The human body is at least 80% water. Cucumbers are 87%. So technically we are cucumbers with anxiety. All joking aside, we sweat about a half a gallon of that water a day, so to replenish our systems, we should be drinking at least half of our own body weight in oz. So if I weigh 100lb, I should be drinking 50 oz of water per day.
As you can see, it’s easy to get dehydrated. When your body gets dehydrated, there’s not enough blood volume to maintain adequate blood pressure.The first sign is chapped lips and perhaps a headache.Too much water can be just as harmful. It’s called water intoxication.
Drinking Water: When You’ve Had Too Much
Water intoxication is common among children under 1 year, marathon runners who drink large amounts of water without electrolytes, and dogs who repeatedly run into waves on the beach. They swallow so much water that their electrolytes (minerals, etc) get low and can lead to water invading brain cells. It manifests itself as fatigue and confusion.
Acidic vs. Alkaline
Similarly, we should all drink water that is isotonic or has the same concentration of electrolytes as our body. That’s why you should never drink distilled water which lacks minerals. The human body is mostly acidic on the outside and alkaline(basic) on the inside. This is why it’s beneficial to drink water which is not the usual 7.0 in pH but rather 8.7.
That type of alkaline water (Kangen water) is difficult to find in stores because it’s very unstable.The best way to obtain it is to have a filter by your kitchen sink which makes alkaline water as needed. Kangen filters are costly but are recommended for people with Celiac disease, ulcers, Crohn’s disease and colon cancers. Acidic intestinal pH promotes inflammation that later leads to pathology.
The Saliva Factor
Drinking water is essential to all metabolic processes, and of course, there is no metabolism without nutrition. For the body, each day begins with an increase in salivary flow as we awaken. Saliva not only protects our teeth from decay by neutralizing the stomach acids which might have traveled up at night as we were laying down but also begins the process of proper food digestion. For this reason, it’s important to chew each bite at least 30 times to ensure we incorporate enough enzymes into the food before it reaches the stomach.
Salivary Diagnostics
The latest research has proven saliva to be a valuable tool in diagnosing a variety of diseases.
Oral salivary diagnostics allow for DNA testing of saliva and early detection of not only oral diseases such as periodontitis or decay but also diabetes. Several viruses which have been found to be a contributing factor in cancer formation like human papillomavirus or herpes viruses can be detected by testing saliva.
To learn more about how drinking water affects your teeth and body or to schedule an appointment, Contact Us.