SALT AND WATER FACTS

[Guest guest]

Greetings fellow cronlings. I found some interesting info on sea salt and water intake. Something to keep in mind as we CRON. Of course- I'm pretty sure its safe to assume we are all staying hydrated... RIGHT?? also- franseca was concerned about the validity of these claims and to make sure they are facts- and to post the sources... here you go: * The below information on salt is taken from Dr. Batmanghelidj's book, "Water: Rx for a Healthier Pain-Free Life". and the article is from the associated press.

Interesting Facts About Water and Salt

Water Facts:

1.     75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated

2.     In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken by hunger

3.     Even mild dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%

4.     One glass of water shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a U-Washington study

5.     Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue

6.     Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back/joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers

7.     A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math and difficulty focusing on a computer screen or printed page

8.     A mere 5 glasses of water daily cuts the risk of colon cancer by 45%, the risk of breast cancer by 79% and the risk of bladder cancer by 50%

Salt Intake is Vital*

Salt is a vital substance for the survival of all living creatures, particularly humans. Water and salt regulate the water content of the body. Water itself regulates the water content of the interior of the cell by working its way into all of the cells it reaches. It has to get there to cleanse and extract the toxic wastes of cell metabolisms. Salt forces some water to stay outside the cells. It balances the amount of water that stays outside the cells. There are two oceans of water in the body; one ocean is held inside the cells of the body, and the other ocean is held outside the cells. Good health depends on a most delicate balance between the volume of these oceans, and this balance is achieved by salt - unrefined salt.

When water is available to get inside the cells freely, it is filtered from the outside salty ocean and injected into the cells that are being overworked despite their water shortage. This is the reason why in severe hydration we develop an edema and retain water. The design of our bodies is such that the extent of the ocean of water outside the cells is expanded to have the extra water available for filtration and emergency injection into vital cells. The brain commands an increase in salt and water retention by the kidneys. This is how we get an edema when we don't drink enough water.

Initially, the process of water filtration and its delivery into the cells is more efficient at night when the body is horizontal. The collected water, that mostly pools in the legs, does not have to fight the force of gravity to get onto the blood circulation. If reliance of this process of emergency hydration of some cells continues for long, the lungs begin to get waterlogged at night, and breathing becomes difficult. The person needs more pillows to sit upright to sleep. This condition is the consequence of dehydration. However, you might overload the system by drinking too much water at the beginning. Increases in water intake must be slow and spread out until urine production begins to increase at the same rate that you drink water.

When we drink enough water to pass clear urine, we also pass out a lot of the salt that was held back. This is how we can get rid of edema fluid in the body; by drinking more water. Not diuretics, but more water!! In people who have an extensive edema and show signs of their heart beginning to have irregular or very rapid beats with least effort, the increase in water intake should be gradual and spaced out, but not withheld from the body. Naturally, salt intake should be limited for two or three days because the body is still in an overdrive mode to retain it. Once the edema has cleared up, salt should not be withheld from the body.

Salt has many other functions than just regulating the water content of the body. Here are some of the more vital functions of salt in the body:

1.     Salt is most effective in stabilizing irregular heartbeats and, contrary to the misconception that it causes high blood pressure, it is actually essential for the regulation of blood pressure - in conjunction with water. Naturally the proportions are critical.

2.     Salt is vital to the extraction of excess acidity from the cells in the body, particularly the brain cells.

3.     Salt is vital for balancing the sugar levels in the blood; a needed element in diabetics.

4.     Salt is vital for the generation of hydroelectric energy in cells in the body. It is used for local power generation at the sites of energy need by the cells.

5.     Salt is vital to the nerve cells' communication and information processing all the time that the brain cells work, from the moment of conception to death.

6.     Salt is vital for absorption of food particles through the intestinal tract.

7.     Salt is vital for the clearance of the lungs of mucus plugs and sticky phlegm, particularly in asthma and cystic fibrosis.

8.     Salt is vital for clearing up catarrh and congestion of the sinuses.

9.     Salt is a strong natural antihistamine.

10.     Salt is essential for the prevention of muscle cramps.

11.     Salt is vital to prevent excess saliva production to the point that it flows out of the mouth during sleep. Needing to constantly mop up excess saliva indicates salt shortage.

12.     Salt is absolutely vital to making the structure of bones firm. Osteoporosis, in a major way, is a result of salt and water shortage in the body.

13.     Salt is vital for sleep regulation. It is a natural hypnotic.

14.     Salt is a vitally needed element in the treatment of diabetics.

15.     Salt on the tongue will stop persistent dry coughs.

16.     Salt is vital for the prevention of gout and gouty arthritis.

17.     Salt is vital for maintaining sexuality and libido.

18.     Salt is vital for preventing varicose veins and spider veins on the legs and thighs.

19.     Salt is vital to the communication and information processing nerve cells the entire time that the brain cells work - from the moment of conception to death.

20.     Salt is vital for reducing a double chin. When the body is short of salt, it means the body really is short of water. The salivary glands sense the salt shortage and are obliged to produce more saliva to lubricate the act of chewing and swallowing and also to supply the stomach with water that it needs for breaking down foods. Circulation to the salivary glands increases and the blood vessels become "leaky" in order to supply the glands with water to manufacture saliva. The "leakiness" spills beyond the area of the glands themselves, causing increased bulk under the skin of the chin, the cheeks and into the neck.

21.     Sea salt contains about 80 mineral elements that the body needs. Some of these elements are needed in trace amounts. Unrefined sea salt is a better choice of salt than other types of salt on the market. Ordinary table salt that is bought in the super markets has been stripped of its companion elements and contains additive elements such as aluminum silicate to keep it powdery and porous. Aluminum is a very toxic element in our nervous system. It is implicated as one of the primary causes of Alzheimer's disease.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

* The above information on salt is taken from Dr. Batmanghelidj's book, "Water: Rx for a Healthier Pain-Free Life".

Unconventional Wisdom

by Emma Ross

The Associated Press

Low-Salt Diet a Risk?

London, March 12 - A low-salt diet may not be so healthy after all. Defying a generation of health advice, a controversial new study concludes that the less salt people eat, the higher their risk of untimely death.

The study, led by Dr. Alderman, chairman of epidemiology at Albert Einstein School; of Medicine in New York and president of the American Society of Hypertension, suggests the government should consider suspending it's recommendation that people restrict the amount of salt they eat.

"The lower the sodium, the worse off you are," Alderman said. "There's an association. Is it the cause? I don't know. Any way you slice it, that's not an argument for eating a low sodium diet.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Top Essentials of Life: Oxygen - Water - Salt - Potassium - Exercise

*     FACT - No one can live without these. Mainstream medicine too often ignores 2 & 3 in favor of selling drugs and procedures to treat the symptoms of dehydration.

*     FACT - Nothing kills life quicker than lack of water.

*     FACT - The people with the worst health drink the least water and use the most deadly diuretic drought causing drugs - caffeine and/or alcohol.

*     FACT - The salinity of the water outside the cells in our bodies is the same as the ocean.

*     FACT - In the middle ages people were put to a horrible death by salt deprivation.

*     FACT - Health care makes big bucks by selling a quart of water with salt in it (Saline 4) for up to $350.00 installed, but won't tell the patients they do indeed need more water and salt in their diets.

*     FACT - How can you expect drug companies to do research on the importance of water in our daily lives when they can't make money on it? Who does research to put themselves out of business?

*     FACT - No two substances in the Bible are mentioned more than water and salt.

*     FACT - The environment of an unborn baby is water and salt.

[Guest guest]

Auburn: Dr Bat has a dubious reputation and is not recognized by

established scientists. See: http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/batman.html

AFA salt. Most of us westerners get far too much salt. If you eat canned

salmon (or virtually any canned product) for example, you get plenty.

To everyone: sources cited must be credible and of the utmost integrity.

PLEASE RESEARCH YOUR SOURCES BEFORE POSTING. OUR STANDARDS HERE ARE VERY

STRICT. JUST BECAUSE IT'S IN PRINT OR ON THE WEB DOESN'T MEAN A DARN THING.

on 1/10/2005 12:23 PM, auburndiva@... at auburndiva@... wrote:

> Greetings fellow cronlings. I found some interesting info on sea salt and

> water intake. Something to keep in mind as we CRON. Of course- I'm pretty sure

> its safe to assume we are all staying hydrated... RIGHT?? also- franseca

> was concerned about the validity of these claims and to make sure they are

> facts- and to post the sources... here you go: * The below information on salt

> is taken from Dr. Batmanghelidj's book, " Water: Rx for a Healthier Pain-Free

> Life " . and the article is from the associated press.

[Guest guest]

While this is not a comment on the credibility of the referenced post on salt

and water, it does lead me to this general

observation.

The vast majority of medical research is based on a population which is pretty

much overweight to obese. This research is further

targeted to discover maintenance drugs, so the major drug companies like a

street corner pusher can satisfy a " rest of their life

habit " to mitigate some unhealthy lifestyle. Very little research on issues

specific to underweight, but with good nutrition,

individuals.

Trying to fine tune this healthy eating pattern from research on unhealthy rats

may not be all that obvious.

WRT to salt, yes the typical AL eater is probably already getting too much salt,

but hopefully that doesn't describe the typical

participants here. For example I eat canned salmon in my regular lunch meal, but

find I still must supplement salt (it completely

prevents nighttime cramping, which returns if I stop).

I don't claim that I am typical either, just that healthy folks with a serious

commitment to energy restriction and nutrition need

to take general health advice with a grain of salt.... :-)

JR

-----Original Message-----

From: Francesca Skelton [mailto:fskelton@...]

Sent: Monday, January 10, 2005 11:39 AM

Subject: Re: [ ] SALT AND WATER FACTS

Auburn: Dr Bat has a dubious reputation and is not recognized by

established scientists. See: http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/batman.html

AFA salt. Most of us westerners get far too much salt. If you eat canned

salmon (or virtually any canned product) for example, you get plenty.

To everyone: sources cited must be credible and of the utmost integrity.

PLEASE RESEARCH YOUR SOURCES BEFORE POSTING. OUR STANDARDS HERE ARE VERY

STRICT. JUST BECAUSE IT'S IN PRINT OR ON THE WEB DOESN'T MEAN A DARN THING.

on 1/10/2005 12:23 PM, auburndiva@... at auburndiva@... wrote:

[Guest guest]

I doubt you're typical. For one thing, you're a pretty heavy exerciser.

Probably more than most of us.

Just having my midday snack, a few whole wheat pita rounds with veggies, the

ingredients for the pita are: stone ground whole wheat flour, yeast,

barley, malt, salt. So even on my minimally processed diet I get plenty of

salt - in fact probably too much. I also occasionally eat canned vegetable

soup (I throw in added veggies). And of course not to speak of all the

added salt in meals eaten out or at other people's houses.

on 1/10/2005 1:06 PM, at crjohnr@... wrote:

> WRT to salt, yes the typical AL eater is probably already getting too much

> salt, but hopefully that doesn't describe the typical

> participants here. For example I eat canned salmon in my regular lunch meal,

> but find I still must supplement salt (it completely

> prevents nighttime cramping, which returns if I stop).

>

> I don't claim that I am typical either, just that healthy folks with a serious

> commitment to energy restriction and nutrition need

> to take general health advice with a grain of salt.... :-)

>

> JR

[Guest guest]

" Fact #21 " is a non-sequitur. Yes, aluminum silicate is used as an

additive in salt, and yes, *elemental* aluminum is toxic. However,

aluminum silicate is a very stable natural compound found in rocks,

dirt, clay, etc. that does not spontaneously generate elemental

aluminum and should be of no more concern than eating a little dirt

with your lettuce. Aluminum is the third most common chemical element

in the earth after oxygen and silicon and we have been eating dirt

with aluminum compounds for eons. Check out this link:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=1\

2851164 & dopt=Abstract

Int J Toxicol. 2003;22 Suppl 1:37-102.

Final report on the safety assessment of aluminum silicate,

calcium silicate, magnesium aluminum silicate, magnesium silicate,

magnesium trisilicate, sodium magnesium silicate, zirconium silicate,

attapulgite, bentonite, Fuller's earth, hectorite, kaolin, lithium

magnesium silicate, lithium magnesium sodium silicate,

montmorillonite, pyrophyllite, and zeolite.

" These ingredients are not significantly toxic in oral acute or

short-term oral or parenteral toxicity studies in animals. Inhalation

toxicity, however, is readily demonstrated in animals. Particle size,

fibrogenicity, concentration, and mineral composition had the greatest

effect on toxicity. "

PMID: 12851164

Just don't breathe the dust and don't cook in shiny aluminum pans.

Tony

>>>

From: auburndiva@a...

Date: Mon Jan 10, 2005 12:23 pm

Subject: SALT AND WATER FACTS

Salt Fact #21:

Ordinary table salt that is bought in the super markets has been

stripped of its companion elements and contains additive elements such

as aluminum silicate to keep it powdery and porous. Aluminum is a very

toxic element in our nervous system. It is implicated as one of the

primary causes of Alzheimer's disease.

>>>

[Guest guest]

Yes, I am probably above average for exercise, and have even cut back a little

(2 pick-up basketball sessions vs. 3 in past), but

the 2 1/2 hours of full court fast break basketball yesterday made my week.

I manage to avoid eating almost all foods that are processed or prepared. During

one of my food improvement increments, I actually

cooked my own bagels, before dropping them entirely (no not because of my

cooking :-)

I appreciate that it takes time to cook pita bread and make soups, but I have

always found improvement in nutrition as well as

flavor when I roll my own, but then again, I have to supplement salt and most

folks don't...YMMV

JR

-----Original Message-----

From: Francesca Skelton [mailto:fskelton@...]

Sent: Monday, January 10, 2005 12:45 PM

Subject: Re: [ ] SALT AND WATER FACTS

I doubt you're typical. For one thing, you're a pretty heavy exerciser.

Probably more than most of us.

Just having my midday snack, a few whole wheat pita rounds with veggies, the

ingredients for the pita are: stone ground whole wheat flour, yeast,

barley, malt, salt. So even on my minimally processed diet I get plenty of

salt - in fact probably too much. I also occasionally eat canned vegetable

soup (I throw in added veggies). And of course not to speak of all the

added salt in meals eaten out or at other people's houses.

on 1/10/2005 1:06 PM, at crjohnr@... wrote:

> WRT to salt, yes the typical AL eater is probably already getting too much

> salt, but hopefully that doesn't describe the typical

> participants here. For example I eat canned salmon in my regular lunch meal,

> but find I still must supplement salt (it completely

> prevents nighttime cramping, which returns if I stop).

>

> I don't claim that I am typical either, just that healthy folks with a serious

> commitment to energy restriction and nutrition need

> to take general health advice with a grain of salt.... :-)

>

> JR

[Guest guest]

In regard to sodium, if anyone wants to read it, my collegues, Jay

Kenney, PhD, RD, has posted an excellent CPE article online about

sodium/salt. You can find it here. It is free to read, you only pay

if you want the CPE's

http://www.foodandhealth.com/cpecourses/salt_new.php

I can pass any comments/question on to him, if anyone has any.

Also, I spoke at a medical conference in NYC this weekend and the last

speaker was a MD from the area whose talk was called " how to live to be

a 100 " . He didn't have any fancy presentation material but gave a hand

out which listed about 40 things to do if you want to live to a 100.

Most all were based on his interpretation of the literature.

He mentioned that there is actually a group of people now who are trying

to replicate the CR mice studies in their own lives called CR-ON'ies,

and said they were basically wacko's eating 800 calories a day of

" dirt " . I didn't want to embarrass him publically but we talked

afterwards about what CR-ON really is and I don't eat 800 calories or

dirt and there is now published literature on these wackos which is

pretty impressive.

If this list wants, I can post the 40 or so items. I am sure we agree

with most, some were interesting and not commonly discussed here or

elsewhere, and some we might disagree with. I can also add my comments

to the items, where I think I have something to say.

Just let me know

Regards

Jeff (Former CR-Onie, now a Wacko)

[Guest guest]

All those words and no suggestion of an RDA for sodium?

What about lifespan? Any idea how much longer we'll live eating "more" salt, "more" water?

You're just selling a book?

----- Original Message -----

From: auburndiva@...

Sent: Monday, January 10, 2005 11:23 AM

Subject: [ ] SALT AND WATER FACTS

Greetings fellow cronlings. I found some interesting info on sea salt and water intake. Something to keep in mind as we CRON. Of course- I'm pretty sure its safe to assume we are all staying hydrated... RIGHT?? also- franseca was concerned about the validity of these claims and to make sure they are facts- and to post the sources... here you go: * The below information on salt is taken from Dr. Batmanghelidj's book, "Water: Rx for a Healthier Pain-Free Life". and the article is from the associated press.

[Guest guest]

I'd like to see the 40 items and your comments would be welcome.

Thanks for the url. The salt controversy will never end as long as someone sells salt. There are peoples (Yanomamo), who eat no salt and indeed have such low levels of sodium excretion, it is not believable in today's context. But those people do not build high rise buildings, drive cars, fight wars, etc.

CR tech will build into a similar controversy, if not already, which will be mostly ignored by busy people. But they will ignore us when we get to 100yo.

Comment on the article: I have to see the "proof" that salt CAUSES HTN. I believe that it does, but the "proof" that I've read merely shows that BP rises when people or animals are fed high salt. Take away the salt and the pressure falls. The diff is: where is the proof that permanganate damage is done and to what item or system in the body? I would alter the "Does Dietary Salt Cause HTN in Animals?" (Dahl rats right?).

My obvious logical conclusion is that if we knew what is altered we would have found the mechanism of essential HTN, and someone would be getting a Nobel prize. I haven't heard of either.

That comment from a person who thinks it's obvious that excess sodium shortens lifespan.

Also there is some diff in genes:

Journal of the American Society of NephrologyVolume 15 . Number 1 . January 2004These results show that in carriers of the 460Trp ADD1 allele (38% of the population), the administration of diuretics halves the incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke when compared with other antihypertensive treatments that produce similar reduction of BP.

Also, inre Yanomamo

Circulation. 1975 Jul;52(1):146-51. Blood pressure, sodium intake, and sodium related hormones in the Yanomamo Indians, a "no-salt" culture.Oliver WJ, Cohen EL, Neel JV.

In twenty-four hour urine collections on adult male Indians, excretion of sodium averaged only 1 plus or minus 1.5 (SD) mEq. Simultaneous plasma renin activities were elevated and comparable to those of civilized subjects placed for brief periods on 10 mEq sodium diets. PMID: 11321181 meq of sodium is like 23 mg. A lot less than 0.5 grams shown on the chart. Granted not believable.

We're all wacko. We'll be discussing this 30 yrs from now and there will be the same controversies as now. That is, if we don't run out of salt, grease, and corn syrup to fuel the a-types building new buildings, cars and fighting the wars. By then, we'll be playing on the "old" inet which will be too slow for the computer games that will come out (which will be the same games with diff graphics).

By then we'll have new graphics that will rival kodachrome 10 film.

Don't know what we'll do if we ran out of french fries to put the salt on (TIC).

Regards.

----- Original Message -----

From: Jeff Novick

Sent: Monday, January 10, 2005 4:09 PM

Subject: RE: [ ] SALT AND WATER FACTS

In regard to sodium, if anyone wants to read it, my collegues, JayKenney, PhD, RD, has posted an excellent CPE article online aboutsodium/salt. You can find it here. It is free to read, you only payif you want the CPE'shttp://www.foodandhealth.com/cpecourses/salt_new.phpI can pass any comments/question on to him, if anyone has any.Also, I spoke at a medical conference in NYC this weekend and the lastspeaker was a MD from the area whose talk was called "how to live to bea 100". He didn't have any fancy presentation material but gave a handout which listed about 40 things to do if you want to live to a 100.Most all were based on his interpretation of the literature. He mentioned that there is actually a group of people now who are tryingto replicate the CR mice studies in their own lives called CR-ON'ies,and said they were basically wacko's eating 800 calories a day of"dirt". I didn't want to embarrass him publically but we talkedafterwards about what CR-ON really is and I don't eat 800 calories ordirt and there is now published literature on these wackos which ispretty impressive. If this list wants, I can post the 40 or so items. I am sure we agreewith most, some were interesting and not commonly discussed here orelsewhere, and some we might disagree with. I can also add my commentsto the items, where I think I have something to say.Just let me knowRegards Jeff (Former CR-Onie, now a Wacko)

[Guest guest]

Permanent damage as done by spellchecker.

----- Original Message -----

From: jwwright

Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2005 3:06 PM

Subject: Re: [ ] SALT AND WATER FACTS

I'd like to see the 40 items and your comments would be welcome.

Thanks for the url. The salt controversy will never end as long as someone sells salt. There are peoples (Yanomamo), who eat no salt and indeed have such low levels of sodium excretion, it is not believable in today's context. But those people do not build high rise buildings, drive cars, fight wars, etc.

CR tech will build into a similar controversy, if not already, which will be mostly ignored by busy people. But they will ignore us when we get to 100yo.

Comment on the article: I have to see the "proof" that salt CAUSES HTN. I believe that it does, but the "proof" that I've read merely shows that BP rises when people or animals are fed high salt. Take away the salt and the pressure falls. The diff is: where is the proof that permanENT damage is done and to what item or system in the body? I would alter the "Does Dietary Salt Cause HTN in Animals?" (Dahl rats right?).

My obvious logical conclusion is that if we knew what is altered we would have found the mechanism of essential HTN, and someone would be getting a Nobel prize. I haven't heard of either.

That comment from a person who thinks it's obvious that excess sodium shortens lifespan.

Also there is some diff in genes:

Journal of the American Society of NephrologyVolume 15 . Number 1 . January 2004These results show that in carriers of the 460Trp ADD1 allele (38% of the population), the administration of diuretics halves the incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke when compared with other antihypertensive treatments that produce similar reduction of BP.

Also, inre Yanomamo

Circulation. 1975 Jul;52(1):146-51. Blood pressure, sodium intake, and sodium related hormones in the Yanomamo Indians, a "no-salt" culture.Oliver WJ, Cohen EL, Neel JV.

In twenty-four hour urine collections on adult male Indians, excretion of sodium averaged only 1 plus or minus 1.5 (SD) mEq. Simultaneous plasma renin activities were elevated and comparable to those of civilized subjects placed for brief periods on 10 mEq sodium diets. PMID: 11321181 meq of sodium is like 23 mg. A lot less than 0.5 grams shown on the chart. Granted not believable.

We're all wacko. We'll be discussing this 30 yrs from now and there will be the same controversies as now. That is, if we don't run out of salt, grease, and corn syrup to fuel the a-types building new buildings, cars and fighting the wars. By then, we'll be playing on the "old" inet which will be too slow for the computer games that will come out (which will be the same games with diff graphics).

By then we'll have new graphics that will rival kodachrome 10 film.

Don't know what we'll do if we ran out of french fries to put the salt on (TIC).

Regards.

[Guest guest]

Hi Auburn:

I do not believe the following excerpt from the above post of yours.

But if it really is true we all would certainly would want to know

about it. Here is the item (not the only one) that I do not believe:

" 8. A mere 5 glasses of water daily cuts the risk of colon cancer

by 45%, the risk of breast cancer by 79% and the risk of bladder

cancer by 50% " .

Now, the only way the source of that information would know those

assertions to be true would be if some major scientific study, or

studies, had provided convincing evidence of it. Can you please

provide us with the reference? Or perhaps you could persuade Dr.

Batman to provide it so that we can go read the study and see if the

source is credible, if it is published in a credible journal and

therefore looks like it is something that deserves to be taken

seriously.

Did perhaps all the subjects in the study die of drowning before they

had time to come down with cancer?

Thank you.

Rodney.

> Greetings fellow cronlings. I found some interesting info on sea

salt and

> water intake. Something to keep in mind as we CRON. Of course- I'm

pretty sure

> its safe to assume we are all staying hydrated... RIGHT?? also-

franseca was

> concerned about the validity of these claims and to make sure they

are facts-

> and to post the sources... here you go: * The below information on

salt is

> taken from Dr. Batmanghelidj's book, " Water: Rx for a Healthier

Pain-Free Life " .

> and the article is from the associated press.

>

>

> Interesting Facts About Water and Salt

>

>

> Water Facts:

>

> 1.     75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated

> 2.     In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it

is often

> mistaken by hunger

> 3.     Even mild dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as

much as 3%

> 4.     One glass of water shut down midnight hunger pangs for

almost 100% of

> the dieters studied in a U-Washington study

> 5.     Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue

> 6.     Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a

day could

> significantly ease back/joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers

> 7.     A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term

memory,

> trouble with basic math and difficulty focusing on a computer

screen or printed

> page

> 8.     A mere 5 glasses of water daily cuts the risk of colon

cancer by 45%,

> the risk of breast cancer by 79% and the risk of bladder cancer by

50%

>

> Salt Intake is Vital*

>

>

> Salt is a vital substance for the survival of all living creatures,

> particularly humans. Water and salt regulate the water content of

the body. Water

> itself regulates the water content of the interior of the cell by

working its way

> into all of the cells it reaches. It has to get there to cleanse

and extract

> the toxic wastes of cell metabolisms. Salt forces some water to

stay outside the

> cells. It balances the amount of water that stays outside the

cells. There

> are two oceans of water in the body; one ocean is held inside the

cells of the

> body, and the other ocean is held outside the cells. Good health

depends on a

> most delicate balance between the volume of these oceans, and this

balance is

> achieved by salt - unrefined salt.

>

> When water is available to get inside the cells freely, it is

filtered from

> the outside salty ocean and injected into the cells that are being

overworked

> despite their water shortage. This is the reason why in severe

hydration we

> develop an edema and retain water. The design of our bodies is such

that the

> extent of the ocean of water outside the cells is expanded to have

the extra water

> available for filtration and emergency injection into vital cells.

The brain

> commands an increase in salt and water retention by the kidneys.

This is how

> we get an edema when we don't drink enough water.

>

> Initially, the process of water filtration and its delivery into

the cells is

> more efficient at night when the body is horizontal. The collected

water,

> that mostly pools in the legs, does not have to fight the force of

gravity to get

> onto the blood circulation. If reliance of this process of

emergency

> hydration of some cells continues for long, the lungs begin to get

waterlogged at

> night, and breathing becomes difficult. The person needs more

pillows to sit

> upright to sleep. This condition is the consequence of dehydration.

However, you

> might overload the system by drinking too much water at the

beginning. Increases

> in water intake must be slow and spread out until urine production

begins to

> increase at the same rate that you drink water.

>

> When we drink enough water to pass clear urine, we also pass out a

lot of the

> salt that was held back. This is how we can get rid of edema fluid

in the

> body; by drinking more water. Not diuretics, but more water!! In

people who have

> an extensive edema and show signs of their heart beginning to have

irregular

> or very rapid beats with least effort, the increase in water intake

should be

> gradual and spaced out, but not withheld from the body. Naturally,

salt intake

> should be limited for two or three days because the body is still

in an

> overdrive mode to retain it. Once the edema has cleared up, salt

should not be

> withheld from the body.

>

> Salt has many other functions than just regulating the water

content of the

> body. Here are some of the more vital functions of salt in the body:

>

> 1.     Salt is most effective in stabilizing irregular heartbeats

and,

> contrary to the misconception that it causes high blood pressure,

it is actually

> essential for the regulation of blood pressure - in conjunction

with water.

> Naturally the proportions are critical.

> 2.     Salt is vital to the extraction of excess acidity from the

cells in

> the body, particularly the brain cells.

> 3.     Salt is vital for balancing the sugar levels in the blood; a

needed

> element in diabetics.

> 4.     Salt is vital for the generation of hydroelectric energy in

cells in

> the body. It is used for local power generation at the sites of

energy need by

> the cells.

> 5.     Salt is vital to the nerve cells' communication and

information

> processing all the time that the brain cells work, from the moment

of conception to

> death.

> 6.     Salt is vital for absorption of food particles through the

intestinal

> tract.

> 7.     Salt is vital for the clearance of the lungs of mucus plugs

and sticky

> phlegm, particularly in asthma and cystic fibrosis.

> 8.     Salt is vital for clearing up catarrh and congestion of the

sinuses.

> 9.     Salt is a strong natural antihistamine.

> 10.     Salt is essential for the prevention of muscle cramps.

> 11.     Salt is vital to prevent excess saliva production to the

point that

> it flows out of the mouth during sleep. Needing to constantly mop

up excess

> saliva indicates salt shortage.

> 12.     Salt is absolutely vital to making the structure of bones

firm.

> Osteoporosis, in a major way, is a result of salt and water

shortage in the body.

> 13.     Salt is vital for sleep regulation. It is a natural

hypnotic.

> 14.     Salt is a vitally needed element in the treatment of

diabetics.

> 15.     Salt on the tongue will stop persistent dry coughs.

> 16.     Salt is vital for the prevention of gout and gouty

arthritis.

> 17.     Salt is vital for maintaining sexuality and libido.

> 18.     Salt is vital for preventing varicose veins and spider

veins on the

> legs and thighs.

> 19.     Salt is vital to the communication and information

processing nerve

> cells the entire time that the brain cells work - from the moment

of conception

> to death.

> 20.     Salt is vital for reducing a double chin. When the body is

short of

> salt, it means the body really is short of water. The salivary

glands sense the

> salt shortage and are obliged to produce more saliva to lubricate

the act of

> chewing and swallowing and also to supply the stomach with water

that it needs

> for breaking down foods. Circulation to the salivary glands

increases and the

> blood vessels become " leaky " in order to supply the glands with

water to

> manufacture saliva. The " leakiness " spills beyond the area of the

glands

> themselves, causing increased bulk under the skin of the chin, the

cheeks and into the

> neck.

> 21.     Sea salt contains about 80 mineral elements that the body

needs. Some

> of these elements are needed in trace amounts. Unrefined sea salt

is a better

> choice of salt than other types of salt on the market. Ordinary

table salt

> that is bought in the super markets has been stripped of its

companion elements

> and contains additive elements such as aluminum silicate to keep it

powdery

> and porous. Aluminum is a very toxic element in our nervous system.

It is

> implicated as one of the primary causes of Alzheimer's disease.

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----

> * The above information on salt is taken from Dr. Batmanghelidj's

book,

> " Water: Rx for a Healthier Pain-Free Life " .

>

>

> Unconventional Wisdom

> by Emma Ross

> The Associated Press

>

> Low-Salt Diet a Risk?

>

> London, March 12 - A low-salt diet may not be so healthy after all.

Defying a

> generation of health advice, a controversial new study concludes

that the

> less salt people eat, the higher their risk of untimely death.

>

> The study, led by Dr. Alderman, chairman of epidemiology at

Albert

> Einstein School; of Medicine in New York and president of the

American Society

> of Hypertension, suggests the government should consider suspending

it's

> recommendation that people restrict the amount of salt they eat.

>

> " The lower the sodium, the worse off you are, " Alderman

said. " There's an

> association. Is it the cause? I don't know. Any way you slice it,

that's not an

> argument for eating a low sodium diet.

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----

>

>

> Top Essentials of Life: Oxygen - Water - Salt - Potassium - Exercise

>

> *     FACT - No one can live without these. Mainstream medicine too

often

> ignores 2 & 3 in favor of selling drugs and procedures to treat the

symptoms of

> dehydration.

> *     FACT - Nothing kills life quicker than lack of water.

> *     FACT - The people with the worst health drink the least water

and use

> the most deadly diuretic drought causing drugs - caffeine and/or

alcohol.

> *     FACT - The salinity of the water outside the cells in our

bodies is the

> same as the ocean.

> *     FACT - In the middle ages people were put to a horrible death

by salt

> deprivation.

> *     FACT - Health care makes big bucks by selling a quart of

water with

> salt in it (Saline 4) for up to $350.00 installed, but won't tell

the patients

> they do indeed need more water and salt in their diets.

> *     FACT - How can you expect drug companies to do research on

the

> importance of water in our daily lives when they can't make money

on it? Who does

> research to put themselves out of business?

> *     FACT - No two substances in the Bible are mentioned more than

water and

> salt.

> *     FACT - The environment of an unborn baby is water and salt.