Are You Dehydrated? The Crucial Link Between Dehydration And Osteoporosis
It could be the perfect storm. No, I’m not referring to Tropical Storm Isaac that passed over us here in Florida a couple of days ago, and has unfortunately ravaged the Gulf Coast. I’m referring to the seldom-mentioned link between dehydration and stress that can hurt your health and your bones.
Surprising Study Results
A study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that dehydration or hypohydration by -2.5% and -5.0% of body mass “…strongly increased cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, the primary stress hormones.”1
Bear in mind that the loss of less than 5% from body fluids is considered mild dehydration, and up to 10% is considered moderate dehydration.2 Interestingly, study researchers found that the elevated cortisol levels observed in the mildly dehydrated study subjects occurred both before and after intense resistance exercise. Which means that the exercises were not causing the increase of cortisol levels.
You see, every single organ in the body needs water to function properly. After all, we’re made of 70% water! So as the study proved, even minimal dehydration triggers damaging biochemical changes that are the same as the body’s response to stress.
And how does the body react to stress? By producing, among other things, the hormone cortisol, also known as the “fight or flight” response which, as I write in the Save Our Bones Program, accelerates bone loss.
The Dehydration ‘Hand Test’
Dehydration often reduces skin elasticity, so doctors often use this skin test to quickly check for dehydration. The best part is, you can do it yourself:
Pinch the skin on the back of your hand and pull it upwards. Your skin should snap back rapidly. If your skin maintains it’s pinched shape for a few seconds and drops slowly, you may be dehydrated.
More Signs You’re Dehydrated
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
- Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
- Thirst
- Fatigue
- Muscle cramps or spasms
- Heart palpitations
- Very dark urine
- Decreased urine output
Benefits of Good Hydration
Besides helping maintain cortisol levels at bay, there are many other the benefits from staying fully hydrated. Here are some of them:
- Oxygenation: Adequate hydration ensures that oxygen is carried throughout the body.
- Prevention: Water deficiency can cause kidney stones, constipation, migraines, ulcers, and more.
- Digestion: Fluids are needed for nutrients to pass through the membrane of the intestines. Sufficient hydration allows nutrients to be efficiently distributed throughout the body.
- Joint Pain: Proper hydration helps lubricate the joints. Dehydration, which doesn’t allow the body to efficiently cleanse toxins, can actually lead to an accumulation of toxins, which can cause pain and inflammation in joints.
- Youthful Appearance: Hydration keeps your skin cells plump so your skin appears smoother, giving you a more youthful appearance.
- Weight Loss: Staying hydrated can help weight loss efforts by acting as a natural appetite suppressant. It also removes the threat of misinterpreting thirst as hunger.
What Should You Drink?
It’s a vicious cycle: dehydration causes stress and stress often leads to dehydration. Since it’s impossible to completely avoid stress, the best way to break this cycle is to stay well hydrated by making sure you’re drinking enough water.
Don’t wait until you’re thirsty, since thirst is a sign of dehydration. Instead, I recommend sipping distilled water throughout the day. Sipping, as opposed to gulping, helps your body retain water and won’t overload your kidneys.
Distilled water is the best choice. Why? Because not all water is created equal. Only distilled water is pure, made only of Hydrogen and Oxygen atoms. In a perfect world, rain water would be identical to distilled water: just plain H2O.
If you can’t get distilled water, your second best choice is water purified by reverse osmosis. And with either water, try adding a few drops of lemon juice to add a little flavor and help alkalize the body,
How Much Should You Drink?
A general rule of thumb is to try to drink half of your body weight in ounces per day. For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, drink 80 ounces of water per day – which is about 10 glasses of water. But it is just that, a general rule. Feel free to vary your water intake by 20 percent in either direction, depending on your activity level. If you are extremely active, by all means drink more.
To your health!
P.S. I’m excited to announce that next week is Save Our Bones ‘Water Week’! So stay tuned, and look in your inbox for some fascinating information about water and how important it is for your bone health and overall wellness.
References
1 Judelson AD. et al. “Effect of hydration state on resistance exercise-induced endocrine markers of anabolism, catabolism, and metabolism.” Journal of Applied Physiology September 2008 vol. 105 no. 3 816-824.
2 http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Hypohydration
MESSAGE FROM A SPONSOR
Finally, A Natural Way To Focus Your Eyesight Without Annoying Reading Glasses
It all began when a 52 year old patient begged his eye doctor for help with his aging eyes.
He didn’t want surgery – and he certainly didn’t want a life chained to reading glasses!
His eye doctor responded to his plea with an open mind, then carefully researched the subject, and surprisingly re-discovered a century old principle about how the eyes work to focus clearly.
He used this principle to create a series of simple exercises and a “Magic” Eye Chart, which he gave to the 52 year old patient.
What happened to the patient’s aging eyes?
Click here to find out – and take a 1-minute eye test to see if your eyes can also be helped.
If you liked this article, click the "Like" button for Facebook:
How Does The Save Our Bones Program Treatment Reverse Osteoporosis Without Drugs In One Year Or Less?
Learn more about how the Save Our Bones Program treatment is guaranteed to reverse osteoporosis and osteopenia in one year or less ...
We value your privacy and will never share your information with anyone.
September 7, 2012
How about adding a pinch of baking soda to the distilled water instead of lemon juice. Wouldn’t that make the water more alkaline?
September 5, 2012
Thanks Vivian
Your advice is very important to me, it helps a lot
thanks again, keep it up mama!!
September 3, 2012
Thank you Vivian but could you finally answer very important for all the community questions?
1. We see two theories of imroving PH level for bones:
– distilled water usage
– alkaline water usage with alkalizing drops, soda, special machines..
Is there statistics which can confirm distilled water usage advantages?
I saw a lot of messages that alkaline water usage brings people to good PH level. If there is kind of Science for distilled water usage then there should be statistics. In any case statictics is first.
2. What kind of distilled water do you use? How do you avoid chemicals in the jugs?
3. You mentioned that distilled water was tested. What are results?
How much Ca, Mg, Potassim are there (with lemon)? Is that enough for electrolites contents? We have that information for other waters in the stores but we do not have it for distilled water. How many drops of lemon should be added to have enough of electrolites?
Note: I follow your advice but too much of controversions around.
Comparison with homeopathy would be good if you would confirm distilled water theory usage with statistics
Appreciate your help
Leonard
September 3, 2012
Hi Vivian
It is a good article since it gives a basic and simple advice and present awareness to every body for taking care about health maintenance, by easy tools and daily behaviores. Thanks a lot.
Dr Mazen AL Khaldi, Ph D. Ed.
September 2, 2012
Did u know that both distilled wafer and reverse osmosis water are extremely acidic! All the good minerals are taken out along with the bad stuff!See for yourself with a few pH drops in water. I Use a life Source water purifier that leaves the minerals in but takes the chlorine out or I drink bottled water with minerals like Fuji water.
September 2, 2012
After I took this test, it is o.k. to me. One or two months ago, doctor
changed the new medicine for my high blood presure , I was not used to,
so I felt dizzy, leg cramps, after the blood test, everything is normal
and perfect. Now my high blood presure is very steady, from 117-130,
48-65. I drink 6-7 glasses water usually, plus 1 of fresh orange juice,
1 powder milk, sometime 1 soy milk, soups etc…
Thank you for your information.
September 2, 2012
Hi Vivian
Purchased your save our bones book,your knowledge has helped me a lot.I pass the hydration test. however are confused about which water to drink, have read up on line, various filter companies, all basically say the same thing, that we do need to filter our drinking water.But i have discovered that to rid Fluoride from drinking water,the filter used to do this contains Aluminium. so we rid out drinking water of Fluoride only to replace it with Aluminium, as we all know creases Alzheimer disease. I drink rain water, we don’t have much industry around, however i still filter it with a carbon filter.Is this OK Thank you Vivian your book is priceless.
September 2, 2012
Thanks for your kind words, Joan! And stay well hydrated, especially during these hot summer days
September 1, 2012
What are your suggestions on well water?
September 2, 2012
There are good news and bad news about well water. No fluoride, no chlorine, but possible contamination with other chemicals. So make sure you filter it before drinking.
August 31, 2012
Hi Vivian,
I spoke to Spring Hill Customer services. That company sells spring and distilled water for Whole Foods Market and other stores.
They told me that their distilled water is drinkable but they recommend to drink spring water for their live mineral content. They do not add clorine and fluoride and trace amount of them happens naturally. Ph is about 7-7.9
and no BPA in the bottles. I will analyse test report.
I think they know something of their water. It’s their profession.
Those waters have Whole Foods Market label. Is there any test which shows that distilled water with a few drops of lemon has the same live mineral content or we are loosing something? Note: you mentioned to me before that distlled water with lemon was tested. Can I get that test or its description?
(Though lemon itself is very useful for health!)
Thanks
Leonard
August 31, 2012
I brew a big pot of green tea combined with Pau D’Arco tea about every 2-3 days. I put it in the fridge and drink it as iced tea adding a squeeze of fresh lemon per glass each time. I do drink reverse-osmosis water also but the green tea mixture is my main beverage (for all the herbal benefits, not particularly hydration). Am I dehydrating myself by using this method? By the way I did fine on the hand-test!
August 31, 2012
Vivian I know you are really trying to help people keep their bones strong. I also know that the right calcium is needed. You recently advertised an organic plant sourced calcium that I immediately ordered. It was expensive and required that I take 4 capsules a day. As much as I want to reorder, I won’t. It’s just too darn expensive. Please remember that most of your customers are seniors and have to watch our budgets.
August 31, 2012
We have had a well for over 30 years. So I assume that the same applies to well water as to rain water, but worse? Is boiling water good or worse?
Is using the store bought filters and filtering water helpful? How helpful?
I also drink a lot of club soda….is that worse or better? Does the tin make it worse or better than a known water such as Poland Springs?
Thanks….sorry so many questions, but I have long been concerned about what water to drink.
Susan
August 31, 2012
I was very interested to read about dehydration. I was admitted to the renal unit at a local hostpital. I was told I was suffering from an acute kidney injury, my kidney function was reduced to 29% and I was dehydrated. Because of this I had to have rehydration via a drip. Although I had been very sick,I didn’t feel particularly thirsty and this was a total shock to me plus I had been drinking a reasonable amount of water. However I am now careful to drink more water than I need and not wait until I feel thirsty. A very interesting and useful article, especially the debate about the different types of water, distilled, spring water etc.
August 31, 2012
THANK YOU VERY MUCH VIVIAN TO CARE SO MUCH FOR PEOPLE, THE MOST OF HUMAN BEEN
HAVE NO TIME FOR U ANYMORE, ONLY IF U CAN GIVE THEM SOMETHING IN EXCHANGE LIKE MONEY.
WHERE IS THE OLD TIME WHERE THE DOCTOR USE TO COME TO YOUR HOUSE TO CHECK ON U WHEN U WERE SICK, REMEMBER THAT.
I DON’T TRUST DR ANYMORE THEY GIVE U 10 MIN CONSULTATION AND THAN ITS NEXT, WE ARE JUST A NUMBER FOR THEM TODAY.
WARMEST REGARDS
JANINE BELGIUM LOST IN SOUTH AFRICA (NICE COUNTRY AND LOVELY PEOPLE HERE)
August 30, 2012
I can get only a small pinch of skin on the back of each hand, being unusually skinny.
When I click to read an article linked in a newsletter, I always get a popup asking me to input my first name and email address to download something, and when I do that I get the message that I’m already subscribed: annoying.
August 30, 2012
Much of your article is right on. Dehydration is often the key to many aches and pains and diseases. I do have 1 question though:
How can you recommend Distilled Water or Reverse Osmosis Water — I’ve read research that shows that these waters that are completely devoid of minerals actually leach the minerals from your bones. These waters might be OK for short term use in detoxifying! I would have thought that at the very least you’d recommend Electrolyzed Reduced Water!! Of course you need to make sure you get a machine that actually does what it’s suppose too!!–there are many cheap imitations on the market!
Just a Question,
Lorraine
August 31, 2012
Hi there why don’t you but same Celtic sea salt with your water so u get all minerals u miss other wise
August 30, 2012
Hello,
Reverse Osmosis water has minerals in it. What kind of research did you read?
Thanks
August 30, 2012
What about infants drinking distilled water? I drink distilled water and have for several years. I now have a 5 month old granddaughter and wondered if it will be OK for her to drink distilled water when she is at the age when water is allowed?
August 30, 2012
Sometimes I have more fun with the comments than the article. You are a saint! Patience is a virtue. You are virtuous. LOL!
I recently decided to get spring water delivered to the house. I am amazed at the difference in taste. Makes me drink more of it. I notice that when I drink tea or coffee that I don’t drink as much water, so I am not drinking tea and coffee as much now. I have to believe what they say about the quality of the water and how it is bottled. I hope I am doing the right thing. Thanks for all the great info. Lynn
August 31, 2012
You are not. Spring water is not distilled.
August 30, 2012
Vivian,
I have been drinking hot water avoid the caffeine of coffee.
Putting lemon in the tea to alkalize is a easy benefit to get.
Selma
August 30, 2012
What is your opinion on alkaline water?
August 30, 2012
Once the water reaches the stomach, which contains hydrochloric acid, you can say goodbye to the alkaline pH of the water.
August 31, 2012
Vivian,
Does it mean that drinking water should not be alkaline? Why there is so big noice of alkaline water around the world?
You mentioned that lemon is alkaline but if that is not important than what’s reason of talking of that?
Distilled and Reverse Osmosis Waters are acidic. Do you add lemon to add electrolites only? Or do you want to make water alkaline? There is some unclear contradiction.
Thanks
August 30, 2012
That’s why your best time to drink water is when the stomach is empty!! The acid is generated when food enters the stomach, not water. At least that’s the research I’ve read.
August 30, 2012
We live in remote Tasmania, Australia (next stop Antarctica) and all our water comes off the roof of our home. We have lived here 18 months and I have NEVER felt better. So perhaps there are some places that it is OK to drink rain water?
A friend sent me an article about water which said “Drink two glasses of water first thing in the morning; a glass 30 minutes before every meal and one glass as you go to bed. Her email stated that this was the best way to help your kidneys work and avoid heart attacks, strokes and those awful night cramps in your legs.” Do you agree with this?
We grow amazing organic vegetables – almost self sufficient now that our chooks are laying 8 eggs a day! I feel very fortunate!
Thank you for your wonderful advice – I love your program.
Anni
August 30, 2012
Unpolluted rain water, organic eggs and veggies… sounds great to me! And your friend’s advice makes sense, if you drink more than that.
August 30, 2012
I like to take only water, but if we add a few drops of lemon juice and a little bit of pure maple syrup, it is much more delicious and enjoyable. do you think that would not be good?
August 30, 2012
I’d skip the maple syrup most of the time, and leave it for an occasional treat. We don’t need extra glucose in our drinking water, but if you love the taste, then it’s OK every once in a while
August 30, 2012
I was told by a MD Doctor she does nutrition & vit. also. She said that Distilled water wasn’t good for long time drinking. You need for bones minerals so drink Reverse Osmosis. What do you think?
Also she wants me to take hormones for my bones. I don’t do well with them so she wants to me to just take testersone? I don’t know if my body will take it or not (it’s a cream) What do you think? I have Osteoporosis big time. Please e-mail me back at star571@hotmail.com I don’t know where to find your answer back to these questions??
August 30, 2012
I declined to take the hormones for osteoporosis as the first side effect listed is blood clots.
August 30, 2012
Thank you for this valuable information.
Shula
August 30, 2012
Hi Vivian,
Dr. Weil confirmed that it’s good to drink distilled water. He drinks it.
But to drink 10 glasses`of water is impossible. Vegi and fruits have a lot of water; also soup, yogurt…. My doctor recommended 6 glasses and that is still too much sometimes. Too much of water could be bad for sleep.
Best
Leonard
August 30, 2012
I received a report a while ago from a Dr. who stated that he had not had a glass of water in 30 years. He did not believe that your body needed that much water in a day. He stated to drink water if you wanted it but he never did. I don’t like water and I never drink it unless I make myself but certainly not 8 glases a day and I feel fine.
August 30, 2012
Why should we use doctors as role models? To give one example, a recent study published in the journal Obesity found that most overweight doctors only addressed their patients excess weight if it exceeded theirs. And only about half of the normal weight doctors felt they had enough knowledge to give diet and exercise advice to their patients.
Here’s the study:
http://www.nature.com/oby/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/oby2011402a.html
August 30, 2012
Thanks Leslie for all the effort and time you put into this.
if it takes 3seconds for your skin to come back to shape, are u dehydrated?
the link to the eye test takes me to a marketing site. looks as if something is wrong. Pls check.Thanks all the same.
August 30, 2012
What are your comments on distilled water stripping the body of minerals? I have learned that distilled is good first thing in AM upon rising as it flushes toxins accumulated at night and during a fast.
August 30, 2012
See my answer to Giovanna, Jay.
August 30, 2012
Dear Ms Viv:
Could you please do a recipe book or at least some menus for a couple of months to help make the change in eating easier. Change is difficult enough. Help in this area would benefit all. I read the entire book
and you have a few in it but not enough to get me going.
Thanks, MWN
August 30, 2012
Distilled water??? As a biologist one refrains to use water with living cells as it leeches salts out of them by osmosis. In fact, mountaineers who may find necessary to drink water dissolved from glaciers usually add salts back to it to prevent body dehydration. I guess if you add enough lemon juice to it may still be ok, but I would stay away from distilled water.
August 30, 2012
That’s a myth, Giovanna. Distilled water encourages detox and helps hydrate in the best possible way. Cells don’t recognize inorganic minerals from rocks and other inanimate objects.
August 30, 2012
Dear Vivian, I drink filtered water with some lemon juice added and for me it is very refreshing – (is lime juice just as good)? I have the ‘Save Our Bones’ programme and find it excellent, so I just wanted to say a huge ‘thank you’ for all the extremely much needed advice, care, and passion that you give in all your e-mail newsletters. I cannot stress how important the job that you are doing is. I do a fitness class (which includes weights), pilates, dancing, handcrafts and lots of walking as well as following a healthy, and hopefully a mainly alkaline and chemical free diet, in order to reverse the osteoporosis and osteopenia. At the age of 72 I also hope that this lifestyle will ward off Dementia, which is another horrible condition that is affecting millions of people more and more each day. My husband recently passed away having suffered this terrible affliction for 19 years and, my daughter is now campaigning for awareness and sharing her experiences: here is a link to her blog: http://d4dementia.blogspot.co.uk/ which I hope you will find interesting and useful. My apologies for deviating from the subject of our bones, but I think this is another link in the fight for general good health. Thank you again for all the good work you do.
With many kind regards, Jean – Oxfordshire UK
August 30, 2012
Thanks for your kind words and for sharing valuable information, Jean!
August 30, 2012
When I click to take the eye test offered in your article it takes me to a website about joining some online business??? Wondering how to take the test??
August 30, 2012
Just pinch a tiny bit of skin on the top of your hand, Darlene. And watch if the skin stays put or if it drops fast.
August 30, 2012
As we get older our skin gets thinner especially on the hands. When pinned the skin on my hands takes longer to return to normal whereas the skiing on my forearm returns almost immediately. As for drinking rainwater – just think about all the pollutants in the atmosphere, I would say drinking it is a complete no.no!
August 30, 2012
We can’t drink rain water nowadays… unless you first distill it, of course.
August 30, 2012
thank you ,Ita.
August 30, 2012
A helpful hint would be for you to convert the outdated obsolete imperial measures to metric and put them in brackets. This is so that we the non American membership can better understand those quantities/measurements quoted, we would be so grateful for that welcome addition. To whit one pound (454g) 100*F (37.8*C) etc.
August 30, 2012
Good idea! One (metric) ton of hugs
August 30, 2012
I have a question. Does one count all the liquid consumed in 24 hours…including coffee and juice, etc? Please respond. Cathy Gerry
August 30, 2012
Ideally, your hydration should be from pure water. Caffeine is a diuretic and juices are typically high in sugar, causing a glucose spike which can contribute to dehydration.
August 30, 2012
I do drink distilled water. It comes in plastic jugs and I have heard drinking water or consuming anything that has been contained in plastic is not good, especially since there is
no way of knowing under what temperature the water may have been subjected. What’s your take on that?
August 30, 2012
When subjected to high temperatures, plastics can leak chemicals. One big concern is Bishpenol-A (BPA), so stick to the major national brands, since most use BPA-free plastic. You can also contact the manufacturer and ask them about it.
August 30, 2012
One fact about distilled water. In the industry, pipes that transport distilled water corrode much faster than those transporting ordinary water. I would be careful about drinking distilled water on a regular basis. As a biochemist, I stay away from distilled water except to wash laboratory dishes.
August 30, 2012
Luc, actually the presence of chloramines (from chlorination) in municipal tap water causes corrosion of lead and copper pipes, leading to contamination with heavy metals.
August 30, 2012
How long is a moment, is it 60 seconds ?
“If your skin maintains it’s pinched shape for a moment”
My skin begins to recover immediately,
but takes 3 seconds before it is fully back to normal.
August 30, 2012
The skin should start dropping back into place rather than staying pinched. 3 seconds to drop sounds just fine
August 30, 2012
Hi! Vivian,
This Was A Wonderful, And VERY HELPFUL Article. Thank You VERY MUCH For SHARING IT WITH US!
LOVE, LESLIE (MS. L.)
August 30, 2012
so is it ok to drink rain water?
August 30, 2012
It’s not, because of the outdoor pollution, unfortunately.