Water, Lemon Water, and Other Drinks

Water is essential for our existence and well-being. We are all made of water in a very high proportion, about 70 percent. Thus, we should pay close attention to water intake; it is one of the crucial elements of great health. Body water has to be replenished. Think of the water in your body as similar to the water you find in nature; if you don’t replace and continuously refresh the water, it will become stagnant, like a swamp. Some say you should wash your body both outside and inside with the same amount of the water, and washing from the inside means drinking lots of water. Drinking enough water will take some toxins out of your body and leave you feeling refreshed and energized.

The quality of water is very important. I strongly suggest that you purchase at least a simple water filter, as I am entirely against bottled water, due to the toxins in plastic bottles, a subject discussed in a previous chapter. The toxic chemicals in plastic bottles can actually trigger cancer. There are statistical links between plastic chemicals and endocrine cancers like breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer. These plastic-derived chemicals may also disrupt nerve connections and block important chemical and metabolic processes. Overall, the best choice is to drink filtered water.

If your city water is fluoridated, you should look for a different source of water. As discussed previously, it is my firm belief that fluoridated water is hazardous to human health. As we have mentioned before, fluoride competes with iodine, and this is just one good reason why so many develop under-functioning thyroid and become tired and exhausted.

When it comes to the amount of water we drink, most of us tend to underestimate, claiming we drank more than we actually did. As in many areas of life, being honest with ourselves is the first step toward changing this bad habit into a good one.

Optimal quantity of daily water intake is at least six to eight, eight-ounce glasses. This is considered a minimum; everything under this amount will only slowly build a still-water swamp inside rather than the crystal-clear river of life that your body requires. Water should comprise 70 percent of all that you eat and drink, the same proportion as the body composition. We should eat and drink in the proportions we are made of.

Besides washing toxins away, water also plays many other roles in our bodies. Water is an active participant in many chemical- and energy-producing reactions. By forming or splitting water molecules, energy is released or absorbed in different areas of the body.

Water is an amazing element. It is alive, it has memory, and it heals, soothes, and cleans and builds cells. It is a great foundation for the body. If we don’t replenish our bodies with fresh water, we cannot expect to have an efficient metabolism. If the water inside is like molasses, chemical reactions will slow down and ultimately stop; the process of dehydration quickly sets in. People can live much longer without food, but we can only last a few days without water.

I mentioned that water has memory, but what does this really mean? Water has the ability, in certain conditions, to retain information. It can be structured in different ways, and clusters of water molecules can take on different forms and shapes. There are many articles and studies devoted to water and structured water.

Some people say filling a dark blue glass bottle with fresh water and leaving it in full sunlight for up to a half-hour will charge the water with a certain frequency, making it even more beneficial.

Ideally, your water should be at room temperature—not too cold and not too warm. I advise squeezing real lemon juice in your water or adding a pinch of unprocessed salt. Adding these natural elements to water will prevent it from being too quickly passed through and flushed out and reduce frequent urination. Negatively ionizing the water will make it enter cells easier and will help better hydrating the body.

One of the best daily habits to have is to start every day with a cup of room-temperature water with real lemon juice squeezed in it. You can squeeze half of a lemon or add just a few drops, depending on your taste preference. This simple elixir will clean, hydrate, and detoxify you. Whenever available, add lemon to your water.

Lemon juice will completely change the taste of your water and make it easier to drink. Another idea is to submerge some fresh mint leaves in a pitcher of water; lemon juice can be added to this as well. Leaving mint and lemon water in a covered pitcher throughout the day is a great idea. This drink is fresh and healthy and looks great sitting on the kitchen counter or dining table! The great taste of mint and lemon will have you wanting more of this easy refreshment. Make lemon water fresh daily and do not store it overnight.

Some people do not like plain water and insist on drinking tea, wine, coffee, juice, soft drinks, milk, or beer. While these are all liquids, they are not what the body needs to function properly. The body requires pure, plain water. For a simpler explanation, realize that you would never think to wash your car or your house with wine or orange juice, even though they are liquids. Likewise, your body should only be cleansed and refreshed with water. Humans need simple, healthy food and water. Eating raw, alive, unprocessed food and drinking plain water is what makes us healthy and strong.

Coffee can be enjoyed from time to time, but it should not be abused. For some people, even one cup of black coffee a day will cause anxiety and insomnia. Everyone is sensitive to caffeine to some degree, and you should be well aware of your personal degree of tolerance. If you do drink coffee, do not add sweeteners or flavors, as most are toxic.

Good homemade tea is also occasionally acceptable, but commercial iced tea has little to do with real tea at all. Ready-made iced tea is often just a noncarbonated soft drink full of sugar and harmful chemicals. Not only that, but it is often stored in those dangerous plastic bottles we’ve already discussed.

Green tea is a great drink to have. As documented in many medical studies, green tea is good for many health conditions, including cancer. For several reasons, green tea is a healthier choice than coffee. In general, use 1 tsp. of green tea per 5-oz (150ml) cup should be used.

Green tea leaves are not fermented, and they don’t go through the oxidation process that black tea undergoes. Green tea contains a special compound, epigallactocatechin gallate (EGCG), a popular antioxidant known for fighting cancer and cardiovascular conditions. Green tea contains about one-fourth the caffeine of coffee, so it is less of a stimulant.

Black tea is often consumed instead of coffee, and it contains more caffeine than green tea. Those who live in the UK often add milk and honey or sugar to it, but it is never a good idea to add sweeteners to any beverage.

Avoid drinks that are decaffeinated and use non-caffeinated products instead. Decaffeinated coffee and tea is not natural, as it once contained caffeine but has been treated with a chemical solvent to extract caffeine. This process is repeated 10 to 12 times, until the caffeine content meets the required standard 97 percent removal. Not only do decaffeinated products still contain small amounts of caffeine, but they also contain byproducts or traces of the extracting solvents. The final taste of decaffeinated coffee depends on how many of the 1,000 or more taste-giving constituents have been removed during the process.

Avoid all commercial juices and sodas. It is amazing how much sugar people ingest drinking these liquids, even if the label reads “100 percent juice.” Keep in mind that these all contain sugar, as well as many kinds of additives and preservatives. Some chemicals add color, some add taste, and some add smell.

Another trap people often get caught up in is consuming “diet” or “light” products. While these may not contain conventional sugar, they do harbor molecules that exhibit the same insulin effects as sugars. Erythritol, mannitol, xylitol, fructose, sucralose, and maltose are just a few names of sweeteners added to commercial drinks, so they can label them “zero sugar” or “sugar free.” These drinks may not contain white sugar, but artificial sweeteners are no better for you. For example, aspartame, very widely used in diet products, is very dangerous to the human body and is the number-one cause of complaints to the FDA. If you have diabetes or unexplained symptoms like fatigue, migraines, and irritability, stay away from sweet drinks.

If you are eager to drink some juice, fresh, homemade juice is your best choice. Squeeze lemons and oranges or make a healthy cocktail by juicing some carrots, apples, and maybe just a lemon. This is always a good option, but be aware that you shouldn’t drink these too often. Fruits are packed with fruit sugar, aka fructose. Drinking fruit juice causes you to ingest higher doses of this kind sugar than eating the whole fruits would. You may easily drink the juice of five squeezed oranges, for instance, while you would never really eat five oranges at once. Homemade juice is a far better option than buying juice from the store, however, you should still limit your intake of it.

Let’s get back to water. This precious element has been valued in centuries past, so much so that in some cultures, a priest blesses the water in religious rituals. Treat water with respect, pray over it, and be thankful for it. Think lovely thoughts over water, and pray for blessings when you drink it.

There are many reasons to respect water. Whether you are religious or not, you have to admit that water is a sacred element for humans. Without the rain, we would not have food on our tables. Without water, there would be no us to enjoy that food and breathe the air we are breathing. Carefully choose and respect the water you drink, and drink plenty of it in good thought. Your health will be thankful for it!

Chapter Summary

Your body is 70 percent water. Refresh it daily.
Avoid plastic bottles and fluoridated city water.
Use room-temperature, filtered water.
Drink six to eight eight-ounce glasses of water per day.
Start every day with a glass of lemon water.
Avoid juice, iced tea, soda, and diet or light beverages.
Drink hot tea and coffee only moderately.
Respect and be thankful for water.