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Water
It is hard to over-emphasise the importance of water to both our survival and health. However you look at it, we are mostly water – three-quarters by weight and water molecules account for 99% of the molecules in our bodies!
As we grow we take on water until we reach full adult size, after which there is a slow process of dehydration until we eventually die. This can be exacerbated by lifestyle factors such as consumption of coffee, tea, alcohol and colas and drinking inadequate quantities of water.
This means that the relative proportion of our body water changes over a lifetime from plump, water-filled cells to shrivelled cells in a watery soup. It is these changes that adversely affect the efficiency of our cells as we get older.
All of the billions of chemical reactions that occur within the body take place in water, however, our brains in particular are extremely water dependent. Although they only account for about 2% of our body weight they get 20% of our circulating blood and oxygen. Proper functioning of all our processes relies upon the brain - which is a fatty blancmange containing 85% water.
How much is enough?
The body keeps no store of water (unlike stores of energy as glycogen and fat and some vitamins) so it can only allocate water as it has a supply. Even just existing, we need to replace the 2 litres (4 pints) of water a day that is lost through sweating, moisture in our breath, urinating, tears, defecating and menstruation. Our bodies ensure that the vital organs have the constant supply of water they need in order for us to survive.
Many people only drink when they feel thirsty and regard that as good enough. The problem is that even when your body is quite severely dehydrated it will still produce saliva to facilitate swallowing, chewing - and survival. Thirst is really the last alarm signal. Our bodies give out a series of distress signals as they become progressively more dehydrated, which we usually misinterpret and often suppress using pharmaceutical drugs. The alarm is not heeded and the body progresses to disease.
Reasons to drink water
Adequate water supplies are essential for:
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Blood to flow efficiently transporting nutrients and oxygen to the tissues
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The lymphatic system to take waste away from the tissues for elimination
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Proper brain function – the brain is very sensitive to dehydration and also is unique in being able to use water to create energy
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Cushioning and lubricating the joints and vertebrae
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The manufacture of saliva, the mucous that keeps our mucous membranes moist and pliable and our digestive juices
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Diluting acids in the body creating a more beneficial alkaline environment
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Plumping and moisturising our skin
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Regulation of body temperature
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A healthy colon where water helps to bulk up waste and keep it moving - producing less waste and toxicity
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The kidneys which need a certain volume and pressure of blood to function and excrete acids
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Control of blood cholesterol
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Regulation of blood pressure
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Prevention of headaches and migraines
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Prevention of fatigue and allergic reactions
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To keep flushing toxic wastes out of the body through the kidneys and to keep replenishing the water both within and around the cells
Signs of chronic dehydration
Chronic dehydration can manifest in seemingly unconnected ways some of which are listed below:
Dyspepsia/stomach ulceration Water is required to produce the stomach’s protective mucous and, if deficient, may permit acid ulceration of the membranes lining the stomach.
Morning sickness This may be the baby’s dehydration alarm signal via the pregnant mother.
Alzheimer’s disease Dehydration of the sensitive brain cells may be a contributory factor.
Constipation This may be caused by the body recovering water from the bowel when dehydrated.
Hiatus hernia Inadequate supplies of water mean that there is insufficient production of the alkaline pancreatic digestive juices which counter the highly acidic stomach contents as they enter the small intestine. This means that the stomach cannot empty into the duodenum where its contents could cause grave damage. The stomach thus retains and churns the contents and acid regurgitation is thought to be the body preparing to expel the stomach contents.
Rheumatoid arthritis This may be the abrasive damage caused by dehydrated joints coupled with swelling of the joint capsule in an attempt by the body to obtain a secondary supply of fluid to the joint surface.
Back pain The discs between the vertebra use hydraulic pressure to support the weight of the body and rely upon movement to ‘pump’ this water. Flexing and extending the neck and back slowly helps to pump fluid into the discs.
Depression The brain primarily uses electrical energy generated from water and dehydration means that this method of energy production is diminished. A decrease in this governing brain activity necessarily has serious implications for the whole body.
Chronic fatigue Dehydration coupled with stress may initiate a cascade of hormones which ready the body for pain and mobilise stored energy.
What to drink
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Tea, coffee, alcohol, caffeinated and manufactured drinks are all dehydrating. Also, beware the healthy-looking flavoured waters which usually contain chemical flavourings and sweeteners (check the labels).
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Any water is probably better than no water - or the alternatives. Tap water is hygienic but may contain chlorine, fluorine, herbicides, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and toxic metals. Tap water can be drawn and/or boiled and left to stand in a wide necked non-plastic container (preferably on a windowsill in the sun) and these processes allow the chlorine to evaporate.
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Simple jug carbon filters are cheap and better than nothing. Reverse osmosis filters can be fitted to your tap water and remove nearly 100 impurities including fluoride and naturally occurring minerals. Although there is an initial start-up cost, this method provides a plentiful supply thereafter relatively cheaply.
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Bottled mineral waters vary in mineral content and are reputed to have curative properties – especially those high in magnesium such as Badoit.
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Sparkling water has added phosphates and the bubbles are either coming straight back up ¬- or going down!
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Water can be flavoured with fruit juice (orange, lemon, lime, apple, cranberry, grape, pineapple), slices of fruit or vanilla essence. Herbal teas also count toward your daily water ration and chunks of lemon and/or ginger in hot water are delicious.
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Ideally though you just want to drink room temperature plain water. Ice cold drinks shock the stomach and cause it to contract.
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When it comes to domestic water supplies, also be aware that most people absorb multiples of any chlorine absorbed from drinking municipal water in the shower and/or bath. For this reason you may want to purchase shower heads that filter the water or have your entire domestic water supply filtered and treated.
When to drink
You need to have a system for making sure you are drinking the necessary amount and that you don’t backslide!
Buy or fill a bottle at the beginning of each day and keep it on your kitchen counter or desk. Pour yourself a glass regularly and sip. Drinking too much water too quickly is counterproductive. Your body may take a week or two to readjust. Even when drinking 2 litres (4 pints) of water a day it may take months for the effects of chronic dehydration to reverse – like watering parched soil.
If you are worried about having to get up in the night, restrict your fluid intake after 9 pm.
Try not to drink water with food because it dilutes the digestive juices. Drink half an hour before or after a meal
Hunger mid-morning (when you have had breakfast) is often a sign of dehydration and an indication that you should be drinking more, earlier in the day.
A cup of warm water with a slice of lemon added first thing in the morning stimulates the bowels and helps to wash away mucous from the previous day.
Alcohol intolerance
A lot of people with fatigue syndromes become alcohol intolerant, most probably because the liver detoxification pathways required to detoxify alcohol become overloaded or exhausted. The toxic metals, in particular mercury, which underscore these illnesses promote the overgrowth of yeasts which means that the liver is constantly having to detoxify the endogenous alcohol that the yeast produces. The liver detoxification pathways concerned with detoxifying metals may become exhausted of required nutrients and this may also be a factor.
Many fatigue syndrome sufferers find that they feel especially bad after drinking alcohol produced either by grapes or grains which includes wine, bitter, lager, whisky, brandy and sherry. Some may find that they can tolerate modest amounts of spirits made from other sources such as tequila (made from cactus); gin (juniper berries); rum (sugar cane); sake (rice); Campari (secret formula – but seems OK) and any spirit made from other fruits such as Cointreau (oranges), Limoncello (lemons) or Dubonnet (blackcurrants). Some can also tolerate champagne because it is double-fermented and lower in yeast than wine.
Basically though, your liver is struggling to detoxify alcohol and if you are hot, sweaty or restless or suffer with insomnia then drinking alcohol should be the first thing to go. Alcohol only appears to aid sleep but actually profoundly disrupts sleep patterns and may leave you restless after a few hours of unconsciousness.
Further resources
Please refer to chapter 14 of Chronic Fatigue, M.E., and Fibromyalgia: The Natural Recovery Plan for more on this topic.
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