the intestine.  With sufficient water, a natural buffer is established, secreting sodium bicarbonate to neutralize the stomach acid.  Circumventing this process allows the acid to get to the mucosal layer of the stomach, causing pain.
• Alzheimer’s Disease: In prolonged dehydration, the brain cells begin to shrink in the same way that a plum gradually turns into a prune.  The brains of Alzheimer’s patients are always found to be shrunken during autopsy.  85% of the brain is water.  When the brain starts to dehydrate, the neurons dehydrate and shrink.  This is a significant contributor to senility.  (Cousens 480)
• Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain: The cartilage surfaces of bones in a joint contain water.  The lubricating property of this water is utilized in the cartilage allowing the two opposing surfaces to freely glide over one another during joint movement.  In a well-hydrated cartilage, the rate of friction damage is minimal. In a dehydrated cartilage, the rate of abrasive damage is increased, minimizing joint efficiency.  Arthritis pain has to be treated with a consistent and regular increase in water intake to produce some dilution of blood that is circulating to the area until the cartilage is fully hydrated, and repaired from its base attachment to the bone. (Batmanghelidj 41-45) Gentle bending of the joints in the area to bring more circulation is also indicated.
• Back Pain: This is the result of the intervertebral discs becoming dehydrated. These discs normally create a space cushion between the vertebrae by virtue of how much water they can hold.  When dehydrated the upper body weight that they cushion against begins to bear down on the intervertebrae spaces and put pressure on the intervertebral nerves.  With proper hydration and time, the pressure on the nerves begins to alleviate and back pain subsides. (Cousens 482-3)
• High Blood Pressure: When we don’t drink sufficient water to serve all the needs of the body, some cells become dehydrated and lose some of their water to the circulation. Capillary beds in some areas are forced to close to adjust for the slack.  In water shortage, 66% is taken from the water volume normally held inside the cells; 26% is taken from the volume held outside the cells; and 8% is taken from the blood volume.   Hypertension occurs because the blood vessels are forced to close their lumen or constrict to cope with the loss in blood volume.  This process begins by closing some capillaries in less-active areas.  When we exercise, the capillaries open more, and hold a greater volume of blood.  This is why adequate water coupled with exercise reduces blood pressure.  It is scientific absurdity to take diuretics to get rid of water when it is so crucially needed to regulate blood pressure.

By ignoring our thirst mechanism early on, and by substituting water for manufactured drinks, our thirst mechanism eventually becomes switched off, and does not alert us that we are dehydrating.  Even if one is not thirsty, it is important to drink our daily quota of water for proper fluid balance, efficient body functioning and weight control.   In millions of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak from dehydration that it is mistaken for hunger.  One of the best ways to lose weight is to drink when you are hungry—because in reality, you are probably thirsty.

 

Batmanghelidj, Dr. F. Your Body’s Many Cries for Water. Falls Church : Global Health Solutions, Inc., 1997.

Cousens, Dr. Gabriel. Spiritual Nutrition. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books, 2005.

Keszainn, Arttemis. “Living and Structured Water: The Fountain of Youth.” New Earth Center Conference Talk. Austin: Arttemis and Krystalle Keszainn, August 11, 2010.