The Importance of Rehydrating at the Cellular Level

by Marilyn DeMartini

Lack of proper hydration or “dehydration” is at epidemic levels—especially as summer temperatures soar and we sweat more than usual. Water acts as a flushing mechanism in the kidneys and urinary tract. Without appropriate hydration, all organs are subject to inordinate stress and inflammation. In fact, the first and most common effect of dehydration is inflammation in any area of the body—a chronic issue with most people today—which precedes most diseases. Therefore, dehydration is a major concern across all populations and ages.

Working around the clock, our brain requires more water than any other part of the body, and an improperly hydrated nervous system cannot function at optimum performance. In fact, water is so important that at birth we are approximately 75 percent water; however, by age 70, it is estimated that human water percentage can be as low as 40 percent. You are likely to be living in a constant state of dehydration—and not even know it.

According to various researchers and scientists from the U.S., Europe and Japan, cellular dehydration either caused, contributed to and/or exacerbated various health problems associated with acidic toxins, nutritional deficiencies, poor circulation and poor cell function.

In the book, Your Body’s Many Cries for Water, Dr. Fereydoon Batmanghelidj shares his clinical research of more than 20 years. He concludes that in half the visits to doctors every day, the patients aren’t sick, they’re just thirsty, and that we could literally empty half the hospitals with proper hydration.

People are visiting their doctors complaining of symptoms that are, in reality, their body’s urgent cry for water. When your body lacks water on the cellular level and is therefore unable to remove toxins, it is faced with the destructive effects of free radical pathology. Chronic disease is frequently accompanied by and, in many cases caused by, cellular dehydration. Infectious agents cannot thrive in a well-hydrated body. Drinking enough water is one of the most crucial preventive measures you can take to maintain health.

Cellular dehydration is a major stress of critical importance. When the body’s water reserves are low, it initiates a priority water rationing system. Severe water rationing can cause heart attack, angina, joint and muscle pain and kidney malfunction. Unfortunately, getting water into cells is not as simple as consuming water. Water must be pure and charged appropriately to pass through the cell membrane. Essentially, all body functions needed for vitality are affected by “intracellular hydration.” Even the slightest decline of cellular hydration can have a negative impact on mental acuity and physical performance and development.

Dehydration can lead to:

• Toxic edema (water retention which manifests as swollen arms, hands, legs, feet and face).

• Electrolyte imbalance that can manifest as muscle cramps, fibromyalgia, dementia, malaise, fatigue and insomnia.

• Nutritional deficiency that can lead to allergies, disorientation, clinical depression, joint pain and other conditions.

Cellular dehydration can cause cells to lose up to 28 percent of their water value. This undermines all cellular activities of metabolic waste which has been documented to resemble disease, when in truth it is simply what Dr. Gary Snyder, the Alternative Medicine Center, Fort Lauderdale, calls “disturbed water metabolism.”

Cellular dehydration is caused by:

• Insufficient water intake and excessive consumption of other liquids such as soda, tea, coffee, alcohol and acidic juices. Though mostly water, these other liquids actually have a diuretic effect which increases dehydration.

• Electrolyte imbalance, mineral or nutritional deficiency, radiation, toxicity (primarily heavy metals like mercury from amalgam fillings), drugs (prescription or recreational), bad fats (trans fats/hydrogenated fats associated with fast food)that interfere with cell membrane, or even long-term emotional stress can cause the inability of the cells to uptake water.

All the above can lead to hardening of the cell membrane which reduces cell permeability. Water, like any other nutrient, must be absorbed across the cell or you can drink it all day long and still suffer from cellular dehydration if the water is not getting INTO your cells.

To specifically address this issue of cell permeability and dehydration, Dr. Snyder and his clinical pharmacologist/naturopathic mentor, Dr. Jack Hinz, developed a product called ReHydrate, using a proprietary blend of herbs and homeopathic remedies. ReHydrate can soften the cell wall and shift its polarity so water is carried into the cell, supporting the kidneys and other organs/glands that are critical to proper cellular hydration.

Three Keys to Proper Hydration:

• Drink the right amount of water. The formula for this is based on weight: ½ oz. of water per pound of body weight or half your weight in ounces (100lbs. = 50 oz., 150lbs. = 75 oz., 200lbs. = 100 oz., etc.).

• Drink the right type of water. Any purified water is safer than tap water, but only spring water has nature’s balance of minerals which sets the proper pH at 7.0 - 8.0 for drinking water. Most other waters are acidic or too alkaline to properly balance your system.

• Add one drop of ReHydrate per ounce to ensure optimum cell utilization.

To learn more, visit DrGarySnyder.com or call the Alternative Medicine Center, 2640 E. Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 954-486-4000. See ad page 36.