“Help me,” cries your body. “I’m dehydrated. Can’t you see it?”

Some weeks ago, I was sitting in the departure lounge at London Heathrow Airport before heading back up to Glasgow. The flight was delayed and we had time to waste. My colleague sitting next to me was bored. I watched as he began searching for things on the internet that I had ever heard of.

I thought he would, as most men do, hunt for the football news and results. To my amazement, he searched for “electrolyte powder packets,” then it was “best electrolyte powder no sugar,” and “key nutrients electrolyte powder,” followed soon after by “best electrolyte drink for dehydration,” and the even crazier, “electrolyte gummies.”

Art that point I laughed. I asked him what he was up to? He told me that he had a problem with dehydration. His wife had suggested that he should search for liquid iv hydration multiplier, or coconut water electrolytes that would sort his dry mouth problem, and he continued his research along these lines – as if he had no choice.

I said that perhaps he should consider simply drinking more water. We need it, especially when we get older. I told him that I start my day with two glasses of water first thing in the morning. Then I drink a pint of water in the mid-morning and I do the same in the afternoon. In between, I take onboard fluid from other sources. I went on to explain that I had been doing this since 1997 when I came across a book written by. Dr F Batmanghelidj. Entitled Your Body’s Many Cries for Water, it was a game changer for me. Altered my life forever – and for the better.

Batmanghelidj was born in Iran in 1931. In 1946, only months after the end of the second world war, he was sent to an exclusive secondary school in Edinburgh, Scotland. Despite very high competition from returning servicemen, he entered the hospital medical school of London University as a second-year student in 1951. Upon completion of his studies, he was given the privilege of being selected as one of the house doctors in his own medical school, which was quite remarkable.

But the needs of his country for modern facilities were far greater than what was available within the UK healthcare system at that time. At some point in his professional career in Iran, he found the creation of hospitals and medical centres more in keeping with the urgent health needs of the public.

Just before the revolution of 1979 he was engaged in the completion of a family charity medical centre, the largest medical complex in Iran. Despite his list of good works, the revolutionary government of Iran decided to put him in prison. Then they confiscated all his personal and family assets. Levelling all types of accusations against him, he was sent to prison and prepared for execution. However, once the revolutionary guard realised that he was useful as a resident doctor, they delayed the theatrics of his execution until a later date.

Batmanghelidj began by treating the prison officers. After this, he started treating the inmates, one of whom had a peptic ulcer. The only medicine that he had to offer was clean water, but the book explained that what he managed with this was remarkable. Within eight minutes, the inmates pain disappeared; and according to him, a new era in the advance of medical science was born.

I read the book from cover to cover in one night, all 152 pages. I was taken by what he had written, but smart enough to realise that perhaps not all of it was the truth. However, it was a common-sense approach to health and it gave me the reason to drink lots and lots of water, that to this day continues.

There is no doubt that worldwide a vast proportion of us are dehydrated and it is especially problematic for older people where many of them forget that it’s the most important of anything in retirement. Sadly, it’s the reason of early death for some.

Water is vital to our health. It plays a key role in many of our body’s functions, including bringing nutrients to cells, getting rid of wastes, protecting joints and organs, and maintaining body temperature.

Water should almost always be your go-to beverage. Searching for artificial saliva, as I have seen some people do, is not on my radar.

Here are some reasons why water is important:

Regulates your body temperature. Your body loses water through sweat during physical activity and in hot environments. Your sweat keeps your body cool, but your body temperature will rise if you don’t replenish the water you lose.
Protects your tissues, and helps lubricate and cushion your joints, spinal cord, and tissues.
Helps excrete waste through perspiration, urination, and defecation. In simple terms, to have healthy stool and avoid constipation you need to have enough water in your system.
Helps our kidneys by filtering out waste through urination. Adequate water intake helps your kidneys work more efficiently and helps to prevent kidney stones.
Maximises physical performance. Hydration affects our strength, power, and endurance, while the negative effects of exercise in the heat without enough water can include serious medical conditions, like decreased blood pressure and hyperthermia.
Aids in digestion: Contrary to what some believe, drinking water before, during, and after a meal will help your body break down the food you eat more easily. Aiding digestion, it allows us to get the most out of our meals.
Helps with nutrient absorption, which in turn helps you lose weight; improves blood oxygen circulation, and makes it easier for the heart to pump blood to every part of our body, thereby potentially lower blood pressure.

Last but perhaps not least, it stops us ageing so quickly, and may also prevent, dry mouth, palpitations, heart rate problems, etc, etc.

In all, it’s a huge subject that we really should take more notice of, especially as it is the friend of the largest organ in our body – the skin. Drinking plenty of what keeps the skin tight, and in good condition.

Food for thought, or what?

Oh, and don’t forget to have a look  at Essence of Egypt.  Our lovely, clean products are here to help you live a better life, much like you will do if you upgrade your water intake. We hope that you agree.