Water biology plays important role in health

Water is the fundamental building block of life, crucial to human existence. Water comprises 70% of the earth’s surface, 70% to 80% of the human body (the brain is 80% water), and 99% of the molecules in the human body.¹ Yet, many of our patients are drinking water that is insufficiently purified, unmineralized, and lifeless.

Regarding water’s structure, there have been international and historical controversies surrounding this seemingly simple molecule.

The concept of water as a liquid, crystalline, fractal matrix and its ability to hold information have been documented by several scientists. The organizing forces of water include turbulence, sound, magnetism, light, and temperature.¹

The scientific debate about water carrying information has involved a Japanese metaphysicist; French and Russian scientists; at least 2 US Nobel Prize winners; and a major scientific journal.^1,2

Previously by Dr. Richer: When lifestyle and nutrition fail


Despite the controversy, doctors are now becoming appreciative of the central importance of water in promoting health.

Municipal water purification is not always sufficient
Large-scale municipal purification of water has increased the life span of humans more than any other health measure, protecting the public against communicable diseases.

The elaborate processing of raw sewage into drinkable water involves multistage processes of coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and “treated” water storage/distribution.

Despite these modern advancements, the Environmental Working Group has identified a plethora of contaminants by zip code, beyond the standards imposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (Table).

Adding home water purification for extra protection
Given that 3% of Americans are in a moderate to severe immunocompromised state,³ many more health-conscious individuals or those with mild immune-suppression have chosen to purchase permanent or countertop reverse osmosis systems.

Such systems are capable of dramatically reducing end-user dissolved ionic contaminants including lead, chlorine, fluoride, heavy metals, mercury, chloramine, hexavalent chromium, arsenic, radium, asbestos, and others.

More nutrition content: Examining the essential role of the lymphatic system, at your disposal

Some individuals have decided to purchase similarly effective countertop water distillation units in which tap water is boiled, the steam collected, and the water condensate then brought back to its original form.

In this process, low boiling point volatile organic contaminants are removed via a condensing system combined with an activated carbon filter.

Don’t forget about remineralization

Whether one purifies with reverse osmosis or steam distillation, or purchases distilled water or bottled demineralized water (other than mineralized spring water), remineralization with a pinch of sea salt is crucial to reestablishing the proper electrolyte balance and trace mineral concentration found in isotonic seawater.⁴

Although distilled water can be useful in avoiding kidney stones, it has been known for a century from the work of biologist René Quinton (1866-1925) that blood plasma (0.9% sodium chloride [NaCl] ) and extracellular fluids are a dilute mirror of ocean water (3.3% NaCl), which—when isotonic—has similar constituent components of enzymes, vitamins, 78 minerals, DNA, RNA, organic acids, etc.⁴ This is not surprising because humans evolved from the ocean, millions of years ago.

Related: How to build a lifestyle and nutritional firewall against viruses like COVID-19

Adding back table salt to demineralized water is considered aggressive, leading to water retention and a higher risk of developing hypertension and diabetes as well as other metabolic disturbances.⁴

Clinical perspective

Adequate pure mineralized water intake is essential to avoid dehydration, especially in older adults, where fundamental physiological changes in body heat, sweating, hydration, and thirst receptivity occur.

Besides dry eyes and skin, the optometrist may see tenting of the skin (turgor) as well as patients reporting darker urine and changes in electrolytes, urine pH, and possibly urine specific gravity.

The patient may appear fatigued with dry eyes, dry skin, and even a decline in brain function.

As optometrists, we should understand the purification, structure, remineralization, and storage of water.

Conscious consumption of high-quality water ultimately provides superior cytoplasmic cellular organization, function, and protection against myriad diseases, including heart disease and cancer.⁵ 

References

1. Pollack GH. The Fourth Phase of Water: Beyond Solid, Liquid, Vapor. Ebner and Sons Publishers; 2013.

2. Emoto M. The Hidden Messages in Water. Astria Books; 2014.

3. MacMillan C. What does it mean to be ‘immunocompromised’? Yale Medicine. February 14, 2022. Accessed April 13, 2022. https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/what-does-immunocompromised-mean

4. Pangman MJ, Evans M. Dancing with Water: The New Science of Water. 2nd ed. Uplifting Press; 2017.

5. Cowan T. Cancer and the New Biology of Water. Chelsea Green Publishing; 2019.