Body and Soul Reconnection

I have been helping people with their health issues for over 9 years. In this time frame I have witnessed many opposites of what is constantly being touted as “good health habits”. For years we have all heard that we need to drink 8 ounces of water 8 times a day (8×8). However, numerous research has debunked this “urban myth”. Obviously, if a person is engaged in a vigorous activity or is in a very hot climate there should be extra water intake.  Initially, I also recommended to my clients they drink a lot of water, but then one day it dawned on me that I should check to discover if this was true. Each client that came through thereafter I tested to see if they needed to drink more water. I never found anyone in need of more water (plenty needed more potassium). In fact, when I checked the body for what it preferred in water intake, I usually got 3 glasses or less.   There was one exception.  A women on many medications and with many structural issues needed about 7 eight ounce glasses of water per day.  I have since discovered that we get water out of many foods we eat. For example a potato is about 70% water. Beef has about 60% water. Lettuce, mostly water. Obviously any liquid beverage also has water. Our bodies extract every bit of moisture out of everything we eat.

Besides water intake, minerals need to be replenished. One of the most important minerals is potassium which is needed for proper muscle contraction and proper cell health. Most people are unaware that we lose close to 3 times more potassium to sodium in our perspiration.  We also lose magnesium.  Both magnesium and potassium are necessary for proper muscle contraction and to prevent an arrhythmia of the heart which can lead to a sudden heart attack.

Of all the clients that I have seen, there were two who had had fainting spells prior to meeting with me.  Lo and behold they were extremely low on potassium.  Blood tests later confirmed this fact.  I currently advise my clients to put 1 to 2 packets of Emergen-c (mineral ascorbates in powder form) in their water (find in Walmart and Trader-Joes).  Each packet supplies 200 mg of potassium much higher than any expensive sports drink.  Additionally, carrot juice, pineapple juice, orange juice and bananas are high in potassium.

It is fine if you like to drink a lot of water just keep in mind that if you are having to urinate more than once every two hours it may be a sign of too much water intake.  In my experience there is some guilt associated with the idea that you need to drink 8×8.  When I perform my initial interview with a new client many confess “I probably don’t drink as much water as I should. I know I should drink more.” After I check them, I am happy to announce that they are doing just fine. They can let go of that “pressure”.

Furthermore, people who’s kidneys are compromised should definitely watch their water intake (as well as potassium) because the kidneys are processing too slowly. Additionally those that are taking a lot of medication do benefit from high amounts of water to help flush out the toxins from the medications.

To watch a Good Morning America segment on the subject and/or read about some of the research click here.