"Water is Life, with it, Everything. Without it, Nothing"
Native American saying
"Agua es vida, con ella todos, sin ella, nada."
Ranking 2nd in importance only to oxygen itself, a healthy, reasonably hydrated person can go approximately 3-8 days without water. Those who have had this experience include those who deliberately take on a "dry fast" (no food or water for a limited time) and those who get stranded out in the wild and run out of water. Otherwise, the human is always reaching if not for water itself, some liquid which has water as its basis.
The human being is composed of between 65-80% water. The younger you are, the more watery you are, with babies weighing in around 80%. Women are more watery than men, generally speaking. The rest of our bodies are composed of the elements found in the earth's crust. Human body water, or blood, is not just any water. It is sea water, salt water, which matches and mirrors the waters in our oceans and seas. Salt is necessary nutrient which governs the retention of our body-water.
To the peril of living beings, in today's world, life on earth has been subjected to additional elements, which include over 300,000 synthetic chemicals and molecules which have been introduced into our ecosystem over the 150-300 years, most of which are not only not necessary for heath and life, and have no helpful role in the physiology of living beings-- they are down right toxic. These synthetic chemicals turn out to be the drivers of much chronic dis-ease which plague people today. I'm talking about GMOs, pesticides, glycosphates, herbicides, fungicides etc. Why are they here if they do not support organic life and cause dis-ease? Because there is money in selling chemicals--that's why.
In today's world, everyone is concerned about their health, and rightly so. With chronic dis-ease on the rise and new emergency illnesses cropping up right and left, people are starting to finally pay attention to the quality of what they are ingesting.
On the topic of nutrition and supplementation, there is a much discussion, particularly in the alternative health sector with its endless discussion of nutritional supplements. Which are best? Which brand is best, are vitamins more important than minerals? What about anti-oxidants and herbs? While these are totally valid concerns, what is actually of more importance is what you wash these down with.
Water is needed to transport compounds via the blood, maintain cellular structural integrity, regulate temperature, and many other functions. If you're dehydrated, you won't even be able to think effectively. This is common in the elderly, who sometimes "forget" to drink water.
The climate you live in, your age, your activity level and health status are all governing factors in the amount of water you'll need to drink. Domestic animals in otherwise good health can live for approximately 60 days without food (!) but only seven days without water.
Oriental medicine, including both Ayurveda and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) has the beautiful and holistic concept of the "Water Element" in the body. "Water Element" refers to all the body's fluids, which are at their base, mostly water. And here the concept of cleansing comes in. The human is essentially a water-bag, a skin-encased water balloon. How clean is your water? Are you polluted? It is increasingly becoming recognized, at least in the alternative health sector that you are only as healthy as your water is clean.
Water Element includes blood, lymph, tears, sweat urine, saliva, etc. Chinese Medicine always speaks about "tonifying water element" particularly for women, and there are certain foods and herbs to use to do just that. One can "tonify one's water element" through eating juicy fruits which are rich in structured water and incredibly hydrating, in addition to drinking water from a high quality source. Water element can also be tonified (i.e. fortified) by eating and drinking pure foods and drinking adequate amount of a high quality water.
Proper hydration supports, enhances and is essential for the following natural functions in the human body:
Builds Saliva
Regulates Body Temp
Protects Tissues, spinal cord and joints
Enables excretion of waste
Maximizes physical performance
Aids digestion / prevents constipation
Assist nutrient absorption
Affects blood O2 levels
Aids cognitive function
Benefits and beautifies skin
Assists collagen production
Since water is such a foundation of life itself, it is incredibly important to consider the quality of water you drink. Questions such as:
Is tap water safe?
Do I need to buy a filter?
What about bottled water?
Distilled water?
Well water?
Filtered Water?
RO Water?
I don't drink water because I don't like the taste
All these questions are considered on this website.
Please read on!
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