The Importance of Water: Part 2

As discussed in Part 1, water plays a vital role in nourishing the body and protecting against specific disorders. When you consume adequate amounts of water, your body starts to rehydrate itself, allowing it to function more efficiently with less stress and inflammation on the systems of the body.
Acute Dehydration was discussed in Part 1, and we all now know the basic signs and symptoms of dehydration, but what happens when you continuously neglect your body’s natural medicine. What happens when you are chronically dehydrated?
Give Your Body a Water Source!
Below are just three of the many disorders that are a result of chronic dehydration. I want to focus on these three disorders in this post and they may not seem like much, but interfering with these physiological functions will leave you in a world of hurt!

• Digestive Disorders
• Joint Pain
• Kidney Disorders

Digestive Disorders

The normal direction of the passage of food is downward. There are one way valves that prevent upward motion and intestinal contraction (peristalsis) is downward.
Heartburn & GERD
In the early process of digestion, HCL (hydrochloric acid) is secreted to activate enzymes to breakdown certain foods. The acidic content known as chyme is pumped into the duodenum in the small intestines by passing through the pyloric sphincter.
The Pancreas must neutralize the acid with bicarbonate ions before it destroys the intestinal lining. A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER is needed from circulation to manufacture this bicarbonate solution. When there is insufficient water, the digestive system will not allow the acidic contents of the stomach to reach the intestines. Now there is upward pressure, the pyolric valve will constrict and some of the acid will flow back into the esophagus (heartburn and GERD).
Dyspepsia
In dehydration, if the bicarbonate ions are not delivered, the pyloric valve will not receive the signal to open (Food remains in stomach longer leading to dyspeptic pain). This is a signal of thirst pain. Only water will give it relief. If dehydration continues, an ulcer will form.
Constipation
One function of the colon is to reabsorb water. With dehyration, there is less water, the colon has to work harder to squeeze out what little water is available. Passage is slowed and waste matter is hardened. Increased food intake impacts more matter in the colon.
The transit time with constipation may take a few days! On top of drinking plenty of water, high fiber foods can help digestion and prevent constipation.

Joint Pain

Arthritis
Water is abundant in cartilage cells. As cartilage surfaces glide over one another, some exposed cells die and peel away. New cells will take their place. In a well hydrated cartilage, friction damage is minimal, but in a dehydrated cartilage, the rate of abrasive damages is increased.
Chronic dehydration can also cause severe back pain. There may be compression of the intervertebral joint specifically the discs, leading to muscle spasms and back pain. Below is a picture of the basic anatomy of the vertebra and the discs. The disc is made up of three different structures: Protein, Cartilage and WATER. With lack of water and chronic dehydration, compression of the discs can occur leading to Low Back Pain.

Kidney Disorders

Hypertension
Blood vessels respond to fluctuations in blood volume by opening and closing. When total volume is reduced, main vessels must constrict or there would not be enough fluid to fill the spaces resulting in higher blood pressure.
Shunting of blood circulations is common. For example, after a meal, most of the circulation is directed to the GI tract by closing circulation elsewhere (fatigue after eating a large meal). More capillaries are opened in the GI tract and fewer in the major muscle groups. After digestion, less blood is needed in the gut and circulation reopens in other areas.
Order of Circulator priority:

• Brain (CNS)
• Lungs
• Liver
• Kidneys
• Glands
• Muscles/Bones/Skin