What if there was one single ingredient that could give you a memory and brain power boost, aid in digestion, increase nutrient absorption, reduce constipation, keep major organs operating at peak efficiencies, increase energy levels, flush toxins from your body, decrease your risk of disease and infection, increase metabolism, help you lose weight, decrease your risk for certain cancers, ease back and joint pain, and moisturize your skin? What if this ingredient not only existed, but was 100 percent natural, readily available and was practically free?

This amazing medical wonder does exist and it’s something with which we’re all very familiar -- water.

The human body consists of from between 55 to 60 percent water weight. An average 165-pound adult is composed of 50 quarts of water! Our blood is 82 percent water, our brain over 75 percent. Our lungs are nearly 90 percent. The liver is 96 percent water. When you see the numbers, it’s only logical that water is a key component to health and well-being. Yet, it is one of the most overlooked “secrets” to health.

Keeping your body hydrated helps keep your brain in prime form. When the body’s water composition drops by just two percent, we can have difficulty with short-term memory, trouble completing basic math problems and our eyes may have trouble focusing on a computer screen or newspaper.

Water intake helps with digestion and nutrient absorption. The food we eat is dissolved in the water in our bodies and then absorbed into our system. If our body is lacking in water, the foods we eat may not be completely absorbed. Since sugars and carbohydrates are absorbed more rapidly than vitamins and minerals, even a slight degree of dehydration can cause us to get the caloric intake without the nutrients of the foods we eat.

Water has an amazing affect on our energy level. It has been shown that just a five percent drop in body fluids will cause a 25 to 30 percent loss of energy for the average person. It’s estimated that 75 to 80 percent of people suffer energy loss due to minor dehydration, one of the most common causes of daytime fatigue. So, the next time your dragging after lunch, pass up to coffee pot and reach for a tall glass of ice water instead. You’ll feel better and more energized.

Water is our body’s sole means of flushing toxins from our system. If toxins remain in our body, they can build up and create larger problems, including increased risk for disease and infection. The liver, bladder, colon and kidneys all use water to purify the body by removing toxins. Keeping these organs hydrated ensures that they perform at peak levels.

As your body is purifying itself with water, harmful bacteria are washed away. This has been proven effective in reducing incidences of urinary tract infections in women. Detoxification also reduces your risk of kidney stones. An added benefit of plenty of water to detoxify your body? Decreased constipation. With lots of water in your system, everything is more likely to keep moving.

Drinking water can also decrease your risk for certain cancers. Eight glasses a day decreases the risk of colon cancer and bladder cancer. Some research has shown that water intake also helps to decrease the risk of breast cancer.

Whether your diet is the high carb or low carb variety, there is one common thread for most weight loss plans -- water. Drinking a glass of water before a meal can help the body feel “full” and satisfied with smaller portions of food. The liver uses water to metabolize fat. An increased intake of water may help to flush stored fat from the body.

And that’s not all. Now there is scientific evidence that water may actually increase your metabolism. A study reported in the December, 2003, issue of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism showed that metabolic rates of men and women increased by 30 percent after drinking 17 ounces of water. This increase lasted for about 30 minutes. However, the study was completed with only 14 subjects so larger studies will be needed before results are conclusive.

Many people suffer from sore joints and back pain. When joints and spinal discs are fully hydrated, they are healthier and more able to act as the cushion they were designed to be. Some research indicates that keeping the body hydrated helps to restore the integrity and resiliency of joints and spinal discs and as a result may significantly ease back and joint pain.

If you suffer from dry, itchy skin, you undoubtedly recognize the need to moisturize. Skin creams and lotions can help, but why not also attack the problem from the inside out? Drinking the proverbial eight glasses of water each day can help hydrate your body and make your skin clearer and moister. Indoor air is drier during the winter months, making water intake even more important this time of year.

Water really can be seen as nature’s wonder drug. In many ways it’s more vital to the body than even food. The average adult can go a month without food, but only about a week without water.  Eight glasses each day (for a total of 64 ounces) can help with everything from weight loss to memory power to dry skin. And the best news is that water is available and virtually free. So go ahead, drink up. Remember, eight a day is the healthful way.

****************

Dr. Rogers is a board certified family practice physician at Raiter Clinic in Cloquet.