Hydration 101 – The Foundation for any Cleansing Program
Michael Perrine, Detox Consultant and Colon Heath Therapist
Most of us are no longer drinking from glacial runoff or natural springs unless it’s been pasteurized, bottled and shipped to us. So, water has become a topic of great discussion especially now with technology, ecological concerns and industrial pollution all growing rapidly.
The bottom line is this: A CLEAN AND HEALTHY BODY IS A HYDRATED BODY.
Before I get into details I want to get across the most important aspect of getting hydrated: Just get hydrated! There are all sorts of issues with water from the process to the packaging to the source, but one thing for certain, daily detoxification and assimilation comes to a halt with dehydration.
Water is a solvent of and diluter of metabolic waste and foreign poisons. It is also a carrier that transports toxins out (urine, feces, sweat) and allows the exchange of valuable elements in the body. The absence of sufficient water causes systemic stagnation. The concentration and building up of poisons in the body due to dehydration is one of the leading contributions to illness.
OK, so what kind?
Bottled Water
Almost always acidic and sometimes from questionable sources, bottled water may be a better choice that certain municipal water sources depending on where you live. However, it is known that plastic does leach into the water. For this reason, the clear bottles are a better choice than the cloudy plastic bottles. Just a basic examination of water from cloudy plastic bottles indicates the presence of plastic. The scent and taste are undeniable. Various forms of plastic are known carcinogens (cancer causing) and known to cause disruptions in the endocrine system.
Some general rules around bottled water are:
- Buy clear plastic over cloudy plastic bottles.
- According to The National Geographic Green Guide, the better choices in bottling plastic are:
#1 polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE)
#2 High Density Polyethylene
#4 Low Density Polyethylene
#5 Polypropylene
- Those to definitely avoid are those with these numbers on the bottom of the bottles:
#3 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
#6 Polystyrene (PS)
#7 Polycarbonate
- Use it once and don’t refill it.
- Keep bottles away from heat (out of cars in the summer months) as this accelerates the release of plastic.
- The levels of plastic found in water increase over storage time. Try to buy ‘newly’ bottled water.
- Please Recycle.
Bottling water in plastic is also extremely energy inefficient and contributes greatly to oil consumption and landfill waste. The Park Slope Food Coop in Brooklyn, N.Y. has voted to take bottled water off the shelves for this reason.
For an excellent documentary on Plastics see: http://www.vbs.tv/watch/toxic/garbage-island-1-of-3
Water Filtration
Water filtration (and there are a lot of different methods – reverse osmosis, distillation, etc.) allows us to enjoy clean water and to stay clear of plastics and the environmental impact of that model.
Distillation is the steam evaporation of water, leaving behind solids and contaminants as well as sterilizing the water. Many distillers pass the distilled water through a stone filter to remove gasses. Although clean, distilled water is usually acidic and is considered controversial due to it’s potential to bond with minerals in our bodies and carry them out. Distilled water can be recharged by adding a tiny pinch of celtic sea salt or a few blades of wheatgrass and allowing it to sit in direct sunlight in a glass bottle.
Kangen Water
Kangen is a Japanese word that means, “to return to the origin.” Starting with clean water (filtered or from an already clean source like mountain springs) and ionizing the water is the best way to transform water into a highly effective cleanser and alkalizer.
A kangen water ionizer runs a stream of water across magnetically charged plates separating acidity and alkalinity. This is called ionization. Most machines will allow you to produce both kinds of water. Alkaline water is used for consumption while acidic water is used for cleansing the surface of the body. Alkaline, negatively ionized water contains high levels of antioxidants that neutralize free radicals and has the power to emulsify and dissolve toxins from our body tissue. The body will protect itself from acidic wastes and balance it’s pH by converting them into solid materials that are stored in the arteries and in fatty tissue. Many report weight loss from the consistent consumption of ionized water due to its ability to neutralize and dissolve acids. This water is a foundational element in Dr. Hiromi Shinya’s eating program. For more on Dr. Shinya’s work see: Video on Dr. Shinya
And how much?
When determining how much water to drink we need to consider exercise level, climate and the quality of our diet. An athlete in a tropical climate will probably require more water than someone less active in a cool climate. We also need to understand that certain foods and beverages will pull water from the body requiring a greater demand for water. Most other beverages (tea, coffee, soda, juice, etc.) do not take the place of water. Some beverages will dehydrate the body while others will simply deliver their nutrients, sugars or chemicals and quickly exit without hydrating.
What to Avoid?
These have the potential to dehydrate:
- Coffee
- Tea
- Soda
- Carbonated beverages
- Alcoholic beverages
For those of us that like structure, Dr. F. Batmanghelidj, author of “Your Body’s Many Cries for Water“ recommends:
“You should drink half of your body weight in ounces. If you weight 200 pounds, you should drink 100 ounces water (3.13 quarts, 2.98 liters or about 10-12 cups of water a day).” He also notes “It is very important you balance your sodium intake with your water consumption. Take 1/4 teaspoon of salt per quart of water – every 4-5 glasses of water. Be sure to get sea salt. The best is Celtic sea salt or Himalayan sea salt.”
It’s fascinating how complicated the simple and essential things in life are becoming. Let’s all show up fully to these changes and do our best to honor our bodies and respect the source.
Mike Perrine is a detoxification consultant, certified colon hydro therapist and the co-owner of Gravity East Village, a cleansing and detoxification consulting office in New York City.
