Water

Agatha M. Thrash, M.D.

Preventive Medicine

Water is a part of every cell. It transports all the foodstuffs to the cells, and the operations
within the cells occur in a watery medium. Substances in the body have to be maintained
in the solution, and secretions and wastes must be carried out of the cells by water. Water
regulates the body temperature, adjusting to the water losses and the changes in the
surroundings. Four quarts of water are constantly circulating in the body as part of the
blood.

In an obese person, the body weight is only about half water—about 55%. Whereas, in a
lean person, the body contains about 70% water (Goodman and Gilman, 1970).

Lack of adequate water intake is a burden to our body. As a result, the body reacts by
keeping extra sodium in the blood to keep up the water level as much as possible. If this
continues for too long, the body’s fluid and electrolytes (e.g. sodium, potassium, calcium,
etc.) can become very imbalanced, with resulting severe health problems.

Approximate Daily Water Losses

for an Adult in Temperate Climate
Perspiration 2.1 cups
Water lost from lungs by exhaling 1.7 cups
Water lost with feces 0.5 cups
Water lost in waste removal as urine 6.3 cups
Total daily water lost 10.6 cups
(Ford, 1974)

In hot weather the urine output is less, but the amount of water lost in sweat is enough
greater to bring the total output to approximately 14.4 cups. In prolonged heavy exercise,
the water loss is increased to approximately 28.3 cups (Guyton, 1966). This is quite a bit
of water—10 cups equals 2 ½ quarts and 20 cups equals 7 quarts. That is a lot of water to
lose.

Fortunately, however, a loving Creator has made it possible for our bodies to compensate
for these losses in three different ways:

Daily Water Gains

Water produced by oxidation of carbohydrates and fats

in the body (approximately) 1.5 cups
Water contained in the food 3.6 cups
Drinking water needed to balance water gain with water loss 5.5 cups
Total water gained by body 10.6 cups
(Ford, 1974)
Most of the water is taken orally. A relatively small amount is produced in the body from
the breakdown of food. It is imperative then that we drink plenty of water—pure, clear
water. From the chart, we can see that we must have at least 5.5 glasses to take care of the
essential needs. For optimum functioning and benefit, six to eight glasses are considered
to be best.

Start the day by drinking a glass or two of warm water. This will help to get the digestive
tract awake, cleaned out, and ready for the day's activities. It is very important to always
drink the water quota between meals and not with the meals. Water should not be washed
down; no drink is needed with meals. Eat slowly, and allow the saliva to mingle with the
food. The more liquid that is taken into the stomach with the meals, the more difficult it
is for the food to digest; for the liquid must be absorbed.

Many make the mistake of drinking cold water with their meals. Taken with meals, water
diminishes the flow of the salivary glands; and the colder the water, the greater the injury
to the stomach. Ice water, soft drinks, or ice lemonade, drunk with meals, will arrest
digestion until the system has imparted sufficient warmth to the stomach to enable it to
take up its work again.

Today it is also known that the enzymes necessary for digestion can function optimally
only at body temperature. If the temperature gets either too hot or too cold, the enzymes
can't function well and thus digestion is slowed. For best results, drink a glass of warm
water one-half to one hour before each meal. This will help to satisfy thirst and be out of
the stomach before the next meal. Then finish the day by drinking a glass or two an hour
or so before bedtime. This will fill your daily need for water and start you on the road to
feeling better and functioning with greater efficiency.

Water is the best liquid possible to cleanse the tissues both internally and externally.
However, before we close this discussion on water, let me make one distinction as to the
type of water that is best to use. Many studies have been done recently concerning
people's health with relation to the hardness or softness of water. The reports are showing
that people using softened water, or soft water, are having a higher incidence of
hypertension and heart problems. Softened water comes from an original hard water
source in which the minerals of calcium and magnesium are exchanged through a
softener to sodium ions. For people with heart problems already, this is very detrimental.
If you’re on a low-sodium diet, but drinking softened water with a high sodium content:
you’re defeating your own efforts. The problems found to be related to soft water
consumption do not seem to be related to the water itself, but rather to the pipes through
which the water passes. Soft water tends to be a little more acid and is thus capable of
dissolving harmful substances off of galvanized iron pipelines.

For more information contact:

Uchee Pines Lifestyle Center
30 Uchee Pines Road #75
Seale, Alabama 36875
Tel. 334-855-4764
www.ucheepines.org