LATEST BOOK REVIEW

Welcome to my health book reviews plus commentary posted on a regular basis! Find out about water and salt for health, asthma allergies and more! Each book review contains a summary of the author’s most important takeaway points followed by my commentary at the end, where I connect some dot for you. The order of the books reviewed and books to be reviewed was predetermined by me. This sequence is intended for one book to build upon another and coalesce into a picture for you. 

The first five books I consider to be foundational and these are: Your Body’s Many Cries for Water, ABC of Asthma Allergies and Lupus, Water Cures Drugs Kill, Obesity Cancer Depression: Their Common Cause & Natural Cure, and Your Are Not Sick You Are Thirsty all by Dr. F Batmanghelidj. The first five book reviews or the books themselves are required reading.

Welcome to my book review! Here I provide a summary of the most important points in the book with my comments at the end. Neither the summary nor commentary are intended to replace sound medical advice. These are for educational purposes only so that you may have a more productive consultation with you physician.

This will be the last book by Dr. Batmanghelidj that will be reviewed. There is still one more book by him, entitled “You’re Not Sick! You’re Thirsty,” and the information is basically the same as the first four books. Perhaps sometime in the future I will review it just as a refresher. The next book review will be “Magnetic Healing” by Buryl Payne Ph.D. and it will start the series on healing with magnetic and electromagnetic fields. However, the work of Dr. Batmanghelidj is foundational and everything else should be considered an adjunct.

Chapter 1  Obesity 

The author explains that there is a relationship between obesity depression and cancer and it will be thoroughly explained in the context of dehydration. The reason dehydration is allowed to set in, is because the scientific foundation upon which modern medicine is based, has been structured around a number of false assumptions. All this time doctors have labeled various patterns of local or regional dehydration of the body as “this disease “or “that disease.”

False assumption #1: Dry mouth is the only sign of dehydration in the body. 

Anytime there is a shortage of water, 66% of the amount needed for high priority systems are taken from inside cells, 26% is taken from the area around the cells and 8% is taken from blood volume. This causes the capillary beds to constrict and the network of distribution is compromised. The big blood vessels are not affected and blood composition is not altered measurably enough for the deficiency to become obvious. The body suffers in the interior of cells while blood tests show nothing. This dehydration will produce different symptoms depending on which area of the body is affected the most. Medicine has confused these symptoms of localized drought and labeled them diseases. Then toxic pharmaceuticals are prescribed.

False assumption #2 Water is an inert substance that only dissolves and circulates things. All actions in the body are performed by matter that is dissolved in the water.

Water’s functions 

1. Life-sustaining role as solvent, packing material      that fills all the spaces between the cells.
2. Production of hydroelectric at the cell membrane.
3. Breakdown of food via hydrolysis.
4. Has adhesive properties that bond the solid structure      of the cell membranes.

With unintentional dehydration there is a gradual limit of life processes until a pattern of decay is established.

False assumption #3 The body can regulate its water intake efficiently throughout a person’s life.

As we grow older, we lose our perception of thirst and our plumpy cells become like dried prunes and can no longer sustain life. Bruce and associates have shown that between the ages of 20 and 70 the ratio of water inside the cells to outside of the cells changes from 1.1 to 0.8. This means that at age 20 there is more water inside the cells and at age 70 there is more water outside the cells.

False assumption #4 Any fluid can meet the body’s water needs: All manufactured beverages will serve the body exactly the same as water.

This is the most critical error that contributes the society’s illnesses. Manufactured beverages, milk and juices do not meet the water requirements of the body even though there is water in them.

Chapter 2: Why Not Other Beverages?

Alcohol 

1. Causes brain dehydration which presents as a hangover headache.
2. Functions as a brain depressive.
3. Causes impotence, liver damage and immune suppression.
4. Increases chances of developing cancer.
5. Produces free radicals that damage body tissues.
6. Is a diuretic and causes a net loss of water.

There are nerve centers in the body that increase stamina and increase the pain threshold, which is what alcoholics and drug abusers attempt through substance abuse. Water stimulates centers that accept endorphins effect and is therefore a very effective pain killer. Water should be the medication of choice for people with pain and for those who wish to stop drinking alcohol and doing drugs. Bottom line, water can replace alcohol but alcohol cannot replace water.

Caffeinated Beverages 

The tea shrub was found in China and is now grown all over the world. The active ingredient is caffeine and the color is due to tannic acid. The coffee bean was discovered on the Arabian Peninsula. The shepherds noted the stimulating effects on the goats, which would climb trees and eat anything they could chew including paper. Guru nuts (Cola acuminata) had been a favorite “chew” in Sudan for many centuries and were subsequently used to make cola. The active ingredient is caffeine. When standardizing cola drinks additional caffeine is added. Caffeine is a drug (regulated by the FDA), it has unfavorable direct stimulant effects on the brain and it is also a dehydrating agent because it exerts effects like a diuretic. It creates physical dependence since when stopped abruptly results in withdrawal symptoms.

Because caffeine is a dehydrating agent one can consume many cans of soda and not replenish water stores because the water doesn’t stay in, it gets urinated out.  The “pick-up” effect that caffeine produces is due to a release of energy for trivial functions that would otherwise have been used for vital cellular functions.

The plants that produce caffeine (as a nerve poison) does so in effort to survive by conducting biowarfare against its predators. Caffeine inhibits the enzyme phosphidiesterase, which is critical in memory formation, which will also impact learning. The plant’s predators get disabled in this manner. It has been observed that the coffee plant suffers from the least amount of predators than other plants in the same growing season.

Many seemingly benign manufactured beverages contain caffeine and it is the opinion of this author that increased caffeine consumption particularly by children under five has a direct relationship to the increased occurrence of obesity and asthma. It is also known that children who consume caffeinated sodas have a much lower grade average than children who only drink water.

Many books point out the immediate effects of caffeine on the brain but most don’t discuss the long-term impact on brain physiology, namely prolonged dehydration and phosphodiesterase suppression in memory formation.

Diet Sodas Cause Weight Gain 

Zero-calorie chemicals like aspartame is metabolized to two very excitatory neurotransmitters, aspartate and phenylalanine and methyl alcohol/formaldehyde. About 10% of aspartame becomes formaldehyde and methyl alcohol, both are poisons, which have been shown to cause eye-nerve damage to the point of blindness.  Secondary complications of aspartame have been reported as tumor formation and neurological disorders.

Like caffeine, aspartame also causes the unnecessary release of energy from the brain. ATP and GTP are energy molecules that become spent fuel as they are converted to AMP and GMP. The spent fuel molecules are known to cause hunger, which will trigger overeating. Hence caffeinated diet sodas will cause weight gain especially in sedentary people. Only about 20% of the energy in the food we eat will reach the brain the rest will be stored as fat if not used by muscle activity.

Another mechanism that feeds into this is that the sweet taste of the aspartame on the tongue tells the liver to prepare for receiving fuel - sugar. The liver then stops making sugar and begins uptaking sugar from the blood. But since aspartame is on its way and not sugar, blood sugar levels can drop causing further hunger. These are the manners in which individuals who drink diet sodas will find that they have gained weight instead.

Aspartate and phenylalanine, metabolites of aspartame, have very excitatory effects on the brain and when consumed in large amounts and often, shift the brain physiology long term in ways that are still not fully understood.

Chapter 3: The Life-Giving Properties of Water

If eating is about providing energy for the human body, water is more important as a source of energy than anything else we consume. Water generates energy as follows:

1. The process of hydrolysis (breakdown by action of water) increases by one order of magnitude (adds one zero) the energy      content of the substance in the process of being broken down. For example, if an egg has 70 calories but water (if enough is available) is used to break it down the body will acquire 700 calories of energy. This is why about two glasses of water should be consumed before food is eaten.
2. When the body is adequately hydrated the movement of water across a cell membrane will activate energy-generating pumps. This is hydroelectricity and it generates ATP and GTP molecules which are then stored in the cell membrane. This is particularly important for functions of the brain.

The brain is a high-priority system and receives 20% of the blood circulation to pick and choose what it needs. There is a threshold for energy release for some stimuli but when ATP/GTP levels are low many stimuli will not create a response. This will manifest as a fatigue state, this is why food is not a good immediate pick-me-up, but water is.

Brain’s need for water

1. To generate hydroelectricity.
2. The transport systems across cell membranes need to      be fluid to transport materials from blood to brain and remove waste from      brain to blood. Water is the “all” highway.

If you confuse brain thirst for hunger it will lead to premature aging, disease, decay and early death. In a dehydrated state the body will inhibit some functions and eventually dismantle its structures. 

Chapter 4: How Does Dehydration Cause Excess Weight?

The sensations of thirst and hunger are generated simultaneously to indicate the brain’s need for energy. Storage of energy in the brain, and in the absence of adequate generation of hydroelectricity relies very heavily on the availability of sugar. The brain sequesters sugar from the blood to replenish ATP and GTP reserves. The body provides sugar for the brain by:

1. Converting starches into sugar.
2. Converting proteins into sugar in a process called gluconeogenesis.
3. If these are not sufficient then the body reluctantly uses fat for energy production.

Since the brain only gets 20% of the blood circulation it only gets 20% of the sugar. When that is not sufficient the liver will manufacture sugar and increase blood levels. Proteins and starches are easy to convert. The main proteins converted to sugar are albumin, globulin and fibrinogen. The next source of protein for conversion are those in reserve in the liver and other cells. The muscle mass itself is the last source attacked and when muscles are inactive their energy stores are easier to attack. By the time the muscle has to be broken down fat-burning enzymes become engaged. The biggest problem of breaking down muscle for fuel is that much of the mineral/vitamin components will be lost (B6 and zinc being two of them and having serious effects). Replacing the lost minerals is not as easy as losing them.

Fat is a high-energy product that has to be broken down into fatty acids and this process requires water. One unit of water is needed to separate one fatty acids from its connection to the chain (hydrolysis of fat). Water also indirectly stimulates the enzyme lipase which breaks down fat.

There is an inverse relationship between water consumption and fat accumulation in the body. The less water you drink the more you will be forced to eat. The more you eat, unless you exercise, the more fat you will store. Why? Because:

1. Hydroelectricity at the cell membrane is the primary source of energy for all functions.
2. Every food has to be broken down, hydrolyzed, before its energy can be utilized and water transfers its hidden energy      increasing its energy content.
3. In cell membranes water is used for its stickiness to hold membrane structures together. In dehydration cholesterol is employed      in maintaining cellular structure and insulation against further water loss.
4. The early sensation of thirst is confused with the sensation of hunger.
5. Water stimulates secretion of adrenaline and noradrenaline is stimulated by water for about two hours. This results in      activation of hormone-sensitive lipase to break down fat for energy.

Satiety Mechanisms 

Fat tissue is also an endocrine gland that produces many hormones, leptin being one of them. Leptin is supposed to let the brain know when fat stores are fully replenished. In fat people this mechanism is compromised. The author believes that proper hydration will restore proper function.

The stretch sensors in the stomach let the brain know when enough is enough. But the more one eats the more the stomach stretches and the more the brain becomes desensitized to this signal. This results in more weight gain.

The taste buds on the tongue work only when food is held in the mouth as long as possible when chewing it. The taste buds signal the brain what is in the mixture and the brain calculates the energy value of what has passed into the stomach. In this manner possible over eating will stop.

Obesity: The Harbinger of Diabetes 

Most obese people will eventually end up with diabetes. Here’s why. The pancreas has two functions:

1. It produces a watery bicarbonate solution that is injected into the intestine just as the acidic stomach contents enter the intestine.
2. It releases insulin into the circulation. Insulin  opens the “food gates” on the cell membranes of the cells of the body.

When the body is optimally hydrated, insulin causes the cells to uptake sugars and amino acids along with the water that is carrying them. Eating more food and drinking less water is very stressful to the pancreas. In this circumstance, the pancreas uses prostaglandin-E2 to increase its own blood circulation to get the water out of it to make the bicarbonate solution. The more the pancreas has to rely on this approach the more critical it becomes that water does not leave the circulation by entering the cells as a companion to sugar and amino acids. This water imbalance is harmful to the brain, which has to maintain its 85% water content. 

The natural design of the pancreas is: the more that blood cannot deliver water to the pancreas the more prostaglandin-E2 will inhibit insulin secretion by the beta cells. This is the first step towards diabetes, known as diabetes type two or insulin-dependent diabetes. In this setting the pancreas contains lots of insulin but will not release it so pharmaceuticals are prescribed to force insulin release. In its brilliance the body goes one step further and covers the insulin molecule with xanthurenic acid, which makes the insulin ineffective because this combination can no longer bind to the insulin receptor. This is when oral pharmaceuticals stop working and the injection of insulin is prescribed.

Chapter 5: The Chemistry of Depression 

The perceptive markers of dehydration are:

1. Feeling tired
2. Feeling Flushed
3. Feeling irritable
4. Feeling anxious 
5. Feeling dejected 
6. Feeling inadequate 
7. Feeling a heavy head
8. Cravings
9. Agoraphobia 

If you are too tired to get up in the morning you are so dehydrated that your brain cannot engage in your daily routine. Depression is just a label given to a dehydrated brain and depending on which part of the brain is most affected there are different subset of labels for the same basic problem. The essential amino acids in the order of importance for brain function are: histidine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, methionine, lysine, threonine, valine, arginine, leucine and isoleucine.

Histidine becomes converted to histamine and is responsible for water regulation and resource management. In childhood when the body is growing, histamine acts as a strong growth factor (similar to growth hormone). However, as we grow older histamine becomes more active while growth-hormone activity rapidly diminishes starting in the third decade of life.

As the body becomes more dehydrated, the activity of histamine increases in physiological functions. If there isn’t enough water to energize the cation pumps (keeping sodium outside of cells and potassium inside cells) in the cell membrane histamine stimulates the release of energy to jump start the protein pumps to restore osmotic balance.

In the shortage of water and thus a shortage of hydroelectricity histamine becomes an energy manager in brain function. However, brain function is not efficient for long if it has to rely only on histamine. This is depression. The author states that the use of antihistamine pharmaceuticals, when water itself is a better natural antihistamine, is tantamount to a criminal act.

The essential amino acids tryptophan gets converted to serotonin, tryptamine, indolamine and melatonin. Serotonin functions are:

1. Alters the threshold of pain and produces analgesia.
2. Controls production and release of growth hormone activity.
3. Controls blood sugar.
4. Has a tendency to lower blood pressure.
5. Controls appetite.
6. Controls the body’s salt intake 
7. Has direct effect on calcium movement and its involvement in neurotransmission.
8. Inhibits release of histamine and its action.
9. Serotonin production by the brain is decreased when the levels of valine, leucine and isoleucine increase. These amino acids      increase in starvation, dehydration, lack of exercise and other conditions affect protein metabolism and therefore there will be a corresponding  decrease in the levels of serotonin.
10. Increases strength of certain muscles.
11. The serotonin-mediated nerve system (serotonergic system) is the medium through which drugs like morphine, caffeine and      hallucinogens have their effect.

Based on this list there is a physiological upheaval when tryptophan is in shortage, thus leading to a serotonin shortage. After 20 plus years of research by the author into the relationship of water to pain regulation here is how to avoid serotonin depletion:

1. When the body is dehydrated it is not able to produce enough urine to get rid of toxic waste and the acid buildup in the cells. As a result, tryptophan, tyrosine, cysteine, methionine and other amino acids are sacrificed to neutralize the acid buildup in the cells to restore the acid-alkali balance.
2. Drinking enough water to create colorless urine will result in washing out the excess acidity and this will conserve the      essential amino acids.
3. Tryptophan has to share its transporter system with five other amino acids; valine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine and      tyrosine. In starvation, dehydration, and lack of exercise blood levels of valine, leucine and isoleucine increase, which reduces the  passage of tryptophan across the blood-brain barrier.
4. Valine, leucine and isoleucine can be readily used by the brain and muscles for energy. If one exercises regularly the muscles      will sequester these amino acids making more room on the transport system for tryptophan to get into the brain. 
5. Thus, water is a natural antidepressant!

Chapter 6: Why me?

There is a direct relationship between dehydration and nearly 100 major and minor health issues in the body. However, this is a deep-tissue dehydration inside the cells and not the traditionally understood dehydration from the environment around the cells. Cancer is also the outcome of a water shortage and will be explained further. Cancer is a “selfish,” invasive tissue that develops within an organ of the body by breaking the natural boundaries of the mother organ. This leads to fatal disruptions of normal body functions.

Cancer cells are:

1. Primitive and genetically selfish.
2. Anaerobic- low oxygen needs.
3. Have stem cell characteristics in some culture media.

As normal cells mature, they develop sophisticated communication capabilities by developing all kinds of sensors and receivers on their cell membranes. One class of such sensors controls the boundaries up to which the cell will grow. Within this context the cells are respectful of other cells and not “selfish.” In contrast, cancer cells grow into a mass that breaks boundaries and encroach on the space allocated to other tissues. Cancer cells experience what is called receptor-downregulation of these communication sensors/receivers. This receptor loss is another complication of unintentional dehydration, which will be explained in greater detail.

Cancer cells are anaerobic and can survive in low-oxygen acidic environments, such are the exact outcomes of low water flow and inefficient environmental cleanup. Since there is not enough water to wash away acid by-products there is also inefficient circulation to the area and hence low-oxygen. This predisposes normal cells to become a new type of cell that can thrive in such a hostile environment. For the further development of cancer three other major control mechanisms must be disrupted:

1. DNA damage- is a prerequisite to cancer      formation. A water deficiency in a particular body area will cause pain.      When there’s not enough water to wash away the toxic wastes of continuous      function there is a buildup of acid byproducts, which hurts the gene pool.      Kininogen, an acid sensitive substance is converted to kinin, which is a      pain-producing substance. Pain means there is an acid buildup in that area      of the body and this acidity can cause severe damage to the DNA structure.      Cancer formation is essentially a cry for water. It is unfortunately the      survival strategy installed in the primitive form of a single-cell life in      a chemically hostile environment. The reason that many people develop      cancer without having pain is because not all areas of the body that become      dehydrated have pain-sensing neurons. These areas are breast, pancreas,      prostate, and lungs; hence their silent cancers.
2. Reduced efficiency of DNA repair systems-as      acidity builds up in the cells it eats away at the cellular structures and      eventually will have a negative effect on the DNA repair mechanisms which      try to keep up with the damage being done. To cope with the acidity the      body releases some of its stored elements and uses them on an emergency      basis in whatever capacity they can function. So, proteins are broken down      into amino acids, which are recycled and used in new capacities. The amino      acids that neutralize acidity are: tryptophan (the most precious of      all), tyrosine (the building block for a number of important      neurotransmitters) and lysine. Tryptophan is also coupled with two lysine      amino acids to form a tripod enzyme that has a significant role within the      DNA transcription process of correcting errors.
3. Receptor down-regulation- receptors are      protein structures on the cell membrane that tell the cell to do something      or to stop doing something. The health of a cell depends on its rate of      protein production compared to protein breakdown. There are two kinds of      protein-specific enzymes. The protein kinase enzymes are involved in      protein production and the protease enzymes engage in protein breakdown.      In dehydration, the resource-management programs begin to recycle some of      the protein reserves for emergency purposes so proteases activity      increases and the rate of protein breakdown will overtake the rate of      protein production. The receptors on the cell membranes are protein      structures and are broken down for emergency use. Some of the receptors      include those that sense boundaries so cells don’t overgrow. By this      mechanism the potential tumor cells can grow disproportionately into      larger irregular clumps.
4. Dehydration and immune system suppression-      when histamine flexes its muscle in drought management a number of      ruthless subagents are released: vasopressin which causes some membrane      receptors to transform into porous shower-head like sieves with holes only      wide enough to let water molecules through single file and stripped of      their osmotically held elements. This is a filter system designed to      hydrate the most vital cells (brain cells, liver cells, kidney cells,      gland cells and more). Vasopressin also causes added constrictive pressure      in the area capillaries. The water is delivered by reverse osmosis. The      price that is paid for this is that the blood becomes more concentrated      and thicker. In the kidneys vasopressin forces this organ to retain water      and concentrate the urine. Vasopressin is also a very strong      cortisone-release factor. It causes the release of cortisol, cortisone,      corticosterone, 11-deoxycorticosterone and aldosterone. These initially      prevent inflammation and force the kidneys to retain salt 1000 times more      forcibly that normal. This increases water in the environment around the      cells so more can be filtered and injected into the cells. Cortisol and      cortisone suppress the immune system by activating interleukin-1, which      inhibits the production of interferon and that’s when the real damage is      done. Interleukin-1 is a potent activator of tissue breakdown. Why does      this happen? Due to the dual role of histamine in drought management and      immune system activation. When histamine engages in water management it      disengages from immune system management because water shortage would      cause a flare up of the immune system. Interleukin-1 is needed to release      some resources from body tissues (cannibalism) to the point of causing      autoimmune diseases. Why suppress interferon production? In inflammatory      conditions the affected area is shut off from blood flow and oxygen. The      inflamed region is overcrowded with defending white cells to the point of      pus formation. The supply of oxygen is not enough and this is where      interferon steps in. It stimulates an enzyme that causes substantial      production of ozone and hydrogen peroxide from tryptophan and its family      of indolamines. Ozone and hydrogen peroxide act as local antiseptics      against bacteria and anaerobic cancer cells (don’t need oxygen). This is      how interferon normally acts in a properly hydrated body. In chronic      dehydration the increased activity of histamine shuts this down so there      is no ozone and no hydrogen peroxide to act as local antiseptics..      Additionally, histamine suppresses the immune system at the bone marrow      which is how it prevents immune system flare-ups during a water shortage.
5. 
   

The author cautions to avoid all microwave radiation from a microwave, high-tension lines, TV, radio and phone towers. In the microwave oven an electronic tube called a magnetron generates an alternating power field. All particles, water, amino acids, minerals, proteins, fat particles in the food are forced to align themselves in the direction of the alternating magnetic field. The field changes direction up to 5 billion times per second. This results in instant heat which affects the nutritional value of the food. Microwave radiation has carcinogenic effect on the human body.

Skin circulation and dehydration 

Structure of the skin:

1. External layer of compacted dying-cell layer that is exposed to the elements.
2. Underneath that is a layer of vibrantly alive cells that constantly grow and replace the external layer.
3. The next layer consists of fatty deposits and acts as a shock absorber as well as an insulator for the layer underneath.
4. Two layers of capillary circulation serves the skin.  One layer is between the outermost skin layer and the fat deposits. The      second layer is under the layer of fat above the muscle tissue.

When we are young the body is well hydrated and the outermost mesh of capillaries serve the skin. As we age our perception of thirst becomes less acute and the cycle of chronic unintentional dehydration begins. Proper hydration by mouth with the restoration of salt and mineral reserves of the body opens up the capillary circulation to the most external skin layer. Water and the components of whole salt-calcium, magnesium, potassium, selenium, zinc and up to 80 trace elements expand the water content of the interior of the cell. As we age there is also a thinning of the skin, which is the result of cannibalism that the body resorts to because it needs to use amino acids (from collagen, elastin, receptors) and minerals to neutralize the buildup of acid byproducts (that could just so easily be carried away by an ample supply of water).

Breast Cancer 

The author describes the case of a medical doctor who developed a tumor in her breast the size of a grapefruit in a matter of three weeks. After being handed a copy of his book, Your Body’s Many Cries for Water, she recovers completely from the cancer in 8 months. She is adamant that it was the water and whole salt that cured her because it was the only thing she did different in her approach (in addition to dropping coffee).

Chapter 7: Stress Hormones and Dehydration 

Due to the stress of monthly menstruation and child bearing women have a greater capacity for the production of endorphins and prolactin. Both of these agents have a greater impact on water regulation and metabolic mechanisms during stress. Prolactin will make sure a woman makes breast milk even in a state of dehydration and a peril to herself.

The composition of human milk is 88.5% water, 3.3% fat and 1.5% protein. Cow’s milk caters to the needs of a calf that walks within minutes of birth. Cow’s milk is more concentrated and has more fat than human milk. It has 87% water, 3.5% fat, and 4.1%protein. Human milk is sweeter, containing 6.8% lactose and cow’s milk containing 4.8% lactose. The milk’s water content is infinitely more important for an infant’s survival than are the milk solids. 

Prolactin and depression 

Prolactin has a connection to the excess stress-induced destruction of amino acid tyrosine and reduced production of dopamine. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that prevents one from getting depressed and it strongly inhibits prolactin secretion. When brain levels of dopamine fall off in depression, prolactin continues unchecked and a catastrophic situation ensues especially if the early stages of cancer development are present. Aspartame is in more than 5000 food products, and is a major driver of prolactin secretion. Aspartame also transverses the blood brain barrier and directly influences the brain parts that deal with the reproductive organs, the breast being one of them.

Chapter 8: The Ideal Diet for All Dehydration-Produced Diseases 

Water is a nutrient and the very first nutrient we need. The primary functions of water are:

1. Water is the vehicle of transport for circulating red      blood cells and the core of the immune system cells.
2. Water is a solvent for critical materials like oxygen      and minerals.
3. Water is the bulk material that fills empty spaces in      the body.
4. Water is the adhesive that binds the solid parts of      the cell together by forming a membrane or protective barrier around the      cell. In dehydration this responsibility is passed on to cholesterol.
5. The neurotransmitter systems of the brain depend on      the rapid movement of sodium and potassium in and out of the membranes      along the full length of the nerves. Water that is loose is free to move      across the cell membrane and turn the “element-moving” pumps.
6. Some of the element-moving pumps are      voltage-generating pumps. So, the efficiency of neurotransmission depends      on the availability of free water. Due to water’s osmotic urge to get into      cells, water generates energy by turning the pumps that force potassium      into cells and push sodium out.
7. A membrane has two layers between which is a moving      canal of water in which most outside messages are processed.
8. Until recently it has been assumed that all energy is      stored as ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is why water has not      received much attention as a source energy (hydroelectricity).
9. Water is the central regulator of energy and osmotic      balance in the body. Sodium and potassium stick to the protein of the pump      and when water rotates the pump proteins electricity is generated and      stored in three different forms: a) ATP b) GTP c) the third system is in      the endoplasmic reticulum that captures and traps calcium. For every two      atoms of calcium that are trapped the energy equivalent of one unit of ATP      is stored. For every two atoms of calcium that are separated one unit of      energy is also released (used to make ATP). This mechanism of calcium      entrapment makes the bone structure of the body the “Fort Knox” of energy      reserve. So, in severe dehydration the body taps into the bones for energy      (because no hydroelectricity is generated). Thus, the primary cause of      osteoporosis is chronic dehydration.
10. The electricity produced by water at the cell      membrane forces nearby proteins to align their receptive points and      prepare for chemical reactions.
11. 
    

Water is the first nutrient that the body needs because:

1. Without water nothing lives.

2. Comparative shortage of water suppresses and eventually kills some aspects of the body.

3. Water is the main source of energy.

4. Water prevents DNA damage and makes its repair mechanisms more efficient.

5. Water greatly increases the efficiency of the immune system in the bone marrow.

6. Water energizes food (via hydrolysis), which then supplies energy for cellular function.

7. Water increases absorption of essential substances.

8. Water is the transport system in the body.

9. Water increases the efficiency of red blood cells in collecting oxygen in the lungs.

10. Water carries away toxic wastes from the cells.

11. Water is the main lubricant in joint spaces.

12. Water in the spinal discs makes them shock-absorbing cushions.

13. Water is the best lubricating laxative and prevents constipation.

14. Water prevents heart attacks and strokes.

15. Water prevents clogging of arteries.

16. Water is directly needed for the efficient manufacture of all neurotransmitters, including serotonin.

17. Water is directly needed for the efficient manufacture of all hormones, including melatonin and sex hormones.

18. Water is a better “pick-me up” than any manufactured beverage.

19. Water prevents stress, anxiety, and depression.

20. Water restores normal sleep rhythm.

21. Water keeps the skin smooth and prevents aging.

22. Water gives shine and luster to the eyes.

23. Water prevents glaucoma.

24. Water normalizes the blood manufacturing systems in the bone marrow. This helps to prevent leukemia and lymphoma.

25. Water keeps the blood properly diluted which helps to prevent clots.

26. Water decreases premenstrual pains and hot flashes.

27. Drinking water is the best weight-loss approach.

28. Water will take away the morning sickness of pregnancy.

29. Water prevents the loss of memory as we age.

30. Water reverses addictive impulses including those for coffee, alcohol and some drugs.

A well hydrated person produces colorless urine not counting the color of vitamins and food additives. A comparatively dehydrated person produces yellow urine. A truly dehydrated person produces urine that is orange in color. A well-hydrated person is never constipated and a constipated person is truly dehydrated.

Chapter 9: Minerals Are Vital

Next to water, minerals are the backbone of cell physiology. To a lesser extent minerals are represented in the blood, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, chromium, copper, manganese, boron, vanadium, silicon, and some others maintain life inside the cells. The amount of minerals that are inside the cells is astronomically larger than what is in the blood.

The minerals osmotically hold on to water and regulate the structure of the cell to keep it plumpy and youthful. Minerals also regulate the acid-alkaline balance. The more functionally important intracellular minerals are potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc and selenium. Potassium is the primary water regulator of the cell’s interior but it has a tendency to leak out of the cell. So, it is constantly pushed back in. In dehydration the energy to push potassium back in may be inadequate and some potassium will be lost in the urine. A great amount of potassium is also lost during sweating. A continued pattern of potassium loss will result in excess sodium retention by the kidneys and thus the first stages of high blood pressure, increased cholesterol, heart disease and irregular pulse will begin.

Calcium and magnesium are electrogenic minerals, which means they generate voltage when they move into the cell. This current is used to “cook” chemical reactions. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body. It holds energy in the bones until the energy has to be released. This release of energy is a last resort because eventually it will lead to osteoporosis. When the body is not producing sufficient urine due to dehydration the excess calcium released from the bones will obstruct the fine ducts in the kidneys. Eventually kidney stones will form and eventually dialysis will be required. Drinking enough water daily is a preventative measure.

Magnesium gives stability to all energy-dependent processes in the brain, heart kidneys, liver, pancreas, reproductive organs and more. It is the affinity of magnesium-ATP for water that expands the energy content by almost one order of magnitude. Thus, 600 units of energy become 5,835 when water breaks it down. The heart muscle depends on magnesium for its contractile strength and rate of contraction. The same is true of the nine trillion brain cells. 

Magnesium is involved in more than 300 enzymatic reactions in protein, starch and fat metabolism. Hard water is a good source of magnesium. People who drink hard water seem to be less prone to heart disease and irregular heartbeat. Low levels of magnesium in the diet will eventually be an additional cause of hypertension and irregular heartbeat. The diet should have more magnesium than calcium with the ratio of 2.5 to 1. People who drink distilled water or water from a reverse osmosis filtration system must realize that they need to re-mineralize (with whole salt) the water before drinking it. Carbonated drinks contain a lot of phosphate which rids the body of magnesium and should be avoided.

It is clear that aging is the direct result of multiple deficiencies with magnesium being at the top of that list. Unrefined salt is a food and it contains more than 80 minerals needed by the body. However, its sodium content is more than your body could handle if you use it as your main source of minerals. Many foods are also sources of minerals. Magnesium is best supplied by the green of chlorophyll and is in seeds (lentils, broad beans, peas, wheat bran, wheat germ, almonds, peanuts, brown rice, barley, corn and avocado). The highest level of magnesium in any plant is in kelp, which is also rich in iodine. Milk and eggs have enough magnesium to make them wholesome foods.

Zinc is important for accurate gene expression in the DNA assembly line. It is involved in the manufacture of more than 200 different enzymes. The insulin receptor on cell membranes needs a lot of zinc for its manufacture. Sources of zinc are corn, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, beef, cheese, whole wheat, crabmeat, pecans, peanuts, lima beans, peas, almonds, walnuts, eggs and soybeans.

Selenium is also vitally important and its shortage can result in lower levels in the enzyme glutathione peroxidase. Low levels of this enzyme has been observed in many forms of cancer. Food sources are: wheat germ, nuts, whole wheat bread, brown rice, barley, beer, shrimp, oats, fish, mushrooms, garlic and orange juice.

Chapter 10: Proteins

This chapter has the same information on proteins as in the first book so it will not be repeated here. Please read book review#1 Your Body’s Many Cries For Water.

My comments:

Water has a natural attraction for all the minerals in whole salt as well as other solutes (things that are dissolved in water). Water will naturally move from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration. Water just loves to move in and to further dilute whatever is there. If there is a membrane setup between an area of low solute concentration and an area of high solute concentration, the water will go right through the membrane from the area of low solute concentration to the area of high solute concentration. This is called osmosis. I’m sure everyone has heard of water filtration systems based on reverse osmosis. This is where water is forced across a membrane and leaves its solutes behind, resulting in purified water. This is a very good way of getting rid of impurities in the water. Steam distillation is yet another way of getting purified water (which is the one I use). I have been distilling my water (including for cooking) since 2014. However, remember that you must replenish the whole salt (1/4 teaspoon per 1 quart of water).

I did not add salt to my water until 2021 when I came across the books of Dr. Batmanghelidj. I also add additional potassium chloride and magnesium chloride to my water because these are the minerals that I see in many (if not most) hospitalized patients where I work (I’m a pharmacist). These patients always have low blood levels and I always say that when the blood levels are low your total body stores are pretty much exhausted. What is in the blood is a very tiny portion of total body stores. 

By 2021 I had become desperate from this “rock” tightness on the side of my neck that I have suffered with for the last thirty years since my early twenties. I had pain almost on a daily basis and had to pop a naproxen every so often. In 2015 some nerves must have gotten squeezed really hard because I got a burning on my back that felt like a hot iron. The pain extended also to my rib cage and the bottom side of my right arm (I had a lot of trouble moving my arm because of the pain). I suffered every day for 4 months until eventually high-dose vitamin C and glutathione gave me some relief. But that was not a cure because if I had missed just one dose, I would feel the burning start a little. And yes, I had gone to multiple MDs, a chiropractor, physical therapy, a neurologist, I had an MRI and of course no one was able to help me. The neurologists told me to take vitamin B6 and sent me on my way. What a joke!  Going to a typical MD is useless! It’s so sad for humanity that Big Pharma destroyed the medical education starting with the Flexner report under J.D. Rockefeller (that post for another time). 

In retrospect, I believe I was severely dehydrated inside the cells of my body. I was also a coffee/tea drinker, I dropped both immediately after reading his books. Unfortunately, I was not a water drinker but I started with two quarts daily (1/4 teaspoon of whole salt per quart) and I never looked back. Within a few weeks of beginning rehydration, I was free from the constant pain. Around the same time in 2021 I also came across the idea of healing with magnetic fields so I decided to do that too because the “tight rock” was still in the side of my neck and I wanted to have normal neck structure and function (it was not protruding from my neck but it felt like a bone). So, for the last four years I have been rehydrating with water and whole salt (plus potassium and magnesium) and sleeping with a large magnet on my neck (neodymium, 2-inche diameter and ¼ inch thick). I flip the polarity every night. The “tight rock” in my neck is about half the size now (March 2025) and it is a little softer. My skin is also smoother and more hydrated looking. I am very happy and optimistic about the future and this is why I started posting book reviews of books I had already read over the last 15 years. Salty water is now my beverage of choice!

The next three book reviews will deal with using magnetic and electromagnetic fields for healing. But remember that water and whole salt is the foundation for the structural and functional integrity of your body. Everything else, including magnetic fields, are adjunct therapies.