Water Education - Water and Health

Chronic Cellular Dehydration Page 2

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The pancreas is responsible for secreting the bicarbonate ions to neutralize the acid. A large amount of water is required to produce this bicarbonate solution. If sufficient water is not available, the digestive process may be delayed and food may remain in the stomach longer than necessary.

Over a period of time, the stomach acid may rise and if allowed to enter the esophagus, will produce the sensation known as heartburn. Ideally, water should be taken 30 minutes before meals, during meals, and again two hours after eating. Another possible complication of dehydration is joint pain. The cartilage in your body, including your joints, is composed mainly of water. As cartilage surfaces glide over one another, some exposed cells become worn and peel away. New cartilage is normally produced to replace the damaged cells. Due to the lack of blood vessels in cartilage, water is needed to transport the nutrients required for maintenance and repair.

Dehydration may increase the abrasive damage and delay its repair, resulting in joint pain. Asthma and allergies can be another indication that the body has increased the production of histamine. During chronic dehydration, the body will attempt to conserve water by preventing unnecessary water loss. A large amount of water is normally lost from the lungs as water vapor through expired air. Histamine, which also controls bronchial muscle contractions, may attempt to restrict water loss through expiration by constricting the bronchial muscles. Another complication of dehydration can be constipation.

When water is in short supply in the body, the colon will act to restrict unnecessary water loss through the stools. Colon muscles will contract to squeeze out and subsequently reabsorb water back into circulation. This can result in harder stools that are not only more difficult to pass, but may also irritate and weaken the walls of the colon, resulting in small pockets known as diverticula. Since the water that the colon reabsorbs back into circulation is not filtered water, but wastewater, it must then be filtered by the liver and the kidneys. This may place additional strain on these overworked organs.

Depression may be another complication of chronic dehydration. The amino acid tryptophan is required by the brain to produce the neurotransmitter serotonin, which subsequently is needed to make melatonin. An adequate amount of water is required for tryptophan to be transported into the brain. Dehydration may limit the amount of tryptophan available to the brain and to complicate matters, the histamine levels may actually stimulate tryptophan's breakdown in the liver. Most of the body's water is found within the cells, and the next largest amount is in the fluid surrounding the cells. If water is not replaced frequently, this surrounding fluid may continue to accumulate waste material and other contaminants. The pumps in your cell membranes may not work as efficiently because allowing dirty water into the cell can cause cellular damage or cell death.

You wouldn't bathe in the same bathwater without first cleaning the tub and adding fresh water. Why would you allow your cells to be surrounded by waste material?

In conclusion, water is vital to good health and there is no substitute for water. However, years of chronic dehydration do not get improved overnight by simply drinking a couple of glasses of water. Rather water intake should be gradually increased. How do you know if you're drinking enough water? Your urine should be clear or lightly colored. Darker-colored urine may be an indication that your kidneys are working hard to concentrate the urine. Of course, under no circumstances should anyone discontinue taking any prescription medications without the close supervision of their physician.

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