Water: The Most Important Nutrient

We've had a couple of very hot days, and in the heat of the moment, you might forget to drink enough. But drinking, especially water, is essential for the body to transport nutrients to the cells and remove waste from them. Water is the carrier of life in the body. It makes up 60% to 75% of the human body and plays an important role in many life processes. Losing only 4% of your total body water can cause dehydration. You can survive weeks without food, but losing 15% of your body's water or going days without water is fatal. Water as a Transportation Vehicle: Water is a universal solvent because each molecule has a negatively charged oxygen atom and two positively charged hydrogen atoms, allowing it to bind to both negative and positive-charged substances. From the saliva in your mouth to the digestive juices in your gut, water is essential for breaking down and absorbing the food you eat and is a great vehicle to carry nutrients and minerals to every cell in the body. You might be eating a healthy diet, but if you are not drinking enough water, your cells might be undernourished, resulting in fatigue. Since water is involved in transporting oxygen from the lungs to the cells, if you are dehydrated, you might feel lightheaded and lethargic. Water transports waste products from cells to elimination organs. Lymph fluid carries dead cells, bacteria, viruses and metabolic byproducts from cells to the liver and kidneys for elimination. When the lymph flow is stagnant, toxins can leak back into cells. Hydration and the Immune System: Recurring disease and a poor immune system might be caused by dehydration. The immune system is made of four layers: The physical barrier The physiological barrier The innate immune system The adaptive immune system Water is essential for the balance of all parts of the immune system. The physical barrier is made of the skin that secretes sebum (an oily substance that traps pathogens and sheds them) and of the mucous membrane that is secreted in all cavities of the body from the nose, mouth and eyes to the throat, digestive tract, uterus, lungs and kidneys. Mucus acts as a lubricant, physically trapping pathogens and eliminating them when you sneeze. When you are dehydrated, your body's mucus will dry. A dry mucous membrane allows more pathogens to enter your body and increases the traction of food and air on your tissue, causing irritation and inflammation. The physiological barrier is made of the different pH and temperatures in the various organs of the body. Water has a neutral pH of 7. Water's capacity to store heat and its ability to flow from one area of the body to another keep the body's overall temperature balanced. Both the innate immune cells and the adaptive immune cells are transported in the blood and lymph, and a smooth flow of blood and lymph is dependent on hydration. Hydration and Craving: Cravings are sometimes a sign that your body is dehydrated. Many people mix the thirst sensation with the hunger sensation. After all, the thirst and hunger centers of the brain reside close by in the hypothalamus. If you feel fatigued and crave food to boost your energy, try drinking a cup or two of water and see how you feel. Fatigue is one sign that your body needs more water. Water & your Brain: Brain fog, poor memory and problems concentrating are among the symptoms of dehydration. Water supports the shape and structure of your cells and when your cells do not get enough water, they start to shrivel and cannot function optimally. This is true for every cell in your body, especially the brain. Studies show that losing just 1 to 2 percent of your body's total water mass can cause your brain to shrink, which significantly impairs cognitive function. As a result, your brain must work harder to perform the same tasks. If you are having difficulty concentrating or experience foggy thinking, drinking some water might clear your head. Your body is losing water through breathing, sweating, urination and poop. Therefore, you must hydrate enough to replenish the water in your body. Many people begin their day by reaching for a cup of coffee, but coffee is a diuretic, which means that it dries up your body. So, I suggest you start your day with a cup of water first thing in the morning. In the summer, I like to fill my reusable water bottle with room-temperature water and add a couple of slices of fresh lemon to it. Then, I sip the lemon water first thing in the morning and throughout the day. When the bottle empties, I refill it with water. In the winter, I love to add a sprig of rosemary to a warm cup of lemon tea and drink it first thing in the morning. Establishing drinking habits throughout the day, either water or an unsweetened herbal infusion, is key to keeping your cells healthy and young. Make it a habit to carry a bottle of water (not plastic) and sip from it all day long. Lior Sadeh Herbalist | Healing Food & Nourishing Herbs lior@threefoldherbalhealing.com