Water - That Lovely Liquid that Quenches our Thirst and Nourishes Our Body!

In order to understand the importance of water in our emotional well-being, we must first understand the the role of neurotransmitters  and the role of environmental triggers in emotional health.

The role of neurotransmitters                                                    :

Chemical changes in the brain are believed to cause emotional disorders.  In disorders such as depression and anxiety, the chemical messengers of the brain, neurotransmitters, become deficient, over-stimulated or imbalanced.  The main neurotransmitters involved in emotioanl health are Seratonin (5HT), Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline), and Dopamine.  Seratonin is mainly associated with emotional stability, a sense of calm and feelings of content; Norepinephrine with drive, mental energy, and motivation while Dopamine is associated with pleasure and reward.  If these levels are out of balance, your physical body becomes unstable and your experience of life becomes distorted.  All neurotransmitters are made in the body from amino acids.  In order for the conversion of  amino acids to neurotransmitters to take place, various vitamins and minerals are needed. 

Environmental illness is a term used to describe illness in which environmental triggers play a significant role in producing symptoms, and sometimes, the illness itself.  Difficulties in our psychology can be caused by both our experiences in life, situational crisis, such as the loss of a spouse, childhood trauma, etc. and environmental illness (EI).   EI can be caused by poor nutrition, pollution, and toxins.  Psychological problems caused by changes in the levels of neurotransmitters are associated with environmental illness.  

                                 Lead in Tap Water    

Water is crucial for the conversion of amino acids into neurotransmitters because water is the conduit for proper absorption of vitamins and nutrients in the body.  Water is a natural healer for the body; however,  it is also considered an unstable substance because its structure can be changed by any variation of its natural form.  Water is needed by the body to aid the healing process, absorb the proper nutrients and vitamins, and aid the body's organs to work efficiently.  Our bodies need 8 oz. of fresh water per 5 lbs. of body weight to run efficiently.  This translates into 192 ounces (6 gallons) of fresh water per day for a 120 lb. individual.  It is clear that the water we drink should be as pure and clean as possible.  Drinking clean water would seem like a pretty easy change to make in our lives for optimal health: just turn your faucet on and pour yourself a nice glass of water several times a day, right?  Wrong. It is actually more difficult than one would expect when we consider the damage we have caused to our natural water sources.  According to the EWG (Environmental Working Group), an organization that tabulates the contaminates found in the municipal water supply by city and state, 90 contaminants were detected in the Omaha drinking water with 44 of those 90 exceeding health guidelines, 24 exceeding legal limits, and 24 detected chemicals that were unregulated.  Omaha's drinking water contains the following contaminants (partial list):  lead, arsenic, radon, bromoform, copper, nitrates, atrazine, flouride.  Substances such as lead and arsenic toxicity lead to irritability, anxiety, restlessness, hyperactivity, inability to focus, and brain fog,  several criteria for the diagnosis of ADD/ADHD Disorder.  Chloride, flouride, and bromide are all added to the tap water and have been linked to reduction of thyroid activity by interfering with the production of T3 and T4 hormones.  As thyroid levels reduce, metablic rates decrease and adrenal function increases to compensate for the low T3 and T4 levels. Low thyroid/hypothyroidism is linked to depression.  Over-stimulation of adrenal function is linked to symptoms of  General Anxiety Disorder.  Our adrenal glands are responsible for the fight or flight response and are regulated by the amount of cortisol released into the body.  The more the thyroid is depressed, the more the adrenals are stimulated to output cortisol.  The imbalance between the thyroid and the adrenals, the more susceptible we are to feelings of depression and anxiety.    Additionally, the higher toxicity of our bodies, the more difficult it is for our bodies to absorb and process the vitamins and nutrients we need for optimal physical and emotional health and, sometimes, blocking the absorption altogether.  

Unfortunately, there is no perfect water source unless you are lucky to have access to a pure, unpolluted glacier water source.  The ability to find a water source that is favorable to consume becomes difficult.  One search on the internet can show the difficulty.  Most sites on water consumption are owned and operated by companies urging you to purchase their particular brand of filter; therefore, the information can be quite biased and lacking in any real research data.  Sifting through it can be quite a daunting task.  I tend to like daunting tasks.  (For those of you who know me, you know how true this statement is!)  The main sources of water most attainable are tap water, bottled water, and filtered water.  Filtered water can be further broken down to include distilled water, reverse osmosis, and deionized water.  It is important to note that all the sources listed are considered dead water.  The process by which each type of water is subjected to changes the structure of water, strips it of the beneficial minerals found in natural water sources, and increases the acidity.  (Several research articles link high acidic levels in the body to disease susceptibility such as cancer.)  

Tap water is completely unacceptable if you are concerned with your health and the health of your loved ones.  Bottled water is problematic.  First, we cannot be sure of the source of water sitting in the bottle.  Second, plastic bottles leach polycarbonate with Bisphenal A into the water stored in the bottle.  Even in low doses, scientists have linked the contaminant to cancer, impaired immune function, early onset puberty, obesity, diabetes, and hyperactivity.  

Filtered water may be the best water source we have but each has its problems. Careful consideration should be taken when choosing a specifc type of filtration to ensure that the each filter removes the contaminants you have identified as harmful to your health.  It may take several different filters.  For example, most filtration systems do not remove flouride from the water.  A separate filter is needed to block fluoride particles.   Additionally, filtered water is dead water; it has been stripped of all beneficial trace minerals and the pH levels are often not optimal (6.0 - 8.0).  You may want to consider adding trace minerals and PH products back into the water (found at most local nutrition markets and organic grocery stores).  There is some promising research currently investigating hydrogenated water and "live water" .  

       

Moderate effects of fluoridated water; arrows point to discolored, cracked, or pitted areas.

I am not an expert on water; therefore,I cannot recommend any one type of water with certainty.  After researching the subject, I personally drink de-ionized water stored in BPA free or glass bottles and add both Concentrate Trace Mineral Drops and puripHy by YoungpHorever which is an oxygen catalyst that helps the blood absorb more oxygen by decreasing hydrogen ions and increasing hydroxyl ions.   I am still searching for a filter to remove fluoride.  My thyroid will be much happier!

It is my hope that this month's newsletter will provide you with enough information to consider the water you drink.  You body and mind will thank you every day.   

The information provided is not meant in any way to replace guidance by a qualified mental health professional if you are experiencing emotional imbalance.  

Helpful Links:   In an effort to help you reduce some of your research time on water, I have included some helpful links.  

Environmental Work Group - water statistics by city and state, plus much more