It's H2O to the Rescue: How Water Can Cure and Keep Us Healthy by Dr. Mark Wiley

No doubt you've experienced or heard about the severe droughts affecting much of the United States these past years. In many states such as New Jersey and Maryland, water has been in such shortage that not only bans but fines in excess of $5,000 have been placed on anyone who waters their lawn or adds to their evaporating swimming pools. Is this too high a price to pay for water? Isn't water our most abundant natural resource and, aside from bottled brands, free to all?

Absolutely not.

If the drought rages on and the crops and livestock die, how will we eat? More importantly, if water is used for mere aesthetic appearances of lawns or recreation of swimming pools, and it runs out, we will certainly die. After all, while Christ went 30 days without food and survived, it is a known fact that no one, not even the son of God, could have gone 30 days without water.

The Water Fountain of Youth
In times past, people sought the mythical Fountain of Youth in order to retain their youthful look and vigor and retard the aging process. What they didn't know was that any water fountain would have done. Water in itself is not only the fountain of youth, but the single most important dietary consideration of all time.

In fact, drinking lots of water everyday is so important, that many traditional cultures employed what can be called "water therapy" to cure or prevent various ills of the body. In fact, one can keep eating their sausage and eggs for breakfast and still reap some health benefits by adding ample water to their meal, as the mere consumption of this magic fluid can restore the body by clearing toxins, cleansing the colon, flushing the liver and kidneys, emptying the bowels, sharpening the taste buds, and clearing the complexion.

Here's why.

By drinking large amounts of water during one sitting, the colon will become more effective, thus increasing the quantity and supply of fresh blood that can then move throughout the body. This occurs by way of the mucus folds found in the colon and intestine.

It is in part due to the overtaxing of the colonic track by overeating, ingesting foods high in chemical content, or an abundance of sugars or alcohol, one will feel exhausted, lethargic, have an unending dull headache, catch colds easily, or become seriously ill. It is precisely the absorption of the nutrients in the colon and intestines from the food we eat that prevent, cause, or cure what ails us. In fact, research has indicated that a thorough flushing of the mucus folds in the colonic tract where toxins and wastes generally remain will cleans the system and keep the body healthy and the immune system strong. At the same time, quantities of water are known to revitalize the kidney and liver, which is especially important in balancing those two martini power lunches.

But the drinking of a single glass of water at lunch or dinner will not do the job. And while the FDA's recommended six eight-ounce glasses of water per day will keep us hydrated, to reap the full health benefits from water one must think in terms of water as therapy and drink between one-to-two gallons of water per day.

Give it a Try
I decided to try water therapy at one time because my body felt "polluted" with caffeine, sugars, nitrates, leaving me feeling uncomfortable in my own skin. I drank three glasses of water before breakfast, ate, took a fifteen minute walk, and then drank another three glasses before showering every morning. After the first week, I felt more relaxed in my body, lighter, slept better, felt less stress, and even lost four pounds to boot.

If you decide to try water therapy, start out by drinking at least three glasses of water in the morning and then build up to six or more. In fact, a gallon at one sitting is not unheard of, and has been shown to give the most benefit. regardless of how much you ingest daily, do not miss a day once you start for at least one month or you will lose what benefits you have gained. Like most things, in the beginning  you will be lazy to do it or will rationalize why you need to skip a particular day. Don't. After two weeks or so, tour basic self will have assimilated the new pattern, making it a habit.

It is best to drink water that is room temperature, or even hot. It is ill advised to drink cold water, especially when the body is overheated or when eating, as this will shock your system or cause functions to slow down. I remember practicing tai chi in the Philippines one hot and humid summer, after which we were served hot water. Despite myself, I found that I cooled down faster than I did when I drank cold water under similar circumstances.

So give water a try, you just might get healthy and look better in the process.