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Hydration and Asthma

2/26/2014

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PicturePure, clear life-giving water
How much water do you drink? Have you been diagnosed with Asthma? Today I'm going to highlight a very important work, by Dr. F. Batmanghelidj. His book 'Your Body’s Many Cries for Water', explains a very important point that has often been overlooked when treating Asthma: dehydration. Inadequate water consumption has an impact in the development of Asthma and this should ideally really be addressed before prescribing any medication.

The human body is composed of 75% water and it has systems that regulate its distribution. Those systems of “drought management”, have established certain priorities according to the importance of the organs (for instance, the brain is treated with the highest priority). Histamine is in charge of the water regulation system so when we don’t drink enough water, it becomes overly active. If the dehydration becomes chronic, too much histamine is released and can cause allergies, asthma, and chronic pain in different parts of the body. But these conditions should not be treated with medication (i.e. antihistamines) because they are signals telling us that there is a shortage of water in your body.

If a state of chronic dehydration in the body leads to Asthma, the person will experience increased respiratory distress, coughing and excess mucous secretion. All that bronchial constriction is caused by increased levels of histamine in the lung tissue. The lungs need water to keep the air passages moist and to prevent them from drying up when air circulates in and out. Therefore, the release of histamine in the lungs is really a response from the body to preserve its levels of water in an organ that is a major site of water loss.

The minimum daily water intake should be 6 to 8, 8oz glasses per day (alcohol, coffee, tea and caffeine-containing beverages do not count as water) and the best times to drink them are half an hour before taking food and two and a half hours after each meal.

On average, a patient suffering from Asthma should see positive results after three to four weeks of regulating their body water levels. Importantly, the increase of water intake should be done gradually and sustained on a daily basis. Overdrinking or “binging” in water for a few days is not going to undo the damage of months or years of chronic dehydration.

Watching the levels of potassium intake is also recommended for Asthmatics because high amounts of it can promote the increase of histamine production. A good example of this is orange juice, which has a very high amount of potassium, therefore, a maximum of two glasses a day should be consumed.

In regards to the quality of drinking water, it is ideal if the patient uses filtered water. Chlorinated water, besides causing skin irritation and destroying the friendly microflora of the digestive track, forms free radicals and promotes oxidation (it can for instance deplete our vitamin E reserves). Even worse, chlorinated water contains chemical compounds called trihalomethanes, which are carcinogens that result from the mix of chlorine with organic matter. These chemicals can cause mutations by altering DNA and can also suppress the function of the immune system. In addition, chlorine has been proven to aggravate asthma in children, especially in those who get exposed to it by frequent use of swimming pools[ii].

Maintaining good hydration is extremely beneficial for your general health. Medication for chronic, long-term conditions can work against you and make you ignore your own body’s signals for help. Like Dr. Batmanghelidj points it out in the cover of his book: 'You’re not sick; you’re thirsty. Don’t treat thirst with medication'.

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Breathing well in the winter...

7/9/2012

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Here are some natural tips to help you breathe well this winter, vital for your good health.

Follow these tips and you will breathe easier, help prevent asthma attacks and resistant catching the common colds or flus that tend to circulate this time of year. 

Please Nasal Breathe Only! Your nose is your instrument for breathing not your mouth. Mouth breathing is the best way to swallow up germs

Breathe from your diaphragm. Most people breathe from their upper chest only, which actually limits the amount of oxygen they receive

Relax - calm breathing works best

Exercise - gentle walks will help you feel better

Avoid foods that increase breathing such as chocolate, caffeine, too much protein, alcohol or dairy Also, avoid large meals. All food increases breathing

Sleep in a cool room; turn off the central heating

If you do catch a cold, raise the head of the bed slightly if possible; put a book or bricks under the legs
Drink 1/4 tsp of unprocessed sea salt in a glass of warm water to thin mucus (contact me for Wellness Works own natural 'White Gold', sourced from the pristine waters at the top of South Island, New Zealand)

Use small 'Mini-Breathe holds or pauses' to open up your airways if you're feeling breathless or congested. Breathe normally for 10 seconds, hold 5 seconds, repeat

Please let me know how you get on with these tips - and keep well this winter
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Drugs  for weight loss?

6/28/2012

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Drugs to tackle weight issues??? Have a look at the side effects. I offer a real alternative, a unique weight loss programme that's safe, simple to follow and has proven results. Contact me for a free consultation so I can tell you more...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18620860


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An update on exercise...

5/6/2012

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Watch and enjoy, lots of good information here...
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    Author

    Viv Smith
    Natural Health Consultant
    Life Coach

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