Water, the elixir of life

Water, the elixir of life

It is important to ensure that you have a high water intake. Most people do not drink enough water and unknowingly they are chronically dehydrating their body. This causes all body tissues and fluids to become thicker and more viscous. The mucus lining in the colon fails to provide the necessary lubrication for the effective movement of faeces, when people do not drink enough water. As well as this, it is known that water is quite possibly the single most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off.

Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolise stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits.

The kidneys can't function properly without enough water. When they don't work to capacity, some of their load is dumped onto the liver. One of the liver's primary functions is to metabolise stored fat into useable energy for the body. But if the liver has to do some of the kidneys work, it can't operate at full throttle. As a result, it metabolises less fat, more fat remains stored in the body and weight loss stops.

How much water is enough?

On average, a person should drink 8 glasses or 2 litres of water every day. However, anyone who is overweight needs one additional glass of water for every 15 kg of extra weight. The amount you drink should also be increased if you exercise briskly or if the weather is hot and dry.

Ideally we should NOT drink during a meal, as water will dilute the enzymes required for correct digestion. Drink water up to ½ an hour before and not sooner than 1 hour after a meal. When the body gets the water it needs to function optimally, its fluids will be perfectly balanced. When this happens, you have reached the "breakthrough point".

This means that glandular function improves, fluid retention is alleviated as stored water is lost, more fat is used as fuel because the liver is free to metabolise stored fat, natural thirst returns and there is a loss of hunger almost overnight.

It is important to remember though, that if you eat a food toxic to the body, like junk food, you will place nutritional stress on the body. If you hurt yourself, you will have physical stress or if you get angry, you will have emotional stress. All of these things can create shock at a cell level and you will need extra water to replace the water loss from the blood stream.

If you stop drinking enough water, your body fluids will be thrown out of balance and you may experience fluid retention, unexplained weight gain and a loss of thirst.

I have found the best way to ensure we are drinking 8 glasses of water is to fill a container with this amount of water and either leave it on the bench or take it with you if you go out. Sip on this throughout the day, rather than consuming large quantities of water all at once, as your body will be more able to utilise this small amount, rather than a huge amount all at once. Then you can monitor your intake and ensure you are drinking 8 glasses daily. Juice and herb tea can be counted as part of this water intake, but tea and coffee CANNOT.

When you get up in the morning, one of the first things I like to suggest is to have a drink of water, with a squeeze of lemon juice in it. This acts as a liver flush. As well as this, the water will go straight to the bowels and will help with the first elimination of the day.