For the last two weeks of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, I have been discussing the importance of drinking water after breaking the fast at sunset. Drinking water is not only about quenching thirst; it is also about hydrating the cells, neurons, organs, and systems.
Thirst is the sensation one feels when the body calls for hydration. When your mouth is parched, energy is low, and responses are slow, your body is giving cues that it is getting in a state of drought. It is yearning for water. The body is created to send signals of thirst. When thirst is quenched, the feeling disappears, but if we ignore thirst, the body stops sending signals and we lose the urge for water.
That is why we should become more attentive to our bodies and listen to such important signals and not overlook them. Ignoring them could be detrimental to health. When thirsty, drink water. Listen to your body cues. Our bodies are intelligent entities, well programmed to alert us of imbalances and deficiencies.
Here are symptoms of drop of water levels in the body and brain.
Just 2 percent of water loss could cause fuzziness in memory, difficulty to solve mathematical problems, or focus on work. Disorientation, low energy, apathy, mood swings, tendency to anger, and depressive conditions could arise. Physiological shrinkage and changes could occur in the brain, resulting in slower brain activity and responses.
Low water intake increases hunger by creating confusion in the body between thirst and hunger. A glass or two of water would make the hunger disappear. Two glasses of water half an hour before meals reduce overconsumption, gives feeling of fullness and enhances the metabolism. Sufficient water fuels the metabolic rate, deterring weight gain.
Do you wonder why the metabolism shuts down? When water becomes scarce in our tissue, the membrane layers of the cells constrict to preserve water. The shutting of the metabolism is a protective measure for survival, which happens during famine to protect the body from water and weight loss, but in normal conditions it is harmful. With a slow metabolic rate, the cells are unable to eliminate waste, resulting in accumulation of toxins in the bloodstream, which causes headaches, joint and back pain, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and illness. Water facilitates body cleansing and prevents toxic buildup.
Every time you feel hungry at odd times, reach out for a glass of room temperature water rather than stuffing yourself with an unnecessary snack. Hunger could be a signal of thirst. Remember, water is zero calories and very filling. This method prevents weight gain or obesity, which cause metabolic syndromes such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and more.
Water is another way to flush out mucus from the respiratory system and the colon, thus cleansing the systems and boosting the immune system to protect against chronic pain and illness. It also cleanses the blood, kidneys, and liver, which go under great strain with dehydration. When the kidneys filter the blood with less water, urine becomes concentrated, harming the kidney functions. Warning signs are orange color urine, burning sensation when passing urine, bloody urine, urine or bladder infection, and kidney stones. With dehydrated and stressed kidneys, the liver assumes some of their functions along with its own functions, making them all suffer.
Water is a medium to keep the body, organs, and systems clean. Don’t you take your car to the carwash to clean? No need to worry about excess water, it gets flushed out with urine. The body knows how to maintain equilibrium.
Low water levels could also cause pain or increase its intensity. The joints, cartilage, and muscles suffer from deficiency. Cartilage dries out, leaving the bones rubbing against each other, causing pain. The spinal discs also require water to act like cushions between the vertebrae. They are shock absorbers. Without water in the discs, the vertebrae get compressed, intensifying pain.
We humans tend to overlook drinking water, yet we overeat even when we are not hungry or even full. Both habits are dangerous to our bodies, brains, organs, systems, and health. Low-grade dehydration and overconsumption lead to disease.
With the absence of thirst, we drink less water. The body adapts to the amount of water we drink, but functions inefficiently on low levels of water. The organs, systems, and blood circulation suffer silently from dehydration, but one day, disorders appear suddenly.
Here are some guidelines from Jesse Cannone’s book, End of All Disease:
- Bigger sized and heavier people require larger amounts of water than smaller individuals.
- Athletes and active individuals should hydrate their bodies more often and during sports, exercise, and activities to replace lost fluids.
- People with desk jobs should have water at hand. Even better, every hour get up to get a glass of water. Leaving your desk makes you move your limbs and your circulation.
- Being larger in size than women, men require larger amounts of water.
- Seniors should be put on a drinking schedule. They easily get dehydrated due to loss of thirst sensation with age.
- Children should also be reminded to drink, because they are constantly active.
- People living in warmer climates and working under the sun need to hydrate more. They should drink more water to substitute for the loss of water due to the heat. That is why I call for the authorities in Saudi Arabia to STOP ADDING FLUORIDE to locally bottled water. Cumulatively, it is harmful to health. Fluoride is a neurotoxin. It also disrupts the thyroid functions and reproductive system. Fertility and thyroid problems have become quite prevalent recently.
Here are a few tips to hydrate.
Take a full glass of water in the morning as you wake up (I recommend more than one glass of room-temperature water). Water in the morning lowers acid reflux, enhances the digestion and nutrient absorption, eases stool elimination, and prevents hemorrhoids. It dissolves and releases the mucus stuck in the throat and sinuses. Water energizes by transporting oxygen and nutrients to the body and brain. It is a wake-me-up. Keep drinking all day long, sipping at a full glass of water every hour. Active individuals require more. A squeeze of lemon in the water would enhance the bioavailability of the minerals in the water and helps the detoxification process.
The color of urine is a good indicator of dehydration. The darker the urine is, the more water is needed to keep it a very light yellow. Some foods (beetroot, asparagus…) and supplements affect the color and smell of urine, but not to worry about that. On the other hand, drugs could burden the kidneys and liver.
To hydrate the body and systems and eliminate waste and toxins, you need pure clean or filtered water. Beverages like tea, coffee, soda and sugar-laden fruit drinks cannot perform the functions of water, plus they overload on the kidneys and liver. Replace sweetened drinks with water to reduce calories. Caffeine is a diuretic, leading to water loss and dehydration. Because caffeinated beverages are considered negative water, you should increase water intake after having them. In tiny amounts, sodium (raw marine salt) and minerals help retain water in the body.
Nothing could replace water to hydrate the body or release the toxic load from the systems. There is plenty more to say about this essential element, but I shall visit it again another time. Just a reminder, many emergency cases of kidney failures, strokes, and clots (brain, heart, lungs, legs) are reported during Ramadan due to water deficiency. Water is a preventative measure to disease. You wouldn’t like to be a dialysis patient. It is far from agreeable!
I wish everyone a rewarding Ramadan with health. Happy Eid and don’t forget to drink water during the Eid festivities. People tend to eat more than they drink. I shall resume writing in November Insha’Allah. Best wishes to all.
References:
• Fasting can Help You Live Longer by Dr. Mercola
• www.healthyfoodhelp.com
• http://www.healthyfoodhouse.com/6-horrible-things-that-happen-to-your-body-when-you-dont-drink-enough-water/#sthash.BquTk3Js.dpuf
• The End of All Disease by Jesse Cannone
N.B.:
Individuals with medical conditions or on medication should consult their physicians when they decide to introduce anything new in their diet even if it is natural.
— [email protected]
Thirst is the sensation one feels when the body calls for hydration. When your mouth is parched, energy is low, and responses are slow, your body is giving cues that it is getting in a state of drought. It is yearning for water. The body is created to send signals of thirst. When thirst is quenched, the feeling disappears, but if we ignore thirst, the body stops sending signals and we lose the urge for water.
That is why we should become more attentive to our bodies and listen to such important signals and not overlook them. Ignoring them could be detrimental to health. When thirsty, drink water. Listen to your body cues. Our bodies are intelligent entities, well programmed to alert us of imbalances and deficiencies.
Here are symptoms of drop of water levels in the body and brain.
Just 2 percent of water loss could cause fuzziness in memory, difficulty to solve mathematical problems, or focus on work. Disorientation, low energy, apathy, mood swings, tendency to anger, and depressive conditions could arise. Physiological shrinkage and changes could occur in the brain, resulting in slower brain activity and responses.
Low water intake increases hunger by creating confusion in the body between thirst and hunger. A glass or two of water would make the hunger disappear. Two glasses of water half an hour before meals reduce overconsumption, gives feeling of fullness and enhances the metabolism. Sufficient water fuels the metabolic rate, deterring weight gain.
Do you wonder why the metabolism shuts down? When water becomes scarce in our tissue, the membrane layers of the cells constrict to preserve water. The shutting of the metabolism is a protective measure for survival, which happens during famine to protect the body from water and weight loss, but in normal conditions it is harmful. With a slow metabolic rate, the cells are unable to eliminate waste, resulting in accumulation of toxins in the bloodstream, which causes headaches, joint and back pain, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and illness. Water facilitates body cleansing and prevents toxic buildup.
Every time you feel hungry at odd times, reach out for a glass of room temperature water rather than stuffing yourself with an unnecessary snack. Hunger could be a signal of thirst. Remember, water is zero calories and very filling. This method prevents weight gain or obesity, which cause metabolic syndromes such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and more.
Water is another way to flush out mucus from the respiratory system and the colon, thus cleansing the systems and boosting the immune system to protect against chronic pain and illness. It also cleanses the blood, kidneys, and liver, which go under great strain with dehydration. When the kidneys filter the blood with less water, urine becomes concentrated, harming the kidney functions. Warning signs are orange color urine, burning sensation when passing urine, bloody urine, urine or bladder infection, and kidney stones. With dehydrated and stressed kidneys, the liver assumes some of their functions along with its own functions, making them all suffer.
Water is a medium to keep the body, organs, and systems clean. Don’t you take your car to the carwash to clean? No need to worry about excess water, it gets flushed out with urine. The body knows how to maintain equilibrium.
Low water levels could also cause pain or increase its intensity. The joints, cartilage, and muscles suffer from deficiency. Cartilage dries out, leaving the bones rubbing against each other, causing pain. The spinal discs also require water to act like cushions between the vertebrae. They are shock absorbers. Without water in the discs, the vertebrae get compressed, intensifying pain.
We humans tend to overlook drinking water, yet we overeat even when we are not hungry or even full. Both habits are dangerous to our bodies, brains, organs, systems, and health. Low-grade dehydration and overconsumption lead to disease.
With the absence of thirst, we drink less water. The body adapts to the amount of water we drink, but functions inefficiently on low levels of water. The organs, systems, and blood circulation suffer silently from dehydration, but one day, disorders appear suddenly.
Here are some guidelines from Jesse Cannone’s book, End of All Disease:
- Bigger sized and heavier people require larger amounts of water than smaller individuals.
- Athletes and active individuals should hydrate their bodies more often and during sports, exercise, and activities to replace lost fluids.
- People with desk jobs should have water at hand. Even better, every hour get up to get a glass of water. Leaving your desk makes you move your limbs and your circulation.
- Being larger in size than women, men require larger amounts of water.
- Seniors should be put on a drinking schedule. They easily get dehydrated due to loss of thirst sensation with age.
- Children should also be reminded to drink, because they are constantly active.
- People living in warmer climates and working under the sun need to hydrate more. They should drink more water to substitute for the loss of water due to the heat. That is why I call for the authorities in Saudi Arabia to STOP ADDING FLUORIDE to locally bottled water. Cumulatively, it is harmful to health. Fluoride is a neurotoxin. It also disrupts the thyroid functions and reproductive system. Fertility and thyroid problems have become quite prevalent recently.
Here are a few tips to hydrate.
Take a full glass of water in the morning as you wake up (I recommend more than one glass of room-temperature water). Water in the morning lowers acid reflux, enhances the digestion and nutrient absorption, eases stool elimination, and prevents hemorrhoids. It dissolves and releases the mucus stuck in the throat and sinuses. Water energizes by transporting oxygen and nutrients to the body and brain. It is a wake-me-up. Keep drinking all day long, sipping at a full glass of water every hour. Active individuals require more. A squeeze of lemon in the water would enhance the bioavailability of the minerals in the water and helps the detoxification process.
The color of urine is a good indicator of dehydration. The darker the urine is, the more water is needed to keep it a very light yellow. Some foods (beetroot, asparagus…) and supplements affect the color and smell of urine, but not to worry about that. On the other hand, drugs could burden the kidneys and liver.
To hydrate the body and systems and eliminate waste and toxins, you need pure clean or filtered water. Beverages like tea, coffee, soda and sugar-laden fruit drinks cannot perform the functions of water, plus they overload on the kidneys and liver. Replace sweetened drinks with water to reduce calories. Caffeine is a diuretic, leading to water loss and dehydration. Because caffeinated beverages are considered negative water, you should increase water intake after having them. In tiny amounts, sodium (raw marine salt) and minerals help retain water in the body.
Nothing could replace water to hydrate the body or release the toxic load from the systems. There is plenty more to say about this essential element, but I shall visit it again another time. Just a reminder, many emergency cases of kidney failures, strokes, and clots (brain, heart, lungs, legs) are reported during Ramadan due to water deficiency. Water is a preventative measure to disease. You wouldn’t like to be a dialysis patient. It is far from agreeable!
I wish everyone a rewarding Ramadan with health. Happy Eid and don’t forget to drink water during the Eid festivities. People tend to eat more than they drink. I shall resume writing in November Insha’Allah. Best wishes to all.
References:
• Fasting can Help You Live Longer by Dr. Mercola
• www.healthyfoodhelp.com
• http://www.healthyfoodhouse.com/6-horrible-things-that-happen-to-your-body-when-you-dont-drink-enough-water/#sthash.BquTk3Js.dpuf
• The End of All Disease by Jesse Cannone
N.B.:
Individuals with medical conditions or on medication should consult their physicians when they decide to introduce anything new in their diet even if it is natural.
— [email protected]
