WATER, THE DRINK OF LIFE....

By Dr Orly Zuker, Chiropractor

(B.Appl Sci; Comp Med, Clin Chiro; Masters, B.Nursing)

Summer is a thirty time, and with Australia being notorious for 45 degree heat waves keeping hydrated is essential. It is important to drink adequate water all year round, however of course summer is a dangerous time for the implications of dehydration. Besides air (oxygen) and sunlight, water is the most fundamental element for our survival and without it within just a few days our health and well-being would be severely compromised. We can survive without food for days to months, whereas physiologically all body systems and organs rely on water for their role to be performed, including; synovial joints, the brain/nervous system, the vertebral discs and the digestive system.The simple fact that the human body is made up of approximately 75% water and requires daily replenishment (due to sweating, breathing, bodily functions and illness). This is why we continue to hear that it is important to drink 2 litres of water each day.
Water, like food is fuel to our body and no different to other motor s or machines (like a car) and its coolant, oil and fuel) the human body needs; water, sunlight, nutritious food and healthy oils for optimal performance. Both machines have comparable needs, yet many people pay more attention to and take better care of their cars!
 

No matter what age you are, drinking water is essential, and  is especially important for active people, office workers, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, infants, children and elderly people. In addition, fluid lost during exercise needs replacing as it reduces cardiovascular stress, improves performance, prevents dehydration and aids in temperature regulation. Healthy Tip #1: Avoid fancy sports hydration drinks as these are packed full of sugar/or artificial sweeteners, colours and flavours... Best to stick to filtered water!

Drinking water each day will offer you the following benefits:

1.      Enhanced physical performance; improved concentration, alertness and increased energy levels

2.      Detoxification (flushing toxins from the body and reducing the risk of urinary tract infections and potential illness/disease)

3.      Weight reduction

4.      Reduction in the incidence of headaches and dizziness

5.      Improved digestion/elimination: reduced constipation

6.      Dehydration prevention (the colour of your urine will give you an indication of your hydration level. Very basically, yellow= dehydrated and clear= hydrated)

With the help of scientific research and clinical based trials, we know that water plays a key role in the prevention of diseases such as colon and bladder cancer. Water is a terrific drink for our health, however what is more important then water itself is its quality. Living in Australia we are lucky to have safe drinking water and clean bath water, whereas other continents such as Africa are not so fortunate with water-borne infections and related illness being rampant. 

In Australia, drinking water is sourced from; bores, rainwater tanks, desalination plants, water recycling plants and dams (rain catchment areas). To be deemed safe and healthy (free of microbes, algae and dirty sediment) this ‘town’ water (that we drink) is chemically treated with up to 50 different types of chemicals. Water treatment is necessary for hygiene, however the use of these chemicals has unfortunately been linked to illnesses such as; Alzheimer’s, heart disease, various cancers and miscarriage.


The reality is that in each glass 'safe' drinking water contains heavy metals that include; chlorine, fluoride, aluminium, copper and ammonia. In addition, laboratory assessment will also find lead, algae, rust, dirt and industrial waste (herbicides/ pesticides/ biohazard waste) in our household plumbing and the water we drink. Needless-to-say, for optimal health drinking filtered water might just be a better option over tap water. 


Furthermore, do your best to avoid bottled water (in a plastic container) as the plastic has been found to breakdown/ degrade and leech oestrogen-like chemicals such as BPA into the bloodstream. Investing in a refillable stainless steel or glass bottle (staying clear of aluminium) is the way to go. Healthy Tip #2: Aluminium ingestion has been linked to Dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Have you ever wondered how rusty pipes and dirty water may affect your health? It may seem like no big deal as it is extremely common to find rust present in tap water. This will not cause immediate illness, although in the long run it may have detrimental effects on our health in the future.

In addition to rust, states such as South Australia and Queensland have such exceptionally high chlorine levels in their tap water that bath water is often a green-blue colour and has a strong chemical smell that your skin and organs will absorb and retain!

In considering a water filtration system in your home, research brands that involve volcanic mineral filtration that will replace your drinking water with vital minerals. If you opt for filters with a ceramic dome as the first port of filtration, you will experience first hand the dirt, rust and slime that exist in tap water when you remove and wash the ceramic dome component!! Yuk!!

 

 

For you and your family's health, step outside the square of traditional thinking and empower yourself with 'better' knowledge and information that might just allow you to avoid chemical toxicity and ill health. If you are interested in further information, contact your local water filter company as they are a wealth of knowledge on this topic. When you make the shift to clean, filtered and crisp water, encourage your friends and loved ones to also make the shift, remembering that water is not so healthy for you when it is packed full of chemicals. Good luck and enjoy your journey of health!

References:

1. Aschengrau, A etal. (1993). Quality of Community Drinking Water and the Occurrence of Late Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal. Vol 48 (2). Pg. 105-113.
2. Aschengrau, A. (1989). Quality of Community Drinking Water and the Occurrence of Spontaneous Abortion Archives of Environmental Health. Vol 44 (5). Pg. 283- 290.
3. www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tips/water.htm
4. Feldman, D. (1997). Editorial: Estrogens from Plastic—Are We Being Exposed? Endocrinology Journal. Vol 138. Pg. 1777-1779.
5. Weisel, CP & Kuen (1996). Ingestion, Inhalation, and Dermal Exposures to Chloroform and Trichloroethene from Tap Water. Environmental Health Perspectives. Vol 104 (1).
6. Wagner, M & Oehlmann, J. (2009). Endocrine disruptors in bottled mineral water: total estrogenic burden and migration from plastic bottles. Environ Sci Pollut Res Vol 16. Pg. 278- 286.
7. Doria, MF. (2006). Bottled water versus tap water: understanding consumers’ preferences. Journal of water and health. Vol 4 (2).