Water is essential, and second to air, our most important nutrient. Comprising 75% of an adult body, 33% of our bones, and up to 90% of an infant’s body, water is found in every cell and critical for stimulation, circulation, digestion, absorption, elimination, lubricating joints, and in regulating body temperature. A universal solvent that functions like a tiny magnet with a positive and negative charge, water needs to be frequently replenished. A person drinks around 7,000 gallons of water in an average lifetime. Water is the major ingredient in foodstuffs and the common denominator of all liquids. Without water we can’t live for more than a few days. If we lose anywhere from 15% to 25% of our body’s water, we will die.
Historically, the only pollutants humans had to worry about were biological, and debris like dirt, leaves and sand. The World Counts estimates that humanity now lives with an estimated 150,000 synthetic chemicals. Roughly 1,500 new chemicals are introduced every year. Regardless of where or how carefully we live, chemicals are in the air, soil, and in our drinking water. And, we know very little about the growing menace of chemical cocktails. Used in all city drinking water, 12 million tons of chlorine, a chemical foreign to our bodies, is produced each year. According to CNN Health, 10,000 chemicals are allowed into our processed foods. Americans ingest around 5 pounds of chemicals and plastics in an average lifetime.
Pure water is the best choice for hydrating the body, but according to Diet for a Poisoned Planet, less than 1% of the earth’s surface water is safe to drink. Public health officials regularly find that 10%-40% of private wells are contaminated with bacteria, agricultural chemicals and other pollutants. Municipal water is monitored under the Safe Water Drinking Act for harmful chemicals, but unrecognizable chemicals are increasingly found in our water. Most water treatment plants weren’t built to deal with the dangerous chemical combinations proliferating today. The chlorine and aluminum that treatment plants use for purification remain in the water. It is a good idea to have tap water or well water tested.
Water fasting collects toxins and waste products, and then flushes them from the body rapidly and aggressively. Water fasting gives the body no other option but to turn to its reserves for fuel. This can create a problem if a person is extremely toxic because too many toxins can be flushed into the bloodstream at once. An organic diet, short juice fasts and detox programs should be undertaken until the toxic overload is minimized. If we don’t drink enough water the toxins tend to stagnate and may simply move from one area and settle in another. Whatever fast or detox program is chosen, drink at least one large glass of water every half hour or bodily organs could begin to malfunction. A long water fast should be under the supervision of a competent holistic medical practitioner. It is not advisable to water fast under severe health conditions.
The FDA regulates bottled water as a food. Using the same guidelines as tap water, bottling plants emphasize sanitation and the absence of bacteria. Bottled water is sometimes labeled natural, which may mean it is not treated at all, but sourced from a spring. Read labels carefully.
The perceived value of mineral water is misleading, because minerals are like huge boulders to the cellular membranes, often making them impossible to assimilate. There are plenty of minerals in plants which break minerals down from the soil, allowing them to be completely absorbed by the cells of the body. Water can pick up bacteria and the taste of plastic containers if it sits too long. Check the shelf life.
If you don’t have access to a pure spring or well, and before embarking on a water fast, look for water that has been treated by deionization, reverse osmosis or distillation. Distilled water is the best choice for water fasting because its magnetic properties absorb and suspend large quantities of toxins and help flush them from the body.
- Deionization uses ion exchange to produce quality water.
- Reverse Osmosis forces water through a thin membrane to remove minerals and impurities.
- Distilled Water removes everything from the water by boiling it, collecting the steam and condensing it.
During a water fast, urine can be stored in a clear jar and examined. The color, smell and inclusions will help indicate the condition of the body. Toxins and other impurities within the urine will crystallize in a couple of days. The famous fasting proponent, Dr. Paul Bragg, saved his urine every day during a ten day fast, had it analyzed, and found traces of the deadly poison DDT.
Contradicting the high-octane excess found in modern society, fasting is not generally popular, nor is it recommended by doctors. But since time immemorial, water fasting has been touted as one of the greatest healing methods known to man. Even animals, when injured or sick, instinctually rest and fast. During a water fast, a person is stripped to their bare essentials and things that really matter rise to the forefront. It is a time for reflection, developing humility, deep cleansing, rejuvenation and healing. Fasting is FREE!
This excerpt is from “Fasting Firepower” by Marjan. If you have concerns about your health or the health of a loved one, and if you would like to gain insights from my 50 years of global studies on fasting, detoxification and natural healing, additional articles and videos can be found at www.marjanbooks.com.