Over hydration, water intoxication, water poisoning, they all mean the same thing...drinking too much water. Medically it is called hyponatremia (dangerously low salt levels). Drinking too much water in a short time is not only harmful to your health, it could be life threatening.
Our bodies work by maintaining a delicate balance of sodium, potassium and other electrolytes while at the same time keeping the water balanced throughout the body as it is needed. When we drink more water than out bodies need in a short time and do not replace the electrolytes, your body is at risk of washing out the electrolytes you do have.
The body is very effective at maintaining balance, even if we load up on unhealthy foods (read: processed and junk foods), our bodies will find a way to maintain an equilibrium.
Consider what happened in the documentary ‘Super Size Me.’ The doctor explained that the blood lab results were heading to critical and unless Morgan stopped, it would kill him. Then his body found the balance. Note that it took weeks for this to happen.
When we drink water, changes happens much faster. There is no time for the body to correct the balance when too much water is taken in over a short time.
When we drink too much water, the electrolytes in the stomach are diluted. As they pass through the gut, further dilution happens in the body at the cellular level.
Over hydration is also known as Water Intoxication, hyponatremia, and over-hydration and water poisoning. When the electrolytes are pushed out of normal levels too fast, brain functions are ultimately affected.
Often the deaths related to over hydration are the result of college hazing. Thinking that water is safer than drinking alcohol to an excess, the inexperienced pay for their mistake, sometimes with their life. They will have someone drink more water than is safe in an effort to have someone prove that they are worthy.
Another cause can be athletes who engage in rigorous exercise and although re-hydrating, they fail to replenish electrolytes.
It has been recommended in literature that a full size person should not drink more than 32 ounces of water at any given time in a two hour period. The smaller our body size, the less we should drink. Our empty and relaxed stomach is about the size of our clinched fist and wrist. It is about 10 inches in length. Research does not agree on the maximum safe amount that the stomach can be stretched out. We have gone with the minimum or 32 ounces with no food at the same time based on the research of Dr. Batmanghelidj.
A second factor in how much water is too much water has to do with food consumption.
It is best to drink the water 30 min before meals and not sooner than 2 1/2 hours after meals. This way the food we eat will not be diluted.
It is interesting to note the medical term for this condition, hyponatremia.
Constantly we hear the medical talking heads say that we should not eat too much salt. While we agree with this when it comes to table salt, the same is not true of unprocessed salt with over 80 minerals. The latter has vital minerals needed for optimal health.
Research has even shown that low salt diets are dangerous. They can increase your risk of heart disease and death. Many times over, the salt studies have been debunked and proved to be biased. Yet we keep hearing that salt is bad. The reality, it is profitable to promote the low salt diet.
There are those who should not and cannot eat much salt. Those with limitations are noted on the protocol page. For the rest of us, a second question to ask, why does the medical establishment not suggest we drink more water. We need both salt and water for optimal health.
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Robert Butts, founder of WaterCures.org passed away at the age of 83. He will be missed.
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It is amazing how so many things that are new to us were common knowledge in the past. One basic practice of the Water Cures protocol is to drink at least 30-45 minutes before and 2 1/2 hours after a meal. This is not a new thought however. Notice what a magazine from 1925 had to say...
"Drink plenty of water two hours after each meal; drink none just before eating; and a small quantity if any at meal time. Do not take a bath until two hours after eating a meal, nor closer than one hour before eating. Drink a full glass of water both before and after the bath." (Golden Age, Sept. 9, 1925, pp. 784-785)
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Healthy Hydration for Athletics & the reason for hydration guideline failures in the past.
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We are not promoting increased salt intake. We are suggesting taking salt in amounts appropriate to your bodies needs, based on water needs. Our needs are not one size fits all.
Note: Do you have CHF or Kidney Disease? Then.....
THIS IS NOT FOR YOU.
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Listen to your body. Do not use this if you are under a doctors care. Do not stop taking medications without consulting your doctor. If you are on medications, consult your doctor if you start the Water Cures Protocol as it may change your needs.
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Hi, my name is Sharon. The webmaster of this site is my nurse, my personal water coach and my husband.
As this site was first being built, I had a headache and as usual took an Ibuprofen. Impatient for it to start working, I decided to try the Water Cures. I took a pinch of salt and a glass of water. Then I took a second pinch of salt and another glass of water. My headache was gone in less than 5 minutes.
From my personal experience, it usually takes 30 to 45 minutes for Ibuprofen to work. Some have found it takes ibuprofen 24 minutes to start working.
Yet on the Water Cures protocol, my headache was gone in 5 minutes.
Its simple: give your body what it needs and your body will give you what you need, the ability to feel great.
Water Cures was the solution for the elimination of my headache. It is what I will use from now on.
Why not give it a try yourself.