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COUGHS AND COLD
The most important and easiest form of prevention is the common cold is sometimes also the most overlooked: sufficient fluid replacement. Fluids flush out harmful impurities and toxins in our bodies, and aid in the production of mucus. Since the body uses even more fluid than usual when fighting off a cold or the flu, the body can be left severely dehydrated without it. Dehydration, among many things, can result in high fever. This is why extra water should be ingested when suffering these symptoms. In fact, the lack of water can make the cold and/or cough worse.
In natural medicine, colds are looked at as the body’s way of detoxifying. During the autumn and winter, our bodies actually attempt to harmonize with the season. The body then condenses waste and cleanses excess mucus and congestion’s from tissue, which will improve circulation and get the blood pumping to keep us warm. However, this process gives flu like symptoms. Drinking more water will help the body detoxify. Exercise and sweating can also help keep the body clear of toxins.
In the way of coughs, drinking the proper amount of water will keep the mucus lining in the lung area thin and lubricated, making it easier to have a productive cough. Water will also help loosen phlegm, and just plains soothe an irritated throat.
Not only can water help prevent a cold, but it can also help sufferers feel better. More water in essence can build a stronger immune system, so drink up and stay healthy, and actually enjoy the cold season.
WATER AND STOMACH PROBLEMS
While our water in our civilized country is regulated, we still have to protect ourselves. Contaminated water supplies are responsible for stomach problems, from small upsets to severe disorders. But, making sure water is filtered within the home as an added safety measure can prevent that. A few contaminants to watch out for are lead, mercury, copper, arsenic, atrazine and cadmium. These can cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and other stomach problems.
There are many ailments that can arise within and around the stomach, nausea, diarrhea, gas, constipation and heartburn being a few. Drinking water can be of help in several of those cases, and even aid in their prevention. Diarrhea, watery stool, can cause severe dehydration, so it is important to maintain body fluid if suffering from that. On the flip side, constipation can also use water to help break down the otherwise dry stool. Since vomiting and diarrhea go hand in hand with the nausea feeling, this ailment also contributes greatly to dehydration. Replacing fluids while nauseated is very important. Heartburn has also been said to caused by lack of water, as water could have aided in neutralizing the acid (pH level) that caused the burning sensation.
Water is also a necessary element to just plain make sure our digestive tract works properly, which is sure to prevent stomach problems from occurring in the first place. Drinking water at mealtime aids in the digestive process, as it helps move the food through the system. More importantly, the solid food we eat cannot be properly digested if it is not broken down. This is where water comes into play, once again. Water than acts as the transportation system to bring the nutrients found in foods to where they are needed within the body during digestion. And, it also helps moved the waste product through the rest of the digestive tract, and ultimately out of our bodies. Remember that lots of acids are found within the stomach that mix with the water to break down our foods, so plenty of water will help keep things balanced
ASTHMA AND ALLERGIES
Asthma, which also affects 14 million children and kills several thousand of them every year, is a complication of dehydration in the body. It is caused by the drought management programs of the body. In asthma free passage of air is obstructed so that water does not leave the body in the form of vapor - the winter steam. Increased water intake will prevent asthma attacks. Asthmatics need also to take more salt to break the mucus plugs in the lungs that obstruct the free flow of air in and out of the air sacs.
Tragedy: Not recognizing asthma as the indicator of dehydration in the body of a growing child not only will sentence many thousands of children to die every year, but will permit irreversible genetic damage to establish in the remaining 14 million asthmatic children.
Checking out your drinking water might be a good idea if you or a family member has asthma and allergies. Chlorine, a common chemical added to water to help kill bacteria, could be making asthma in children worse. Fumes from chlorine in pools, and even in the shower, could trigger an attack for some people with asthma and allergies. Those who suffer from asthma and allergies are often sensitive to gases that are produced when chlorine sanitizes bacteria in sweat or urine. These gases can build up in an enclosed shower, irritating the lungs of children and adults who have asthma and allergies.
Other chemicals in drinking water can affect people with asthma and allergies. Fluoride is added to most municipal water supplies to help fight tooth decay in children. But for some people with asthma and allergies, fluoride can compromise their health. Allergists for decades have known that documented cases exist of both adults and children with asthma and allergies who have suffered severe reactions to fluoride.
Dehydration could play a significant role in asthma and allergies. The lack of water vapor in the lungs causes the airways to constrict and for the asthmatic’s lungs to produce mucus, the two factors that cause an asthma attack. The researcher recommends that people with asthma drink at least 10 eight-ounce glasses of water every day, along with a pinch of salt, and to avoid caffeine. This is because salt regulates water in the body and caffeine robs the body of needed water.
People with asthma and allergies can control their home environment even more by filtering chlorine and fluoride out of their tap water, allowing everyone to breathe easier.
WATER AND STROKE
Along with its many other benefits, drinking adequate water offers significant protection against heart problems, including strokes and heart attacks—even in those who have already experienced a stroke.
Preventing Strokes
Studies have shown that people who are afflicted with heart disease and/or have previously suffered a stroke can reduce their risk of a future, fatal stroke by half just by keeping properly hydrated.
Although an excellent, simple, preventative measure for everyone, it is of particular importance for those with, or at risk for, heart disease to consume a minimum of one cup of water for every 20 pounds of body weight daily. It is most important to forego the morning cup of coffee in exchange for a mug or two of water. This is the time of day when our bodies are most dehydrated, as we do not consume any water while we sleep, as it is important to increase hydration as quickly as possible.
A lack of water leads to thickening of the blood, making a stroke all the more likely. Blood is at its thickest in the morning when we awake, a leading reason why strokes and heart attacks disproportionately occur in the morning. Beverages like orange juice and coffee temporarily thicken the blood, so if you must drink something other than water, wait until your hydration has been fully restored later in the day.
Water and Stroke Onset/Recovery
A person who feels a stroke coming on should drink water as soon as they begin to feel weak and as they wait for help. Receiving medical attention as quickly as possible is crucial, as damage to brain cells (which are irreplaceable) begins as quickly as four minutes after the beginning of the stroke.
In an attempt to restore oxygen flow to the brain, the body increases the size of the arteries around the area of the blockage. The more hydrated the blood is, the thinner it is, and the easier it can pass oxygen through to the brain. This, combined with your overall state of health, can be the key difference between minimal long-term side effects and permanent disability.
Many stroke victims experience difficulty swallowing and a dry mouth during their recovery. Although this usually subsides after a few weeks, it helps to take frequent small sips of water, or to use a spray bottle to keep the mouth moist.
KIDNEYS AND BLADDER PROBLEMS/STONES
People who do not drink enough water can easily develop bladder and kidney disorders due to the heavy concentration of urine that is passed.
Bladder
The bladder aids in the passing of fluid from our body. Yet, to remain healthy, it needs water. The urinary bladder is a hollow organ made up of elastic muscle fibers, which allow it to expand without damage. Ordinarily, the bladder has the capacity to hold up to 750ml of fluid. According to the amount of fluid collected, pressure is exerted on the walls of the bladder and, as it mounts, this triggers the feeling of needing to pass water, or urinate. A bladder infection caused by bacteria getting into the urine, creates the same urge, but often the patient is able to produce only a few drops of water while suffering pain and discomfort. This discomfort is avoidable. Drinking the recommended 6-8 glasses of water a day will keep the bladder active and bacteria-free.
If a UTI is left untreated or undetected, it can turn into a kidney infection, as the bladders connected to the two kidneys through urethra. Both can be treated with antibiotics, but as the infection passes to the kidney, lower back pain may develop as well, making a need for pain medication. Which leads us to kidneys….
Kidneys/Kidney Stones
While they don’t sound as important as the heart and lungs, kidneys are very important to our health. The kidneys, along with the liver and or urinary tract rid our body of waste materials. If the kidneys were to stop operating for only two days, it would cause a retention of metabolic toxins, and then uremia would set in. The accumulation of waste products, normally excreted in the urine, would cause metabolic poisoning.
Build-up of bacteria and proteins can cause crystals to form, which are known as kidney stones. These are very painful to pass. Some studies show that dehydration increases the chances of having kidney stones, and drinking plenty of water may very well prevent the formation of them.
Avoiding situations or controlling the other diseases that contribute to kidney disorders may sometimes prevent chronic kidney disease, where patients may have to rely on a kidney machine for survival. The earlier a person can alter factors that damage the kidneys, the better. Among the ways to help prevent chronic kidney disease are:
One of the easiest and most effective ways is to avoid dehydration. Dehydration is not only a symptom, but also the cause of many aliments, especially kidney infections and other disorders that can lead to more serious matters.
WATER AND DRY EYES/ SKIN
Many factors can cause dry eyes and skin, however, one of the most overlooked solutions is drinking water. Dehydration is becoming more and more of a contributor to health issues today, with studies finding that everything from allergies to chronic fatigue may be linked to something we all have plenty of – drinking water. Dryness included.
Drinking plenty of water can help ease the discomfort of dry eyes and skin. We need up to eight glasses a day of water, and if other factors exist, like living in a hot, dry environment, taking antihistamines, exercising or drinking alcohol, our need for water increases. For people with skin conditions, experts recommend up to two quarts of water every day.
Water also can actually cause dry eyes and skin. Chlorine is added to most drinking water supplies to kill bacteria and other potentially harmful agents that seep into lakes, rivers, streams or ground water. However, chlorine, and other chemicals in your water, the very chemical there to help in one area, could be causing problems for you every time you shower or relax in a hot bath.
The amounts of chlorine in drinking water are much lower, but it can still have the same, although milder effects, when we shower with it, including dry eyes and skin.
Showering with hard water, water that contains higher levels of calcium magnesium and other minerals that naturally exist in water, can contribute to dry eyes and skin. These elements often will react with soap and shampoo to leave a dry residue on your skin and scalp. This can make the skin itchy, and leave people uncomfortable all day.
Some people suffer from very painful or uncomfortable skin conditions such as eczema. Removing the chemicals from the water they use to bathe and shower can help cut down on their symptoms. Sometimes the chlorine and minerals in water can be even more irritating to people who have diseases of the skin. Removing these elements from your water can help tremendously to cut down on the discomfort of dry eyes and skin.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND CHOLESTEROL
Have too much cholesterol can block blood flow, resulting in a thickening and hardening of artery walls, a disorder called arteriosclerosis. Since this also narrows the arteries, blood flow can be slowed down, or even blocked. With less blood, the heart therefore gets less oxygen. That can result in chest pain, heart attack, or something as drastic as death.
With this thickening going on, water can play a very important role. Drinking water can actually thin the blood, making in a natural way to help the blood pump more smoothly. Drinking plenty of water will keep your blood ways clean! Water needs to be drank in order to replenish what was lost. In fact, consumption of water so you are fully hydrated can increase your metabolic rate!
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Blood pressure refers to the force of blood pushing against artery walls as it makes it way through the body. Just like air in a tire, blood fills arteries to a certain capacity and anything over that capacity can have damaging effects. Just like high cholesterol, high blood pressure can threaten healthy arteries and lead to life-threatening conditions such as heart disease and stroke. And what’s scary is that there are not any real symptoms until, which is why high blood pressure is known as the silent killer.
Water can also help lower this pressure, as blood is mainly comprised of water. If water levels drop, that can affect your blood pressure. So, drinking the healthy amount of water each say can maintain a healthy heart. Also, the kidneys clean the blood. If blood flow is limited to the kidneys because of lack of water or high blood pressure, it will think the body is low on water, and react by telling the brain to constrict veins and arteries, which will make pressure even higher.
WATER AND GOUT
Gout is a painful disease that is caused by deposits of uric acid crystals in the bloodstream, ending up in the joints of the body. That is characterized by pain, swelling, redness, and heat/inflammation as well as stiffness in a joint or joints. Gout is also a form of arthritis, or inflammation of the joints, and is most common in men.
Water can help out gout in many ways. For starters, since water can serve as a joint lubricant, one who is at risk for gout should be sure to drink plenty of fluids. Dehydration can also lead to kidney infections, stones and even failure. All this can create that excess uric acid that causes gout in the first place. Drinking more water can flush the body of these harmful toxins. Drinking more water can also help someone overweight lose excess weight, or maintain weight.
WATER AND CONSTIPATION
Constipation is a gastro-intestinal symptom that occurs when bowel movements are made less often, and stool is harder, making it difficult to pass.
There are two types of constipation, one being more severe than the other. Slow transit constipation is the most common form. Lack of fiber and inadequate water in the diet are common causes of slow transit constipation. One of the major symptoms of this type is dehydration. Liquids, like water and juice, add fluid to the colon and bulk to stools, making bowel movements softer and easier to pass. Because the colon needs water to do its job, dehydration can be a major cause of constipation.
A major way of preventing this uncomfortable disorder is to drink an extra two to four glasses of water per day. That is on top of the recommended 8-10. Constipation could also be caused by other disorders, which also stem from dehydration, such as uremia, a kidney disorder. Chronic constipation can also lead to more severe gastro-intestinal disorders if left untreated, such as colorectal cancer, as noted above.
WATER AND INSOMNIA
Lead poising can cause many types of disorders, including difficulty sleeping. There are many factors that can cause insomnia, but let’s explore an environmental factor that can cause this disease, and also how water can treat it.
Lead, in larger quantities, is considered a metabolic poison and has caused people many untold ills such as damage to the kidneys and liver, nervous, reproductive, cardiovascular, immune and gastrointestinal systems.
In addition to insomnia, lead consumption in childhood can lead to a lower IQ and impairment in reading, writing, math, visual and motor skills, language, abstract thinking and concentration. Exposure to the toxic metal may contribute to crime and anti-social behavior in children.
Another element found in water that can cause insomnia is, MTBE is a chemical added to gasoline to reduce carbon monoxide emissions from automobiles. MTBE has, throughout the years, leaked into ground water. Reports of hundreds of people becoming ill have come to light and are connected to MTBE contamination in drinking water. Neurological symptoms aside from insomnia include headache, nausea, palpitations, anxiety, and some visual disturbances.
It is important to filter your water to prevent the side effects of these toxic metals, which include insomnia.
Instead, drinking water- without lead of course- can help insomniacs sleep better.
Another reason insomniacs should drink plenty of water during the day is to stay hydrated. (But not 4 hours prior to bedtime, as the urge to urinate can wake them up during the night!) Water is our internal cooling and temperature balance system. Dehydration can lead to increase of toxins in your bloodstream and can cause irritability in your physical levels of comfort and becomes more noticeable at night. Drinking water throughout the day can flush those toxins out of the body.
WATER AND CANCER
Some of the chemicals added to water to keep us healthy could oddly enough actually be contributing to cancer rates. Chlorine and fluoride have determined high levels of these chemicals could cause cancer.
Some of the chemicals added to water to keep us healthy could oddly enough actually be contributing to cancer rates. Chlorine and fluoride have determined high levels of these chemicals could cause cancer.
Chlorine, used to disinfect most community water supplies, produce Trihalomethanes (THMs), chemicals formed when chlorine reacts with organic material, like bacteria, in water.
Fluoride could be the cause of cancers affecting the mouth, pharynx, colon and rectum.
Natural occurring radioactive agents like radium, uranium and radon, seep into the water supply. High levels of these elements can cause cancer of the brain and bone.
People living in rural areas with their own water wells are also at risk of drinking potentially cancer-causing chemicals. Fertilizer, insecticides and herbicides contain carcinogens that can filter down into the water supply. Nitrate, a by-product of fertilizer, also shows up in water supplies. In the human body, nitrate breaks down into nitrosamines, which are potentially cancer-causing agents.
Atrazine, an herbicide used on crops, is also found in drinking water. It is suspected of causing breast cancer. Another chemical, trichloroethylene, a solvent used in dry cleaning, is found sometimes in water supplies near facilities that do not dispose of their chemicals properly. It is considered a possible cancer-causing agent as well.
WATER AND PROSTATE CANCER
Preventing Prostate Cancer
Certain water contaminants have been linked with higher rates of prostate cancer. These include atrazine, a widely used weed-killer that permeates through the soil into water supplies.
Another outside contributor to developing prostate cancer is the plastic packaging used for bottled water. The toxic chemicals used to create plastic packaging can break down and seep into the water within, wreaking havoc on the body. Prostate cancer is especially sensitive to environmental factors, making bottled water a particular concern. Avoid large water containers whenever possible, as these transmit the highest levels of toxins.
A diet high in fiber is credited with reducing the risk of contracting prostate cancer. However, in order for a high-fiber meal plan to be effective, one must drink at least one cup of water for every 20 pounds of body weight daily, and supplement their diet with additional sources of calcium, zinc, and iron. Drinking the required amount of water provides as much as one-third of the recommended daily intake of calcium.
Consuming a minimum of eight glasses of atrazine-devoid, non-bottled water each day keeps your body running at its best to prevent cancer from the start, helping to eliminate toxins from the body and keeping the prostate in working order.
Water and Prostate Cancer Treatment
Water consumption is of even greater importance for those who already have prostate cancer. Certain hormones affected by the cancer also regulate bodily processes like water regulation, and when the body is dehydrated, these hormones are unable to work effectively. Thirst is a sign that the body is already dehydrated; so don’t wait until you feel the urge—keep drinking water throughout the day. Consuming adequate amounts of water each day can help to maintain good health and a strong immune system to help in your battle against cancer.
Water prevents and cures heartburn.
Heartburn is a signal of water shortage in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract. It is a major thirst signal of the human body. The use of antacids or tablet medications in the treatment of this pain does not correct dehydration, and the body continues to suffer as a result of its water shortage.
Tragedy: Not recognizing heartburn as a sign of dehydration and treating it with antacids and pill medications will, in time, produce inflammation of the stomach and duodenum, hiatal hernia, ulceration, and eventually cancers in the gastrointestinal tract, including the liver and pancreas.
Water prevents and cures arthritis.
Rheumatoid joint pain - arthritis - is a signal of water shortage in the painful joint. It can affect the young as well as the old. The use of pain-killers does not cure the problem, but exposes the person to further damage from pain medications. Intake of water and small amounts of salt will cure this problem.
Water prevents and cures back pain.
Low back pain and ankylosing arthritis of the spine are signs of water shortage in the spinal column and discs - the water cushions that support the weight of the body. These conditions should be treated with increased water intake - not a commercial treatment, but a very effective one.
Tragedy: Not recognizing arthritis and low back pain as signs of dehydration in the joint cavities and treating them with pain-killers, manipulation, acupuncture, and eventually surgery will, in time, produce osteoarthritis when the cartilage cells in the joints have eventually all died. It will produce deformity of the spine. It will produce crippling deformities of the limbs. Pain medications have their own life-threatening complications.
Water prevents and cures angina.
Heart pain - angina - is a sign of water shortage in the heart/lung axis. It should be treated with increased water intake until the patient is free of pain and independent of medications. Medical supervision is prudent. However, increased water intake is angina's cure.
Water prevents and cures migraines.
Migraine headache is a sign of water need by the brain and the eyes. It will totally clear up if dehydration is prevented from establishing in the body. The type of dehydration that causes migraine might eventually cause inflammation of the back of the eye and possibly loss of eye sight.
Water prevents and cures colitis.
Colitis pain is a signal of water shortage in the large gut. It is associated with constipation because the large intestine constricts to squeeze the last drop of water from the excrements - thus the lack of water lubrication.
Tragedy: Not recognizing colitis pain as a sign of dehydration will cause persistent constipation. Later in life, it will cause fecal impacting: it can cause diverticulitis, hemorrhoids and polyps, and appreciably increases the possibility of developing cancer of the colon and rectum.
Water prevents and cures early adult-onset diabetes.
Adult-onset diabetes is another adaptive state to severe dehydration of the human body. To have adequate water in circulation and for the brain's priority water needs, the release of insulin is inhibited to prevent insulin from pushing water into all body cells. In diabetes, only some cells get survival rations of water. Water and some salt will reverse adult-onset diabetes in its early stages.
Tragedy: Not recognizing adult-onset diabetes as a complication of dehydration will, in time, cause massive damage to the blood vessels all over the body. It will cause eventual loss of the toes, feet and legs from gangrene. It will cause eye damage, even blindness.
Water cures depression, loss of libido, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy.
These conditions are caused by prolonged chronic dehydration. They will clear up once the body becomes well and regularly hydrated. In these conditions, exercising one's muscles should be part of the treatment program.
Remember that chlorine is not a substance you want to be part of your diet.
Its Calcium Ionized Clay helps release essentials Calcium Ions to enhance the taste of the water.