This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Drinking Clean Water

 "Dry on the outside, dry on the inside." This is one of many noble things my Great-Auntie Aline, who passed away at the age of 105, used to say to me.  

Do you use a lot of lip balm? I used to keep a lip balm in every corner of my life - my purse, the console of the car, my nightstand, the desk in my office - this seemed normal. Since being diagnosed with many diseases 11 years ago, I recognize the caustic medicine I had been prescribed for years (prednisone, methotrexate, plaquenil, etc.) had negatively affected one of my kidneys, causing severe pain. I theorized the flank pain was attributed to dehydration. Upon reading about the importance and definition of CLEAN WATER (read examples of what clean water means HERE OR HERE) I decided to incorporate a deeper level of hydration into my life. I began setting a water alarm at 4:45 AM keeping a gallon jug of Simpson Spring water by my bed - out of direct sunlight avoiding natural algae growth (see the Simpson Store for handmade covers to protect your 5 Gallon Jugs or grab a card and make a special order using fabric of your choice). I drink one to two rounds of 10 gulps of water then go back to sleep. I have always had a long commute for work and didn't want my new education in hydration to disrupt or elongate my morning. I found that 4:45 AM was a great time to hydrate so by the time I was getting ready for work, 'my water would come out,' as I say daily with a smile. After a short time with this new experiment, I recognized the only time I was reaching for lip balm was to hand it to my daughter in the backseat of the car. While I no longer required the lip balm myself, I understood my daughter was also in need of this extra hydration.

To this day, my daughter and I continue to set a 'water alarm' at 4:45 AM daily, keeping a gallon of Simpson Spring beside the bed. We will immediately feel the impact when we forget for a few days. Lip balm is a thing of the past although we do keep those that are offered by Marshfield Trading Post and Rosie Bud Farm handy when we want to feel pretty. 

Find out what's happening in Eastonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Many dismiss the need for added hydration yet they easily take a pain medication like Tylenol or Advil for a headache or blame hay fever symptoms on allergies or pollen counts instead of educating themselves on the potential CAUSE of these warning signs the body is offering. I have compiled many facts supporting the need for added hydration from many websites below. Please read on and remember, if the cost of CLEAN WATER is a concern, you can fill a CLEAN 5 gallon jug at any of the Simpson Spring Self-Service Filling Stations 24 hours a day for only $0.75. The Self-Service Filling Stations are labeled as $0.25 per gallon but these stations are very gracious. A small amount of effort will go a long way toward a healthier way of life. It is a simple choice. 

Also, many Americans disagree on the importance and the dangers of fluoride in our water supply and our toothpaste options (see the Simpson Store for fluoride-free toothpaste). Below this article is an important link to a website detailing the dangers fluoride poses to the human body and the history of its addition to our municipal water supply. It is worth the read!

Find out what's happening in Eastonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Many health experts agree that dehydration is one of the underlying causes of most illnesses. The human body is, on average, about 75% water.

Liver 90%
Kidney 83%
Spleen 76%
Brain 85% 
Heart 79%
Intestine 75%
Cells 85%
Lungs 79%
Skin 72%
Blood 83%
Muscle 76%
Bone 35%

When there is insufficient water, every bodily function suffers and the body begins to ration water. Long-term water rationing leads to premature aging and disease.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the average adult loses more than 10 cups of water every day, simply by breathing, perspiring and eliminating waste. Dehydration results when we don't replace all the water that is used by our body during the day. Chronic dehydration occurs when small amounts of water are not replaced day after day.

Researchers estimate that 50-75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated without even knowing it. Symptoms of dehydration are often mistaken for illness. Thus, it is important to know the 12 common symptoms of dehydration:

  1. Constipation. When dehydrated, the colon removes more water than normal in order to provide fluid for other critical parts of the body.
  2. Fatigue. Water is the single source of energy in the human body. Fatigue is one of the earliest signs of dehydration.
  3. Joint problems. Cartilage is mainly water. Dehydration weakens cartilage and delays repair.
  4. Digestive disorders. Dehydration reduces the secretion of digestive juices and can also lead to acid reflux, ulcers and gastritis.
  5. Asthma and allergies. A large amount of water evaporates during normal breathing. When dehydrated, the body attempts to reduce water loss by restricting airways.
  6. High blood pressure. Blood is about 83% water. Dehydration causes blood to thicken, making it more difficult to pump throughout the body.
  7. Cholesterol. Dehydration causes cellular water loss. The body produces more cholesterol in an attempt to stop cells from losing water.
  8. Weight gain. Dehydration causes the body to store toxins in fat cells. The body will not release fat unless it is adequately hydrated to safely remove the toxins.
  9. Skin disorders. The skin is the body's largest organ of elimination. Dehydration prevents the movement of toxins through the skin and causes premature wrinkling.
  10. Liver, kidney, bladder problems. Dehydration increases the concentration of toxins that these organs must eliminate on a daily basis. The accumulation of toxic waste can cause infection, inflammation and pain.
  11. Lack of mental focus or concentration. The brain is about 95% water. Thus, dehydration can significantly impair brain and nerve cell function, including loss of memory and concentration.
  12. Premature aging. Dehydration accelerates the visible effects of aging skin as well as the withering and wrinkling effect on the internal organs.

Most of us simply do not drink enough pure water to stay hydrated. According to Dr. Batmanghelidj, author of Water for Health, for Healing, for Life, if we wait until we are thirsty to drink water, we are already dehydrated. In addition, as we get older, our thirst mechanism gradually disappears.

So how much and what type of water should we drink? Experts unanimously agree that we should drink approximately half of our body weight in ounces of water daily.

Drinking water should be filtered of contaminants, such as heavy metals, dangerous chemicals and bacteria. Scientists have also discovered that the quality and structure of water is important for hydration.

The ideal structure of water is produced by a water ionizer system and has a hexagonal (6-sided) molecular structure. Ionized water is at least six times more hydrating than regular tap, filtered, or bottled water. Thus, it easily absorbed and utilized at the cellular level. However, the choice of water should not become a limiting factor to simply drinking it.

Simpson Spring offers details surrounding the mineral content of their water and has their water tested twice per week. Many choose to brew beer or make holistic beverages like water kefir or kombucha using Simpson Spring water for this reason. Consider this local treasure as a natural part of your everyday life and going forward, your health will improve dramatically as a result.

Visit my website rRainville.com and type your questions in the Comments Section for more details on the importance of hydration and how a RAW DIET (80% raw/20% cooked) will improve your health and result in EASY WEIGHT LOSS.

Renée Rainville

Health improvement and wellness services by: 
rRainville.com
rRainvilleLLC@gmail.com 
Find Renée at the Marketplace at Simpson Spring every Saturday 10a-2p

Want to read more? Check this link!

Fluoride In Municipal Water Circa 1945

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?