The Great Thirst Quencher
Why water is necessary for good health -- By Debra Bokur

Fundamental to existence, water is the elixir that supports life. It aids the body in metabolizing fat, facilitates the conversion of food into energy, and helps the immune system combat colds and viruses. Every body process, from digestion to elimination, depends on adequate water levels, and as little as a 2 percent drop in hydration can have a negative affect on performance and basic functions.

Inside
“The human body is two-thirds water by weight, and water is necessary for every organ system to function properly,” explains Michelle Hanjani, MD, assistant professor of clinical dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center Eastside in New York. “Water takes vital nutrients to cells throughout the body and carries away toxins that are byproducts of normal body functions. Perspiration, made up primarily of water, regulates body temperature and acts to lubricate joints; while water in blood and lymphatic fluid carries cells involved in oxygen delivery, supple skin, immune system performance, and wound healing, among other vital functions.”

So how much is enough? The water we absorb through foods (especially fresh fruits and vegetables) contributes directly to the healthy functioning of our body’s many systems. The rest comes from the fluids we drink. According to the Institute of Medicine in Washington, D.C., healthy individuals can adequately meet their daily hydration requirements by letting thirst guide them.

“The institute recommends healthy women consume 91 ounces of total water daily from both food and beverages,” says Dr. Hanjani. “Subtracting approximately 20 percent for fluids from food intake, this comes to six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. This amount may be adjusted for health reasons, during periods of illness, warm climate, strenuous activity, pregnancy, and breast-feeding.”

Interestingly, being thirsty is not necessarily an indicator of dehydration, which is defined as an acute loss of water from the body, including muscles, tissues, and organs. Because water is vital to the body’s ability to carry out all of its tasks, an excessive loss of water impairs systems and causes them to shut down. Common signs of dehydration include a significant drop in energy, headache, muscle weakness, dry mouth and lips, little or no urination, and disorientation.

Our bodies continue to lose water even while we’re asleep. Drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning replaces fluids lost during the night through the skin, by breathing and perspiring, and through kidney function.

Outside
Not only are our bodies small seas, nearly 78 percent of the Earth is water. Perhaps it’s this connection that has drawn people throughout history to watery settings. Even before the Romans made bathing a social activity, nomadic and indigenous peoples were drawn to springs, lakes, rivers, and oceans, featuring them as powerful components in their spiritual rituals and healing ceremonies. The tradition of “taking the waters”—still practiced in many parts of the world—included not only drinking from natural springs but also soaking in them.

“Bathing is a wonderful modality for health,” says Barbara Morrow, doctor of oriental medicine and corporate director of spa development for the Boutique Hotel Collection, which includes Sycamore Mineral Springs in California. “Soaking in hot water increases body temperature, induces sweating, dilates blood vessels, reduces blood pressure, and increases blood flow to the skin and muscles. This enhanced circulation helps remove waste products from the body and sends more oxygen and nutrients to the tissues to repair damage.”

Natural thermal springs are found throughout the world. Each has a unique mineral composition and is rich in therapeutic properties. “Because thermal spring waters hold more dissolved solids, they have a very high mineral content, containing valuable elements like calcium, lithium, and sulfur,” says Morrow.

Although scientific analysis of mineral content wasn’t available, ancient populations nevertheless recognized the curative benefits of these waters, absorbed into the body during soaking. Sodium chloride, found in high concentrations in the Dead Sea, appears beneficial in treating arthritis, orthopedic diseases, and central nervous system diseases. Inhaling the vapors of hydrogen sulfide gas found in thermal springs (sulfur, a powerful antibacterial agent) soothes the mucus membranes, helping treat colds and other respiratory ailments. Magnesium, also in springs, helps regulate the body’s production of protein and energy and is essential for healthy functioning of the nerves, muscles, and heart.

There are also psychological advantages to be gained from soaking in warm water, including the beneficial feelings induced by the actual physical relaxation response of the body to the heat and the minerals.

Quench your thirst inside and out by drinking up and treating your body and mind to long, luxurious soaks.