How Much Water Is Needed for Good Health? 

By Max Stanley Chartrand DigiCare^® Research & Rehabilitation

Simple, uncomplicated semi-dehydration is something seen more and more today in the U.S., especially in those over 60 years of age. Too often, one’s list of health conditions and medications can almost be named just by knowing how much water one drinks per day.

     Conversely, doing something as simple as increasing one’s daily water intake may have dramatically positive effects toward reducing a number of health symptoms that are often caused by long-term semi-dehydration. Some of these are: ADH-inspired sodium concentrations, lowered cellular pH (high acid levels), high blood pressure and excessive blood lipids (LDL cholesterol).

     Where the confusion comes in is in how much water one should drink. Some health textbooks recommend 128 ounces (one gallon) of water per day. Others are simply silent on the subject. The chart to the right of this column is a result of years of research on this topic. It is based on body weight and activity levels. However, actual amounts may vary somewhat according to individual body chemistry and certain health conditions.

    As you’ll note, the average adult needs between 3 and 4 quarts of water daily to maintain adequate blood volume, normal pH, and optimal kidney function. I would estimate that the average older adult drinks between a pint to a quart less water than their body requires. This can set off an inevitable chain reaction that can dramatically change a perfectly healthy individual into a medication-intensive patient. Let’s review what happens when one drinks a mere 16 oz. less water daily than the body requires:

·  One’s blood volume (BV) begins to fall, and the pituitary gland secretes an Anti-Diuretic Hormone (ADH).

·  ADH causes the kidneys to hold sodium (rather than excrete it through the urinary process) and for blood pressure to rise (even in those who normally have low blood pressure).

·  The individual is then placed on a diuretic (to offset ADH) to lower their blood pressure, often causing a collapse of their micro-circulatory system (cold feet, hands are a side-effect).

·  The body’s cellular pH begins to fall below 7.35 (the slightly alkaline state that keeps good cells healthy, and keeps bad cells from growing). Below 7.0, acid reflux is common. 

·  Triglycerides rise, followed by higher LDL and lower HDL cholesterol levels for which anti-cholesterol statin drugs are often prescribed.

·  After years of chronic semi-dehydration, arteriosclerosis—evidenced by a type of calcium plaque on the eardrums, develops. (Cholesterol sticks only to calcium plaques).

·  So that, one day, one finds themselves on long list of medications for hypertension, circulatory abnormalities, acid reflux, osteoarthritis/osteoporosis, high cholesterol, and, in a growing number of cases, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus II.

   Now, if indeed one is dehydrated and they decide to begin drinking the proper amount of water, what then? Well, the vicious cycle I’ve just described does not reverse over night. In fact, it requires about 3 weeks of adequate hydration before the pituitary gland stops secreting ADH.

   When that happens, it takes another week for the body to rid itself of excess sodium. If one is taking a diuretic during these changes, blood pressure may fall quickly. For that reason to report any sudden changes in blood pressure to your doctor for possible adjustments.

   As pH rises, cholesterol levels often fall, and acid reflux usually resolves. Continuing on medications for these conditions can result in muscle wasting, indigestion, and serious nutrition deficiencies. But, again, any adjustments—if any—to medication should be done under the close supervision of one’s physician.

    Moreover, it’s so vital to listen to one’s body, giving it what it needs to maintain function and health, while avoiding substances that poison it, such as tobacco, alcohol, and caffeine. These substances not only cause the above-mentioned health problems, but also increased hearing problems, tinnitus (ringing of the ears), and, in some cases, chronic balance problems.

    As a physician friend of mine once noted, “Water is the cheapest medicine there is. It has no side-effects, and in sufficient quantity, it can often reduce the need for other medications.”