We are admonished to stay hydrated during warm weather and exercise, but we are admonished against supplementation unless advised by a doctor. Why should we only be hydrated at certain times? Hydration is a year round activity whether someone is active or bedridden. While staying hydrated requires additional restroom breaks, lack of hydration causes debilitation.
The following is a partial list of ailments that are caused or affected by dehydration:
• Asthma
• Depression
• Staph Infections
• Kidney Stones
• Kidney Failure
• Autoimmune Disorders
• Constipation
• Cramps
• Colitis
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Hypotension
• Neurological Disorders
• Autoimmune Disease
Supplementation is getting nutrients from sources other than directly from food. Most commonly we are advised to get nutrients directly from foods only. Why does a doctor need to advise anyone on when to use supplementation when most vitamins are water soluble and released from the body regularly which prevents overdoses? Foods are being grown in depleted soils which are stripped of minerals and vitamins and produce nutrient deficient crops. Why not use supplements? Nutrient deficiencies lead to debilitation just as dehydration does.
The following is a partial list of nutrient deficiency caused illnesses:
• Staph
• Hepatitis
• Gallstones
• High cholesterol
• Asthma
• Rickets
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular disease
• Anemia
• Obesity
• Chronic Fatigue
• Metabolic Syndrome
Images of children suffering from malnutrition conjure up starving third world children; however, we suffer from malnutrition and obesity simultaneously because malnutrition is simply poor nutrition. While we tend to consult doctors for all things health related, the superior sources for nutrition information are nutritionists and dietitians. Doctors have little training in the areas of healthy eating in medical school: their training is more extensive than healthcare professionals; however, the type of training is different pertaining particularly to the administering of medicines and the effects of the medicine on the body rather than health maintenance and health restoration.
The human body is over 70% water which is includes in all tissues and body fluids. It is not readily apparent that the body has such high water content due to it being a solid mass on the surface. However, being a solid mass is no indication of water content: ice cubes are 100% water. Yet our culture is hydrophobic. We are told not to give water to infants. The established food pyramid does not list water as a part of nutrient groups even though water contains minerals and is technically a beverage as are milk and juice. While bottled water is now being offered in vending machines and restaurants in a manner that is consumer cost ineffective, tap water is one of the least expensive commodities and is often fortified with the mineral fluoride. A newer food pyramid lists water as the base of the pyramid. We have been frightened with horror stories of water intoxication into being hydrophobic. However, it is little known that water intoxication is rare and can be avoided with proper knowledge of its cause. The consensus is out on proper amounts for water consumption. Six to eight cups of water intake daily is the traditional amount thought to be adequate. It is also maintained that half one’s body weight per pound is a good measure for the number of ounces of adequate water consumption: that is, if one weight, than half of that 75 ounces would be adequate for water intake. The body actually reabsorbs body fluids without adequate water intake.
