We are basically composed of a lot of carbon and few other earthy materials including minerals that are found in healthy soil. The miracle of life on this planet happens when water and carbon are mixed under the auspices of sunlight. Life becomes near spontaneous. Chemical reactions that seem improbable happen with regularity.
If you look around at the nature of our planet, we’ll see life in abundance except for where there is little to no water. If the soil can retain water, it retains life.
The Sahara Desert or the Mojave Desert lacks any significant rainfall and therefore only the most industrious of plants can survive, such as cacti. We are not cacti. We need water. While we often say that most chronic diseases manifest in the presence of inflammation, we know that water can tamp down the fires of inflammation. But drinking 8 glasses of water may not be doing what you hope it’s doing.
The Fourth Phase Of Water. I’ll ask you to take a few minutes and watch this video from Dr Gerald Pollack who has done decades of research into the properties of water. We all know about the 3 phases of water: Solid (ice), Liquid (water) and Vapor (steam or clouds) but there is a 4th phase and it was discovered just over a hundred years ago.
News travels fast with a few exceptions. The gel state: It’s the type of water that is in the cells of our bodies. We know that we are about ⅔ water but with the water molecule being so small it actually makes up about 99% of who or what we are. Watch the video to learn some facts about water that you may not know or even ever heard about!
What if I told you that the water in our cells is gel-like? What if I told you that this form of water holds a negative and positive charge? Much like the battery in your car or in your cell phone. So depending on what type of water you are drinking it’s possible that the hydrating effectiveness of the water is less than optimal. If you look at disease first through the lens of water and possible dehydration, things can suddenly become clear.
Just as the desert dies without water, if our cells are dehydrated we will die. Most disease states exist in a state of dehydration.
It is our goal to help you achieve a balance of health and well being in life. Here’s something that I tried last week that may be of interest to you: I floated.
Flotation or Sensory Deprivation Therapy
I’ll start by saying suggestions made herein may not be for everyone.
But the first question, “What is a Float Tank?” A float tank is a pod or a tank that you can lay in about 11 inches of water that is brimming with magnesium and salt. There is buoyancy and without any effort you will float which brings on a deep sense of relaxation. Magnesium is a mineral that is best absorbed through the skin. Why is magnesium important? Magnesium plays many crucial roles in the body, such as supporting muscle, nerve function and energy production. Low magnesium levels usually don’t cause symptoms. However, chronically low levels can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis.
Once in a float tank, generally, you have control over the lighting and relaxing music can add to the ambience. Sessions can be had in 30, 60 or 90 minute increments. Many local spas now have these facilities.
“Does flotation therapy bring health benefits?” The main benefit is calming and moving towards relaxation that can last for days. As you well know, ours is an over stimulated, action-packed lifestyle and we can’t seem to turn it off very easily. I checked my heart rate the day after my float and found my heart rate was around 50bpm whereas normally I am between 65 and 75. A resting heart rate can be anywhere from 45 to 100. The lower rate shows efficiency of pumping so more blood is moved with less effort or a lower heart rate. My heart rate variability rose 25%. Learning meditation and finding ways to destress is always a good thing.
I was first introduced to this concept while taking an 8 week wellness course called, “Journey of Intrinsic Health.” In the module called “Flow” several means of improving hydration including a Hydration Protocol were introduced.
How to Hydrate?
We have heard that we need electrolytes in order to keep from dehydration. So what is an electrolyte? The word itself gives us a clue. “Electro” – Electrolytes are minerals in your body that have an electric charge. By using the hydration protocol technique we can alternate drinking distilled water with mineralized spring water alternating 4 oz of each type every 30 minutes. So every hour you are getting 4 oz of distilled or “pure” water with 4 oz of mineralized spring water.
This protocol can be used as a detox. It’s recommended every 3 or 6 months to follow this routine for 12 hours a day for 3 days. This will energize your body at the cellular level, allowing the distilled water to draw out from the cells and using the mineral spring water to infill the cell with health and vitality. I use Celtic Sea Salt as it contains no less than 60 minerals! It’s an infusion of vigor.
On a daily basis, adding a pinch of celtic salt with apple cider vinegar and some lime juice once a day will give you that boost of daily hydration we seek.
Float tank as complementary medicine:
Here is a randomized control study and its conclusions: https://bmccomplementmedtherapies.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-6882-14-417
Sometimes called sensory deprivation tanks. There are several benefits derived from the experience:
- Does sensory deprivation tank treat anxiety?
- Can it relieve pain?
- Can it improve cardiovascular health?
- Will it make me happier?
“When used properly, a sensory deprivation tank may help relieve stress and ease muscle tension and pain. It can also help improve your mood. Sensory deprivation tanks are generally safe, but it may be a good idea to speak to a doctor before using one if you have any medical conditions or concerns.”
Read the full article:
https://www.healthline.com/health/sensory-deprivation-tank#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2
Take Away Tips:
- Get sunlight on your face in the early morning if you can. Pretend you are a plant and you want to create food with photosynthesis. (in a way that is what we do.)
- Maintain hydration by alternating various types of water available to you. Mineralized water is always a good bet. Add lime and salt with ACV at least once daily.
- If you are game for getting a deep relaxation going, try a float session and enjoy the magnesium.
Additional Notes:
What’s the cause of desertification?
Human activities that contribute to desertification include the expansion and intensive use of agricultural lands or “chemical” farming, tillage, poor irrigation practices, deforestation, and overgrazing. These unsustainable land uses place enormous pressure on the land by altering its soil chemistry and hydrology.
https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-solutions-of-desertification.php
https://savesoil.org
What are the causes of dehydration?
Multiple causes, see:
https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/nutritional/dehydration#causes-of-dehydration
Eat your hydration:
Fruit and vegetables contain water. The freshest vegetables and fruit recently plucked are by far yielding the most benefit. Slice up a cucumber and enjoy a few slices today! Same holds true for zucchini, carrots, watermelon, apples, fresh berries and celery. Can you think of some more? What are your favorites?
https://www.eatthis.com/hydrating-foods/
Dehydration: are sports drinks good for me?
Almost never. These blends of water, salts, and sugars are made for high-level athletes, like marathon runners. Most of us don’t need anything more than water during exercise. You’ll only have to work harder to burn off the extra calories from sports drinks. If you do intense training for more than an hour, then they can make sense.
https://www.advancednh.com/2018/03/14/dehydration-negatively-affects-mind-body/
Gut Health Tip of the Week: Drink water. I know you love your cup of coffee in the morning, but while you are waiting for your coffee to be ready, drink 16 oz of room temperature water to kick start your metabolism. You don’t have to guzzle it down and it’s actually better to sip it and drink it slowly. You may not realize it but in the process of sleep you are excreting sweat every night. Many people wake up dehydrated, in fact most people are dehydrated. Don’t be a desert, be a rain forest filled with life.
Quote for the week:
Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder. ~Rumi
