Are You Dehydrated? The Crucial Link Between Dehydration And Osteoporosis - Save Our Bones

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 Osteoporosis Reversal 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 https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Hypohydration

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Comments on this article are closed.

  1. Kala

    Also with regard to salt try Himalayan pink salt or sea salt as it contains many benificial minerals, or Dulse (seaweed) very high in Iodine.
    Do not use table salt…(my opinion not everyone’s but I am Intitled to mine) table salt is heat treated and can be bleached, the salt is often mixed with sand as it comes from the sea, what happens when you heat sand? It turns to glass, so salt is a mix of salt, sand and glass, the fine glass scratches the inside walls of your veins, your body try’s to heal the scratches by producing cholesterol a sticky substance to try to stick over the lesions. Hence Use natural non heated or bleached salt.

  2. Kala

    If you want to purify your water from harmful things without stripping minerals put a shungite stone in your water bottle (glass water bottle) if you want to see how well this miracle stone works, get a glass bowl, fill with water and put some tarnished silver in the bowl, within the hour the silver is sparkly clean.
    Google shungite, it is 98% carbon 2% Unknown, however it is now used in commercial water filters.
    It is only found in Russia, can be bought online or speciality crystal stores.

  3. Nicole Pelletier

    Dear Vivian,

    I really enjoy reading your newsletters in which I found a lot of good advices for my friend who has osteoporosis. Thanks a lot for your generous help. However, I would appreciate receiving them in French because my friend cannot read English ( if this is possible)

    Greatings

    Nicole

    .

  4. charles allan

    Without adequate salt , water will not be retained and will be expelled , dehydrating and thickening the blood and making BP rise .
    When water is balanced with salt the blood and tissue will be hydrated and the blood will thin lowering blood pressure eventually once the veins expand .
    If you work out you will need to salt to taste and not cut back since there is no salt in unprocessed food .
    Balance the salt with potassium eg in vegetables or fruits – but we need 6 grams plus
    of salt depending on work outs and climate – I take about 8 – 10 grams of salt
    The sheer quantity of the daily requirement for salt and potassium is the only way of alkalising the body and making enough sodium bicarbonate in the pancreas .

    The medical knowledge on salt is a disaster but thats why there is so much high BP
    around – lack of salt will dehydrate and raise BP and sell more statins .

    • Sam

      Good point. But it needs to be high-quality salt, such as Celtic sea salt.

  5. dennis humphries

    This is extremely interesting information.it has helped me in my naivety in this subject ,and thank you

  6. Ronni

    I have been drinking “Berkey” water through a filtering system which is filled with minerals the body needs for proper nutrition. A friend of mine, an RN advised me to use this system, and all the naturopath specialists I’ve met agreed with this system. I also have RO in my home, as my roommate likes that instead. https://www.bigberkeywaterfilters.com/?gclid=CPGZqP__08gCFQdsfgodNbcLWw Not selling this system, but I didn’t know about it until someone introduced me, so I’m paying it forward.

    I’m 72 1/2 and have been diagnosed with full blown osteoporosis, and a collapsed cortisol level (1.9) and on hydrocortisone 10 mg. 2 x p/d for the rest of my life as I was told. Talk about stress! OMG. My friends thought I was heading for the looney farm prior to diagnosis by an endocrinologist a year ago. No One, not even my OBGYN thought of the cortisol level being so depleted, even after I couldn’t stop crying – they all thought I needed an anti-depressant, anti-anxiety pill AND a therapist………finally, I became my own doctor.

    Again about water intake. Another friend’s son is a kidney doctor who saw me drinking water and said to me “you’re flushing your sodium levels down the toilet with too much water”. I’m confused! Darned if you do, and darned if you don’t. So, what does one do? Thanks Vivian!

    • Rjv

      PATRIOT POWER GREENS, go get them,, patriot health alliance

    • Dayna

      I found your comments about how no one could figure out what was wrong with you until u saw the endocrinologist. Can u tell me more about what symptoms and health problems you were experiencing prior to discovering the problem.I am trying to research my own health issues presently. I’ve been told as much as I am delusional. Even been threatened to be put into a psych ward for evaluation if I kept insisting that their diagnosis was incorrect. I lost direction of where to turn because of how I am not taken seriosly by the doctors. But Its my body and im intelligent, level headed and well educated in the medical field due to my life career. I am still treated with disdain when I challenge their answer. I am my beat advocate. And I know when something is not right. I did find one answer on my own. Yet I am searching for another. Will you please share a little more.

  7. KaL

    by these messages I’m confused, I’ve had osteopenia well found in 1996 could have been longer. and I’m only 55, rampant on my mothers side of the family. So you’re saying that calcium is no good for bones, or only certain calciums with a set kind of water, please explain as I said all these messages are confusing…

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      Kal, you’ve come to the right place! I encourage your to read all the free information on this site that will help clarify things for you. There are many posts on calcium and water, and you can use the Search feature to search any topics of interest. I hope you’ll stick around and keep learning!

  8. Melody Scott

    “If your skin maintains it’s pinched shape for a few seconds and drops slowly, you may be dehydrated.” Or you may be over 50. 🙂

    • Taz

      I’m over 50 and my skin snaps right back so …. try again!

  9. driggs

    I knew I was dehydrated… when I pinch the skin on the back of my hand? It stays and stays and stays and stays. It’s weird.

    • Ashley cooper

      I’m actually in the hospital right now with an IV. I have had numerous tests done. CT scan, ultrasound, hydra scan, blood work. Anytime I eat or drink or even when I don’t I am sick. In the upper abdominal middle area. This has been going on for 3 weeks. My stools are black watery and tarey. They can not figure out what’s going on with me. I’ve lost 20 pounds. I’m 33 and before all of this I only weighed 145. I would much rather die right now than to be in this pain that I’m in. When I pinch my hand it snaps back but my white count was 29,000 and I was extremely dehydrated.

      • brenda e mason

        Have you been checked for Diverticulitis?

  10. ruth

    Hi Vivian,
    There’s obviously a LOT of controversy and confusion out there about water. It seems to me that’d be a great topic for you to do some of the thorough research you do so well, and get back to us with a comprehensive comparison of pros and cons for each type of water.
    Thanks
    Ruth

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      Ruth, you are so right! You’ll find a comprehensive comparison (and more) on the various types of water, backed by research, in The Missing Link, a supplemental report that comes with the Osteoporosis Reversal Program. In addition, this site has a great deal of free information on water – in fact, the community spent an entire week – Water Week – discussing the research! 🙂 You can read the posts from Water Week here:

      https://saveourbones.com/?s=%22water+week%22

  11. Linda Hoogland

    I am chronically dehydrated, despite the fact that I drink either distilled or reverse osmosis water all day long (with lemon, as you suggest). I am 65, weigh 115, and drink about 6-8 (12oz) glasses of water throughout the day. I have a been diagnosed with osteoporosis, which is pretty much genetic on my maternal side, so I am following your diet guidelines to reduce acidity. I take no medications, but have dry mouth all the time and fail the “skin-drop test”, despite my best efforts at consuming water. I have no other symptoms of adrenal disorder, such as fatigue, joint pain, sleep deprivation, high or low blood pressure, but do have slightly elevated cholesterol levels. My doctor does not seem concerned, but this is bothersome.

  12. Leslie (Ms. L. Carmel)

    Hi! Vivian,

    I Know I Should Drink More Water; And I Have Been Trying To Drink More. Think I’m Going To Try To Make My Own Distilled Water.
    Can I Make Distilled Water By Boiling Water, Then Pouring It Through A Strainer Into An Orange Juice Container That’s Been Thoroughly Washed And Sterilized?
    Thank You Very Much, In Advance, For Any Pointers You Can Give Me On This. And Thank You For All You Do!

    LOVE, LESLIE (MS. L. CARMEL)

  13. heloisa piccinelli

    OMG!!!!!! I am stressed only reading all the comments about water!!!!! Don’t know who to follow. My cortison levels are high now. 🙂 Very controversial. I’ll keep drinking my Brita water with lemom and good luck to all of you!!!!

  14. Tanialee

    Goodness I am lucky if I consume at least one glass of water daily as I just am not a water drinker. However that is going to change because I did the skin test and my skin slowly dropped on my hand. Plus my skin on my arms/neck is getting wrinkled such as it never had before. Yes I have been diagnosed with osteoporosis and the docs never mentioned dehydration to me, so I’ll bring it before them. 🙂

  15. shula

    I believe some people dehydrate faster then others even if they drink enough, exercise less, or hardly stay in the sun. Is this correct?

    Shula

  16. Imma

    Sorry Vivian!
    I disagree about drinking distilled water, or reverse osmosis.
    This waters once stripped of minerals become very acidic, not beneficial
    for your bones.
    Since you’re advocating alkaline water and food, that’s a bit confusing.
    I would advice drinking distilled water no more then a week to detox,
    for health,… purified water is your best bet!

    • Kathryn

      I agree with you. Your water needs to be alkaline. However it is hard to find a good way to purify your water. You need a BLOCK carbon filter and most are not. Muli Pure makes a good block filter. They are hard to find but well worth it. Do not get a loose carbon filter, they are worthless as soon as the water makes pathways in the loose carbon. We ionize our water also. Stick with what you know is right…Kathy

  17. DIANA

    Hi, Vivian,
    I noticed a response you gave to someone here that taking a calcium supplement would not work to alkalize an acid drink because the drink would reach the stomach first – but if we take our maximum calcium dosage throughout the day as we do, doesn’t our body maintain a level of calcium that would offset the alkalinity of an acid drink during the day? We surely wouldn’t have to take the alkaline fix at the same time as the acid food???

    And on the subject of which water to drink, I have two natural doctors who both have installed Alkalizing water machines in their office and they will fill up your bottles for a small fee. I was doing this when one day the machine was needing a new filter and they were not selling water that day & I later went to the other doctor’s office on an appointment and told them I’d picked up some Distilled water from the grocery store and they were quite emphatic that Distilled water had no minerals and was not nearly as good as Alkaline water. SO, I went to my health food store and bought Alkaline drops and started putting so many drops into each glass of water I drank and I felt I was doing well for myself until I read the same article many others apparently read, about Distilled water leaching minerals from the bones. I think we all need to know a definite answer – is this going to be adequate to give us the missing minerals and will it prevent toxicity and prevent removing minerals from our bones? Or are the alkaline water machines better because that water contains the missing minerals?
    I still have my 3 bottles of distilled water sitting here and don’t know what to do. I hope you can reply to this because being in a quandary can make one dehydrated : )
    Thanks, Vivian.

    • Luc

      To answer your question there is a fact that the industry knows : it is that pipes in which distilled water runs through decays much quicker than pipes running ordinary water. Distilled water does leach minerals and is not natural.

  18. sheila masson

    A few weeks ago I started experiencing pain in my left heel. Is there something I can do to relieve the pain?

    • in my case I feel pain indicates that I've been eating too much sugar and not enough protein

      when I decrease my sugar my heel pain goes away

  19. Joel M. Wilson

    The tap water in my town is very hard; you can see sediment deposit in the bottom of your drinking glass! However, I have read so many reports that much of the water that you can buy at the supermarket really is no better and may just be tap water from another location! What do you know and thus suggest about this?

    Joel M. Wilson
    Ceresco, Nebraska

  20. Zioralucille

    Vivian!
    Your articles have such interesting information. I just found the one about water fascinating, yet so obvious when one thinks about it. Thank-you for all your information.
    Ziora

  21. martha

    We drink and use spring-fed creek water that is treated by ultraviolet sysem. How important is it to filter this. I love the taste of it but have a hard time with distilled water.

  22. Jan Krause Greene

    Is Almond Milk a good substitute for cow’s milk?

    • Faye

      Make sure your almond milk does not contain carrageenan in it as it is very bad for you..The only kind I found was unsweetened silk …Carrageenan is in our creams for coffee and some cream soups and toothpaste etc ..Research it and see how harmmful it is …We have to read labels ..

    • Catherine Boxall

      Hi Jan, Absolutly, thats what Vivian has recommended us to drink, managed to find an almond milk from the supermarket with out sugar, that I find excellent in tea and can also be heated for coffee, brilliant. England

  23. myrtice simpson

    thanks new water was important but you just reconfirmed

  24. Coral Vorster

    To alkaline your stomach first thing in the morning do the following:

    My suggestion was that if you squeeze 1/4 of fresh lemon in half a glass of water then add 1 teas of baking soda you have an alkaline drink first thing in the morning.

  25. abimanu

    Vivian
    I am over the moon with the simple test you advised. I tried it and the pinched skin snapped back rapidly indicating that I was not dehydrated. I am happy to learn a tiny trick to show that certain diseases are not around the corner. Thanks as usual for your good advice.

  26. connie

    How about adding a pinch of baking soda to the distilled water instead of lemon juice. Wouldn’t that make the water more alkaline?

    • Coral Vorster

      First thing every morning I squeeze a 1/4 of fresh lemon into a small glass of water with 1 teas baking soda. I put the baking soda in after I have put the water in the glass otherwise it foams over. It is a most refreshing drink and definitely alkaline’s the body.

      • Dee

        Hi Carol, It might be a good idea however I have high blood pressure and the sodium in the baking soda would not be good for me. However I do have Vivian’s lemon and cucumber water.

  27. Kiwanga

    Thanks Vivian
    Your advice is very important to me, it helps a lot
    thanks again, keep it up mama!!

  28. Leonard Green

    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

  29. Mazen AL Khaldi

    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.

  30. Egret

    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.

    • Kathryn

      Chlorine is the least of your worries. Good to get it out but there are a lot of other things to get rid of, such as all the drugs that go through the human body and end up in our water. We know a waste management man who says they can not get drugs out of the water. Get the best filter you can afford. SOLID BLOCK is the best but hard to find. I know MultiPrue makes one. Good luck..Kathy

  31. Nu Ly

    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.

  32. Joan

    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.

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      Thanks for your kind words, Joan! And stay well hydrated, especially during these hot summer days 🙂

  33. Fay

    What are your suggestions on well water?

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      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.

  34. Leonard Green

    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

  35. John

    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!

  36. Jackie Waite

    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.

  37. Susan

    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

  38. Elizabeth

    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.

  39. janine jacobson

    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)

  40. Thomas Mueller

    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.

  41. Lorraine Hansen

    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

    • lothar

      Hi there why don’t you but same Celtic sea salt with your water so u get all minerals u miss other wise

      • Carole

        Hi Lothar,
        Although the Celtic Sea Salt has minerals, I wouldn’t drink too much of it as too much salt can give you high blood pressure, so probably not a good idea, but I see what you are trying.
        Best wishes

    • Leonard Green

      Hello,
      Reverse Osmosis water has minerals in it. What kind of research did you read?
      Thanks

  42. Rose

    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?

  43. LynnCS

    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

    • Kay

      You are not. Spring water is not distilled.

  44. Selma

    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

  45. Margaret

    What is your opinion on alkaline water?

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      Once the water reaches the stomach, which contains hydrochloric acid, you can say goodbye to the alkaline pH of the water.

      • Leonard Green

        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

      • Lorraine Hansen

        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.

  46. Anni

    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

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      Unpolluted rain water, organic eggs and veggies… sounds great to me! And your friend’s advice makes sense, if you drink more than that.

  47. Razia Sultana Siddiqui

    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?

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      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 🙂

  48. Star

    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??

    • LynnCS

      I declined to take the hormones for osteoporosis as the first side effect listed is blood clots.

  49. Shula

    Thank you for this valuable information.

    Shula

  50. Leonard Green

    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

  51. Ann

    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.

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      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:

      https://www.nature.com/oby/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/oby2011402a.html

  52. Bolaji

    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.

  53. Jay

    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.

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      See my answer to Giovanna, Jay.

  54. M W N

    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

    • susan Capin

      I have acid reflux. In your “save our bones” book you have included tasty and healthy recipes.
      Unfortunately, I cannot digest many of the ingredients, I.e. bell pepper , chili, garlic, etc.
      Can you suggest good bone health recipes that are better for people who have this condition?
      I have recently been drinking water mixed with 1 T apple cider vinegar and sweetened with organic liquid stevia drops first thing in the morning. I have followed this regimen for
      Several months; I substitute this for Zantac. I do, however,, take Zantac before dinner.
      Any comments a nd/ or suggestions I would greatly appreciate. I forgo to say that I have
      Osteoporosis and do not take drugs, against the advice of my doctor.
      Sorry for this lengthy comment.

      • Carole

        Hi Susan,
        I note your comments about acid reflux and just to let you know I take a quarter of a lemon in my tea and it does the trick. Also try a few almonds if you feel a bit acidic. Works quickly. Also I take a magnesium tablet(check the amount allowed daily)after my meal and I can eat roasted (a little) peppers with it with no ill effects. Hope this helps.

  55. Giovanna

    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.

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      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.

  56. Jean B

    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: https://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

    • susan Capin

      I want to add my thanks for all of your important research. And the Save Our Bones” book.
      I think the subject of dementia- prevalence,cause, and possible prevention is relevant.
      I wonder if there is a correlation between good bone health, exercise, proper alkaline/
      acid. Balanced diet and dementia . Perhaps water and food pollution are contributing factors.

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      Thanks for your kind words and for sharing valuable information, Jean!

  57. Darlene

    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??

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      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.

  58. Christine

    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!

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      We can’t drink rain water nowadays… unless you first distill it, of course.

  59. ita

    thank you ,Ita.

  60. H Stone

    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.

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      Good idea! One (metric) ton of hugs 🙂

  61. Catherine H. Gerry

    I have a question. Does one count all the liquid consumed in 24 hours…including coffee and juice, etc? Please respond. Cathy Gerry

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      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.

  62. Barbara Bell

    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?

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      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.

    • Luc Chene

      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.

      • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

        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.

  63. Alan

    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.

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      The skin should start dropping back into place rather than staying pinched. 3 seconds to drop sounds just fine 🙂

  64. Leslie (Ms. L.)

    Hi! Vivian,

    This Was A Wonderful, And VERY HELPFUL Article. Thank You VERY MUCH For SHARING IT WITH US!

    LOVE, LESLIE (MS. L.)

  65. lape

    so is it ok to drink rain water?

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      It’s not, because of the outdoor pollution, unfortunately.

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