Water is the core structure of life. We are born in it, and it makes up 60 to 70 percent of us. Lean muscle tissue contains about 75 percent water by weight; blood is 85 percent water. Every massage therapist recommends drinking water after a massage, and experts know water can impart healing to the body.
Dr. Hiromi Shinya, director of Shinya Medical Clinic in New York, has become widely known for his colonoscopy procedures worldwide and says, “Drinking ‘good water,’ especially hard water, which has much calcium and magnesium, keeps your body at an optimal alkaline PH.”
City water often contains high levels of chlorine and other chemicals, while well water can be contaminated with pesticides. Most bottled water tests acidic and is becoming an environmental nightmare.
“In America we’re spending $20,000 every minute of every day on bottled water…and tap water that originally cost maybe 5 cents a gallon can be sold now for $4 a gallon,” said Todd Jarvis, associate professor at Oregon State University. “Twenty-five to 40 percent of what is on store shelves is just tap water that has undergone additional treatment or had minerals added at the bottling plant.”
According to Dr. Hayashi of the Japanese Water Institute, microclustered or ionized water “gains the ability to penetrate tissue and cell walls far more easily.” It flushes toxins and acidic wastes from the cells and tissues and has a greater hydrating capacity.
Signs of dehydration include muscle pain and fatigue. You will notice a strong odor, along with a yellow- or amber-colored urine, which indicates your water intake is low. It’s recommended to divide your body weight in half to give you the number of ounces of water per day you should drink. For example, if you weigh 180 pounds, you should drink at least 90 ounces of water per day.
For more information on Janine Costello, L.M.T., N.C.T.M.B., visit www.janinecostello.h2origin.com and www.ZoneMassageWorks.com.
Casey Carter, D.C., L.Ac., O.M.D., Dipl. N.C.C.A.O.M., N.D., also contributed to this article.