Water - the life force of the planet.

Without it, life as we know it will cease.

This colorless, odorless, tasteless substance nourishes, soothes and sustains us. Who among us does not enjoy the sound of flowing water, the lapping of waves, a babbling brook? What about the utter peaceful silence that a thick blanket of snow brings? How about a cool refreshing glass on a hot day?

We start our existence in water and as we live, we inhale and exhale water, exude water form every pore and expel it from every orifice.

The body, like our earth is made up of about 70 percent water and as we age that level decreases to about 50 percent. The body autonomously maintains an optimal level of hydration by the processes of thirst and sweating.

According to the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the water found in the body is distributed throughout the organs and tissues with the lungs being composed of about 83% water, the brain and heart about 73%; the muscles and kidneys about 79%; the skin about 64%; and the bones about 31%.

In our body, water lubricates all the organs and facilitates all the complex physiological processes we take for granted. To name a few, the presence of water in our various body organs and fluids allow us to:

• Deliver oxygen to all the cells and tissues so they can reproduce and survive and keep us alive.
• Regulate our internal temperature so that biological processes continue.
• Digest our food- saliva, gut enzymes
• Function, for our brain to work - manufacture and circulate hormones and neurotransmitters
• Think and animate our limbs - CSF (cerebrospinal fluid is the shock absorber for the brain and spinal cord
• Lubricate the joints and allow our membranes to be moist and supple
• Keeps our internal environment clean – expels toxins with urine and feces, sweat, phlegm.

Water in and of itself is a unique inexplicable substance with properties that science has yet to fully explain. It is the only natural substance that can be found in all three states on our earth. The unique physical, chemical properties and the recyclability of water allow us to be human – to live, breathe and survive.

Water gets into the cells and transport nutrients from the foods we eat and drink into the body. The fact that water is neither acidic nor alkaline ensures that our bodies maintain the optimal pH to facilitate the biological processes necessary for life.

One of the most fascinating things about water is that it is always in motion – called the water cycle. In the body, when we take in water by mouth, it goes to the blood to help the blood and dissolved oxygen to travel around the body, nourishing cells and removing waste material via the urine, the breath and the feces. This water in then goes back into the environment and is recycled and reutilized.

In general, an adult male needs to consume about 3 liters (102 ounces) of water daily, while a female about 2.2 liters (75 ounces) to maintain equilibrium. Depending on activity and girth, more is needed because persons with more fatty tissue have less water since fatty tissue does not hold as much water as lean muscle.

Whether we are too low or too high on water we have stagnation and the vital body functions are not able to occur efficiently.

When low on water (dehydrated), because we do not drink enough water, we tend to get diseases like high blood pressure, headaches, bone and joint dysfunction, kidney and liver disease, skin conditions and even mental status changes.

When we are too high (fluid overloaded) because unable to let water flow through our bodies efficiently, the water will not be in a place to be effectively utilized rendering the body intravascularly depleted, essentially dehydrated. Excess water goes into the skin and cause swelling and tissue damage. It can cause heart failure, as well as other organs to malfunction because of the toxins retained in the body.

It is possible to drink too much water on a given day. Usually, too much, too quickly.

Excess water intake can lead water intoxication, which cause the electrolytes in the body to become too dilute thereby disrupting the delicate pH balance needed for optimal function. The person will feel poorly and depleted and if prolonged there can even be mental status changes. Most people will stop drinking long before this happens.

The rule of thumb is to consume about one-half the body weight in ounces of water daily, consistently. E.g. If you are 150 pounds, aim for 75 ounces per day.

So for health and beauty, inside and out, drink more water.

Here is a hydrating and nutritive soup to get you started! Basic Soup Recipe