Hydrogen Water, PFAS, & BBB (pdf)
The door to my office opened and a trio marched in. Each face, in its own style, proclaimed that they were on a serious errand. Should be interesting, I thought to myself.
The tall one spoke first. “What can you tell us about Hydrogen water?”
The shorter one said, “Do you drink Hydrogen water?”
The middle one said: “I looked it up. Everyone knows that water—H2O—already has two hydrogen atoms. Who needs more than two? What’s the deal?”
I waved them toward two chairs and a stool. They settled themselves, faces still serious. “I became interested in Hydrogen-Rich-Water (HRW) when I read studies by researchers who have been studying hydrogen water specifically since about 2007. Think back to freshman college chemistry. Hydrogen is a chemical element with the symbol H and an atomic number of 1. Their findings strongly suggest that hydrogen water can be beneficial to the human brain and body in a myriad of ways. For example, HRW is considered therapeutic for 8 of the top 10 causes of death in the US.”
“I remember now,” said the short one. “The instructor said that in one of its forms, hydrogen is the most abundant chemical substance in the Universe. I read recently that Tyler LeBaron, founder of the Molecular Hydrogen Institute [MHI], is one of the scientists studying hydrogen water.”
That’s impressive,” said the tall one.
“I also learned about PFAS ‘forever chemicals’,” I said, “which I do not want. Some top-of-the-line machines can add hydrogen to drinking-water as well as removing significant amounts of other impurities commonly found in tap water such as PFAS.”
“Oh, like a two-for-one,” the shorter one said.
I nodded. “Emerging studies are fascinating,” I said. “They have shown dozens of benefits related to Hydrogen-Rich-Water.” For example:
“Any studies about Diabetes?” asked the middle one. “One of my classmates has type diabetes.”
“I’m a serious tennis player,” said the short one. “I could sure benefit from increased energy and reduced lactic acid build-up!”
“Any studies about cancer?” asked the middle one. “Two girlfriends of mine were recently diagnosed with cancer. One has Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the other has a Uterine cancer.”
“Studies are being reported regularly,” I replied. “For example,”
“You probably already know that Molecular Hydrogen (H2) is said to be the smallest molecule in existence. It is so small that it can even cross the blood-brain barrier, BBB, and enter into brain cell membranes,” I said, smiling. “I want that for my brain.”
“Enough already,” said the tall one. “You just handed me source material for a paper I need to write for my biology class.”
“Back to my question,” the shorter one said, “Do you drink Hydrogen water?”
“I drink HRW exclusively when I am at home,” I replied. “If am away from home for several days—and not traveling by air—I carry HRW with me in stainless-steel containers. The hydrogen levels may fall, but I have the benefit of drinking water that has filtered out most of the PFAS (forever chemicals) as well as other impurities found in tap water.”
“I came here today thinking I would learn that Hydrogen water was just another money-making project,” said the middle one. “Now all I want to know is where I can get a machine like yours.”
I laughed out loud and said: “IMPaX World in Folsom, California.”
PFAS Problems & Prevention—Q&A (pdf)
Q: What does PFAS stand for?
Since the 1940’s, manufacturers have used synthetic chemicals known as PFAS. That stands for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Composed of molecules containing chains of carbon covered with fluorine atoms, they form one of the strongest known chemical bonds on Planet Earth. PFAS chemicals are exceptionally durable, which makes them useful for a wide variety of products. They repel fire, water, and oil, and are designed to withstand heat, grease, water, and stains.
Q: Why are these chemicals called “toxic forever chemicals?”
All of the PFAS chemicals studied have been found to be harmful to the human body. They are environmentally persistent. Their strong chemical bonds make them extremely resistant to degradation or destruction. They can remain in the environment in water, ground water, wastewater, soil, and landfill for hundreds of years—for years and years in a human body.
Q: What is the big deal about PFAS chemicals?
PFAS chemicals are more problematic than originally believed. Current estimates are that between 9,000-12,000 are in a plethora of products used on Planet Earth. They can contaminate water supplies, including drinking water. In 2020, the environmental working group (EWG), a nonprofit organization, tested major water supplies across the country. In one study, they reportedly found PFAS in all samples except for one. They have identified 41,828 industrial and municipal sites in the U.S. that are known or suspected of using PFAS. The big deal is that PFAS chemicals are bio-accumulative—meaning they can build up in the human body with repeated exposure, often being absorbed faster than the body can eliminate them, if at all.
Q: In addition to water, what else might contain PFAS?
It’s used extensively in fire-fighting foam, which then gets into waste water supply, that eventually can find its way into streams, rivers, lakes, and drinking water. PFAS coatings are used in a variety of products. These include clothing, furniture, adhesives, food packaging, heat-resistant non-stick cooking surfaces, and the insulation of electrical wire. You may absorb them in food prepared in some nonstick cookware. They are reported to be found in fast-food wrappers, pizza boxes, stain-resistant materials, pesticides, water-proof candy wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, clothing, some upholstery products, and the list goes on.
Q: What makes PFAS so chemicals harmful?
Several things. They are ubiquitous—commonly occurring—on planet Earth. They have been linked to a variety of health problems and can contribute to them even when individuals are exposed to barely detectable amounts of PFAS. Studies have shown PFAS can lead to a higher risk for kidney cancer, testicular cancer, increased cholesterol levels, damage to the liver due to changes in liver enzymes, changes in the onset of puberty, increased risk of high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia in pregnant women, small decreases in infant birth weights, decreased vaccine response in children, and damage to the immune system. It appears possible to absorb some compounds through the skin.
Q: As a nurse epidemiologist, how do you understand the immune system connection?
Actually, the impact on the body’s immune system and the brain’s immune system of glymphatic vessels— just discovered in 2016—is of major concern. Animal models and human studies in 2021 reported that these toxic forever chemicals, delivered through water, food, air, and other products, can alter immune system functions, potentially diminishing their ability to fight disease. PFAS can prevent the body from producing the desired levels of antibodies in response to a vaccine. With COVID-19 and it variants, this is not a welcome discovery. A new American Heart Association study found that middle-aged women in particular with high blood concentrations of PFAS are 70% more likely to develop high blood pressure than their peers who had lower levels of the chemicals. Post menopausal women already have a drop in estrogen that impacts their immune system response, triggering a proinflammatory state, which increases their risk for atherosclerosis and stroke. Add PFAS to that and it becomes even more concerning.
Q: If PFAS are in our water supply what is being done about them?
In June of 2022, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a warning against what they called ‘toxic forever chemicals’ in drinking water. The EWG reported finding PFAS contamination in drinking water systems across all 50 states and two U.S. territories, Guam and Puerto Rico. The EPA is making available $1 billion dollars in grant funding to help communities that are on the frontlines of PFAS contamination. First on the list is to reduce PFAS in drinking water in communities facing disproportionate impacts. Strategies to clean up drinking water reportedly include technical assistance, water quality testing, contractor training, and installation of centralized treatment technologies and systems.
Q: How do we prevent ingesting PFAS?
Since PFAS chemicals are ubiquitous, it is impossible to prevent all exposure. However, you can avoid whatever is possible to avoid and better manage what you cannot control. Personally, I drink the cleanest purified water available to me, use clean filtered water for cooking, and carry water with me glass or stainless-steel containers. I avoid drinking tap water or water bottled in plastic. I read labels and use a small magnifying glass for ridiculously small print. I read the composition of cookware and the labels on shampoo and make up. I shop carefully and avoid products wrapped in aluminum. I look for companies that state their products are free from specific types of PFAS.
Q: What about plastic products that store food and water?
According to an announcement made in 2021 by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), “… Fluorinated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers used for pesticide storage contained a mix of short and long-chain per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), including PFOA, that leached into the product.” This likely contributed to the recommendation to wear a mask when using the product and avoid getting it on your skin. The EDF also indicated that “To provide context, consider a one-liter bottle of fluorinated HDPE where only 1% of the PFAS made from the fluorination process was PFOA (a type of PFAS). An adult consuming one liter of beverage each day would be exposed to more than 300 times the Minimal Risk Level[3] that FDA, EPA, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC have established for intermediate-duration exposures.” Reportedly, this is an area of EDF investigation.
Q: Exposure can include more than ingesting PFAS, right?
Definitely. Exposure can occur by breathing the chemicals in from the air if a person works with or around PFAS (e.g., manufacturing chemicals or using fire-fighting foam), or by using products that contain PFAS. They can be absorbed through the skin from treated clothing, furniture upholstery, and skin products including sunscreens, eye makeup, nail polish, treated dental floss, shampoo, and many others. A recent peer-reviewed study found elevated levels of organic fluorine, an indicator of PFAS, in more than half of 231 makeup and personal care samples. You may have heard that the cosmetic maker CoverGirl was recently hit with a lawsuit that alleged PFAS were found in makeup products the company labels as “sustainable.”
Q: Can PFAS be removed from drinking water?
Reportedly, the EPA is investigating machines that can remove PFAS from drinking water supplies. Some machines are reported able to remove 99%. This is important. A 2021 study led by Johns Hopkins researchers found 39 out of 100 bottled waters tested contained PFAS. Personally, I choose to avoid drinking tap water if at all possible. I carry a supply of Hydrogen-Rich-Water with me in my car in stainless steel containers. I drink HRW exclusively at home and carry a supply in my car in stainless steel containers. I
Q: Are machines available for consumers and, if so, do you use one?
Yes, water purification machines are available. My understanding is that the EPA, CDC, and Environmental Science have made recommendations for removing PFAS from drinking water. My 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation prohibits me from endorsing specific products. However, I can tell you what I use. According to the manufacturer (KYK) of the ION Thrive machines, they meet or exceed the recommendations made by all three of three organizations for removing PFAS from drinking and cooking water. There may be others. The more I learn about PFAS, and other chemical or undesirable substances often found in tap water, the happier I am to use an ION Thrive machine.
Q: You cannot prevent everything, so what to do?
Although it is impossible to prevent all exposure to every harmful person, place, thing, or illness on Planet Earth, you can avoid some of them altogether and minimize exposure to others. The inoculum level is a term used in epidemiology referring to the amount of something to which you are exposed. The higher the inoculum level of a virus, bacteria, or parasite, the higher your risk of becoming ill. The higher your level of exposure to PFAS the higher your risk of experiencing negative consequences. This is no time for anxiety, worry, and fear, however. Every strategy you embrace helps reduce the inoculum level of PFAS. Cumulatively, that all adds up toward prevention. (8-2026)
“Water is the premium beverage for the human brain and body,” I began. “After oxygen, it is the most important nutrient.”
Indeed, the body is composed of over 70% water—the brain of around 86% water. Water is essential for a host of reasons including proper digestion and circulation, numerous chemical reactions, absorption of nutrients, waste elimination, flexibility of blood vessels, regulation of body temperature, internal moisturization of the skin, and for preventing premature aging due to toxic buildup.
My topic for the annual Health and Nutrition Convention was water intake, dehydration, and brain function. Glancing around the room, I noticed many more cans and bottles of soft drinks than bottles of water.
“America has a drinking problem,” I continued, “one that has nothing to do with alcoholic beverages.” That was as far as I got before the first interruption.
“Personally, I don’t think it matters what I drink as long as I get sufficient fluid every day,” said one young woman.
“It’s a myth that all liquids supply adequate hydration,” I said. “Typical alternative beverages carry with them potentially deleterious effects. Some tend to dehydrate due to high caffeine and sugar content; others contain neurotoxins in the form of artificial sweeteners such as Aspartame; some actually steal micronutrients from the body.”
“I’m Eric,” said a young man, rising to his feet, “and I drink the equivalent of at least four 12-ounce glasses of water every day in Pepsi and 7-Up. I challenge anyone to say that isn’t okay!”
“It’s your brain and your choice, Eric,” I replied. “As a brain function specialist, my goal is to share data from the Centers for Disease Control and statistics from the National Soft Drink Association (NSDA). You take it from there.” He nodded and sat down.
“America’s drinking problem involves a failure on the part of its human inhabitants to drink sufficient quantities of water, the premium beverage. This often leads to dehydration,” I explained, “which is lethal for both brain and body.” Just a 2% drop in your brain-body water supply can trigger:
The sensations for hunger and thirst are similar and easily confused. Parents often feed a child when it is thirsty (not hungry) and the child learns to eat for both sensations. In adulthood, many are thirsty for water but think they are hungry so snack instead or drink food (e.g., milk, fruit juices) or sodas and other sugary drinks.
Unfortunately, alternative beverages (e.g., fruit drinks, sodas, energy drinks, sports drinks, sugary drinks) appear largely to have replaced water in the lives of many Americans.
An area of high concern for brain function relates to the content of soft drinks as compared with pure water. Some relative nutritional-fact tables have listed 40 grams of sugar and upwards per 12-ounces of popular soft drinks. Refined sugar is considered a neurotoxin. The American Heart Association has suggested that the intake of refined sugar products be limited to a maximum of 25 grams for women and 37.5 grams for men. Diet sodas have their own risks. Although lower in sugar (e.g., ranges are often between 9-15 grams of sugar per 12-ounces), many are high in sodium, which may cause more calcium to be excreted in the urine and increase the risk of osteoporosis.
Sugary drinks have been linked to poor diet quality and type 2 diabetes (in adults). The United States dietary guidelines for 2010 recommended limiting the consumption of foods and beverages with added sugars, while the American Heart Association suggested a consumption goal of fewer than three 12-oz cans of carbonated cola—per week.
Weight gain and obesity are also concerns. The relationship between soft drink consumption and body weight is so strong that researchers calculate that for each additional soft drink consumed, the risk of obesity increases 1.6 times. Estimates are that one extra soft drink a day gives a child a 60 percent greater chance of becoming obese.
Other commonly associated health risks include nutritional deficiencies, tooth decay and enamel destruction, osteoporosis and bone fractures, heart disease, food addictions, blood sugar / other eating disorders, neurotransmitter dysfunction from chemical sweeteners, a decrease in the antibacterial action of penicillin and ampicillin, and neurological and adrenal disorders from excessive caffeine.
Some are concerned about acidity versus alkalinity. Rain water has an approximate pH level of 5.5, which is on the acidic side of neutral (e.g., anything lower than 7.0 is typically considered acidic). Human blood, on the other hand, leans toward alkalinity at somewhere around a pH of 7.5. Soft drinks tend to fall within the acidic pH range, often hovering in the neighborhood of a pH level of 3. One theory is that the more acidic one’s intake, the harder the body has to work to achieve optimum acid-alkaline balance.
“Water is your premium beverage!” I said, concluding my presentation. “For your brain-body health, avoid being part of America’s drinking problem.”
As I made my way to the back of the lecture hall I heard someone call my name. It was Eric. “Thanks for not badgering me to give up soft drinks.”
“You’re welcome,” I replied, “especially since that would be none of my business.”
“Well,” he continued, “since listening to your presentation I’ve decided to replace one or two soft drinks a day with water. Would that please you?”
“It would likely please your brain,” I responded, laughing. He smiled a crooked and rather charming smile and then was gone.
Do you want to better your health? Evaluate your drinking habits. Choose water as your premium beverage. It is nature’s best means of quenching your thirst and helping to keep your brain and body healthy.
Okay, my mother (the language teacher) would have corrected the grammar to: “May I have a drink?”
Nevertheless, how many times have you been asked a version of that question by children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews? Too many to count! Your response can impact the child’s brain and immune system—positively or negatively.
In 1980 study, the Water Research Council in Britain found that tap water constituted about 50 percent of the total fluid intake of participant groups (1-4 year olds and 5-11 year olds). A very small proportion of soft drinks were being consumed by these age groups.
Fast forward fifteen years to a similar survey by Petter, a fourth year student at Southampton Medical School. Parents kept a diary of all drinks consumed by their child over a period of 48 hours. The results in 1995 showed a very different pattern from 1980:
Of concern is that replacing plain water with other drinks, especially soft drinks, appears to have significant nutritional implications. In the youngest group these can include failure to thrive and bowel disturbances; in the older school children, diminished appetite resulting in missed nutrients at mealtimes, obesity, and dental caries.
Children are a targeted group for soft-drink advertising—some of which are even marketed as “health drinks”—and are being conditioned against drinking plain water. This is reinforced when parents and teachers role-model juice or soft drinks as their beverage of choice. Because the body needs water to process surgery drinks, the children may actually become dehydrated.
Mild dehydration can produce symptoms such as light-headedness, dizziness, headaches, tiredness, reduced alertness and ability to concentrate, and a preference for a high fat diet. Chronic dehydration can lead to a variety of health problems and illnesses including urine infections, bed wetting, constipation and increased risk for colorectal cancer. Even a small amount of dehydration in a child can lead to a reduction in mental and physical performance, including reduced concentration in the classroom along with potentially less participation and lower test scores.
According to the American Dietetic Association, children can easily become dehydrated during warm weather and/or through physical activity. In general, they:
Obesity in children continues to rise, placing them at higher risk for type2 diabetes and heart disease. The high sugar content of soft drinks has been identified as a contributing factor (and there are concerns about what sugar substitutes may do to the brain). Sugary drinks may not quench thirst as well as water does, either, so children may want to drink even more of them. What can you do to help?
“Can I have a drink?” That question again, this time from a little guy who was visiting with his parents.
“Certainly,” I replied. A bit of pouting—actually quite a bit of pouting—followed when he realized there were no soft drinks or fruit juices or sugary drinks in my refrigerator.
“But what do you drink?” he wailed.
“The best water in town,” I said, proudly.
He eyed my new machine, his little face twisted into complete skepticism. Soon, however, he was standing on a stool by the kitchen sink and holding a cut-glass tumbler under the spout. His mother had rushed to substitute a plastic cup but I had intervened, explaining that water tastes better in cut-glass… you should have seen his expression! A sip or two and the look on his face changed to one of surprise and he said, “Oo-o-oh. More. This is so smoooooooth!”
Over the next three hours, the little guy drank nearly a liter of alkaline water. Maybe he was intrigued with the equipment, maybe he had a visual sensory preference and loved the cut glass, maybe he was highly kinesthetic and exquisitely sensitive to taste. However, since he made only one trip to the toilet during the same time period, my guess is that he was very thirsty and probably dehydrated.
Bottom line?
Children need water—maybe even more so than adults. Your role-modeling and encouragement can have a huge impact on whether or not they drink plenty of water and learn to prefer it to soft drinks. And, yes, preventing dehydration can have an impact on their health, performance, and success at home and at school. You can give them a healthier future!
You may remember news headlines announcing that Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, had to be hospitalized because of hyperemesis gravidarum. Her willingness to talk about this in public shone a light on a complication of pregnancy that occurs more frequently than one might think. Many women experience hyperemesis gravidarum, (“morning sickness”) while pregnant, especially during the first trimester. Fortunately, the Duchess recovered and went on to complete a successful pregnancy.
Researchers identified a high prevalence of severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy—hyperemesis gravidarum (HG)—among relatives of HG cases in the study population. Because the incidence of HG is most commonly reported to be 0.5 percent, this study provides strong but preliminary evidence for a genetic component to extreme nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2660884/#R3
While many women experience some “morning sickness” during pregnancy, not all suffer with HG. The complication triggered by this condition, of course, is dehydration, which occurs when you lose more fluid than you take in and your brain and body lack enough water to carry out normal and necessary functions. Every day you lose fluid through elimination of urine and stool and through breathing. Each time you exhale you lose moisture. (If you wear glasses, you may have noticed moisture when you “breathe” on the glasses to clean them.)
In a country where there is plenty of safe drinking water, what can contribute to dehydration?
As you know, blood brings micronutrients to the brain and carries waste products away. About 55 percent of blood is composed of plasma, which is mostly water: 92 percent by volume. The exact percentages at any given time may vary by arterial versus venous blood and by whether the person is dehydrated. Since the brain depends heavily on blood flow, dehydration can cause the brain to function less effectively. Studies have shown that just a 1 percent level of dehydration can result in a 5 percent decrease in cognitive function. In the case of severe morning sickness, no wonder the woman may feel as if her brain has left on an extended vacation.
What might decreased cognitive function look like? She might have difficulty solving math problems (e.g., making change in the grocery store) or have trouble focusing on her work or even experience fuzzy thinking. Dr. Dave Carpenter, author of Change Your Water, Change Your Life, has listed a dozen of the more common symptoms of chronic dehydration including constipation, high blood pressure, acid-alkaline imbalance, weight gain, and so on .
According to Dr. Corinne Allen, founder of the Advanced Learning and Development Institute, at least 75 percent of the brain is composed of water, with the neurons or thinking cells likely composed of 85 percent water. Because the brain has no way to store water, it needs a continuous supply to produce hormones and neurotransmitters. And it’s not just the brain. Water is the main component of the human body. Here are some estimates:
Symptoms of dehydration can range from dry mouth, dry skin, sense of thirst, sleepiness, and fatigue, to headache, decreased urine output, and constipation, to name just a few. Most of the time, dehydration can be reversed by drinking enough fluids to replace what was lost. Severe dehydration, however, can be life-threatening, and may require immediate medical treatment. If HG runs in your family system—or simply decides to appear on its own—contact your healthcare professional in a timely manner. Treatment is available for this very severe form of morning sickness, including intravenous fluids to help rehydrate mother and fetus.
After all, the life you nourish—and maybe even save—is more than your own!
You may have heard the news headlines that Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, had to be hospitalized because of hyperemesis gravidarum. One of the treatments for this very severe form of morning sickness is intravenous fluids to help rehydrate mother and baby.
By definition, dehydration occurs when you lose more fluid than you take in and your brain and body don’t have enough water and other fluids to carry out normal functions. Each day you lose fluid through elimination of urine and stool and through breathing. Every time you exhale you lose moisture. If you wear glasses you’ve likely “breathed” on the lenses and then wiped them clean with a soft cloth.
In a country where there is plenty of safe drinking water, what can contribute to dehydration?
As you know, blood brings micronutrients to the brain and carries waste products away. About 55% of blood is composed of plasma, which is mostly water (92% by volume). The exact percentages at any given time may vary by arterial versus venous blood and by whether or not the person is dehydrated. Since the brain depends heavily on blood flow, dehydration can cause your brain to function less effectively. Studies have shown that a 1% level of dehydration can result in a 5% decrease in cognitive function.
What could decreased cognitive function look like? You might have difficulty solving math problems (e.g., making change in the grocery store) or have trouble focusing on your work or even experience fuzzy thinking. Dr. Dave Carpenter, author of Change Your Water, Change Your Life, has listed a dozen of the more common symptoms of chronic dehydration including: constipation, high blood pressure, acid-alkaline imbalance, weight gain, and so on.
According to Dr. Corinne Allen, founder of the Advanced Learning and Development Institute, about 85% of the brain is composed of water. It has no way to store water, however, so it needs a continuous supply for the production of hormones and neurotransmitters. And it’s not just the brain. Water is the main component of the human body. Here are some estimates:
Symptoms of dehydration can range from dry mouth, dry skin, sense of thirst, sleepiness, fatigue, to headache, decreased urine output, and constipation, to name just a few. Most of the time, dehydration can be reversed by drinking enough fluids to replace what was lost. Severe dehydration, however, can be life-threatening, and may require immediate medical treatment. It’s usually better to think ahead and prevent dehydration whenever possible. For example, I carry water with me when I travel so I have an easily accessible supply.
According to Mayo Clinic, food provides about 20% of one’s total fluid intake on average. That percentage may go up slightly in cold weather if you are eating hot soup on a regular basis. Juices and other liquid beverages contribute, as well. Water is still a best bet because it’s calorie-free, inexpensive, and readily available.
At a brain symposium several years ago, the presenter was emphasizing the relationship of water to brain function. “Think of it this way,” he said. “Your brain must have water to do its job. If you don’t give it a good supply, your brain will direct the body to steal some fluid from your bladder, as it has the largest potential reservoir of fluid in the body at any given time.” He paused and then delivered a line I’ve used many times since: “It puts a different spin on the term pea brain!”
Avoid being a pea brain. Give your brain and body the pure water they need on a daily basis. They will thank you. In turn, you can thank them for helping you look good, feel energetic, and think quickly.
And good news for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge: the problem of hyperemesis gravidarum appears to have resolved itself!
Note: Contact your healthcare professional to discuss your need for water, especially if you have a medical condition that may require limiting intake.
“By the Seaside” trilled from my iPhone.
“I’m in the hospital ER,” a weak voice said. “Heatstroke.”
Been there, done that, I thought to myself. Around age 15. Seems like my temperature hovered near 105 degrees F, if I remember correctly. Our family had been spending a week tent-camping beside my father’s favorite lake when the temperature had soared unexpectedly… Felt so awful I thought I was going to die….
“Are you still there?” the voice asked.
I stopped reminiscing and tuned into the voice.
“Where are you?” I asked.
“In the ER. I told you that.”
“Where were you and what were you doing?” I asked.
“Oh. We took the kids camping near Death Valley.”
“Death Valley!” I shrieked. “What were you thinking? A news report said the temperature recently hit a high of 127 degrees Fahrenheit!”
“Duh,” the voice groaned. “We had no idea it would be that hot. I had been sweating profusely inside our 5th wheel and went outside hoping for a breeze. No luck. Before long I began to feel clammy and weak. That morphed into feeling lightheaded and nauseated. I stopped sweating and my skin felt hot and dry. Then my head started pounding to beat the proverbial band.”
“Oh, my,” I said. “You are definitely describing heatstroke. That’s a life-threatening condition!”
“I know,” the voice replied. “Well, I know that now. Fortunately, we were camping with a physician and his family. When they noticed my agitation, discovered my pulse rate was very high, and saw my confusion about where we were, they shifted into high gear. He and his wife put all their ice cubes into plastic bags, packed them around me, and drove (hell-bent-for-leather, I might add) to the nearest emergency center. Once there, I was covered with a cooling blanket and given IV fluids. The ER Doc said I was lucky I hadn’t had a seizure or gone into a coma…or worse.”
Irrespective of the ongoing and heated controversy about whether global warming even exists, this planet is experiencing above-average temperatures in many parts of the globe and has even registered some all-time records. This puts people at high risk for dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke—especially the elderly and the very young.
The problem is that when temperatures soar (especially if you are not indoors with air-conditioning) your body can sweat too much as it tries desperately to stay cool. In the process you also sweat away essential minerals such as sodium and potassium.
Other heat-related complications may include the following:
In most situations, prevention beats cure. That’s especially true for heatstroke. There are strategies that can help you avoid some heat-related and potentially life-threatening symptoms.
Having a heatstroke can be its own kind of Death Valley experience, since a brain that is too “hot” represents a potentially life-threatening situation.
So, do your local ER a favor: heed the weather warnings and be proactive “by design” to keep your brain-body temperature in equilibrium. Remember: everything starts in the brain.
I start drinking water as soon as my feet hit the floor in the morning!
—Mary Kay Andrews
“The brain is supposed to be three-quarters water,” the voice said, “so that should allow for plenty of water on the brain.”
The phrase water on the brain took me back to a nursing-school lecture about hydrocephalus—described back then as water on the brain.
Returning to the conversation, I listened as the voice continued: “I mean, the brain is filled with water, so how come people are concerned about dehydration? And anyway, how could there be a connection between dehydration and brain function?”
These excellent questions, all, drove our dialogue about the brain, the implications of dehydration, and the importance of adequate hydration for optimum brain function and energy.
The caller was correct in that the brain is composed of at least three quarters water, although estimates are that neurons—i.e., brain cells–may contain as much as 85 percent water. (Unless the person is dehydrated.) Since the brain has no way to store water, dehydration impacts not only the size of one’s brain but also how well it functions.
The Mayo Clinic estimates that:
Dehydration is believed to be a huge problem for the brain. Researchers in the United Kingdom studied the brains of teenagers after 90 minutes of cycling. Some teenagers wore light shorts and T-shirts while others wore sweat-inducing clothing. No surprise, the teenagers who wore the sweat-inducing clothing lost the most weight–about 2 pounds in sweat. They also had the most shrinkage of brain tissue. Scans showed that the brain tissue had actually shrunk away from the skull. Just 90 minutes of continuous sweating shrunk the brain as much as an entire year of age-related wear and tear.
Also, the brains of the teens dressed in sweat-induced clothing had to work harder to process information. The participants were asked to play a computer game designed to test their ability to plan and solve problems. Both groups performed equally, but scans showed that the heavily attired teens had to use more brain power to do so. The good news? After drinking replacement water, brain size and hydration returned to normal. Clearly, adequate water intake during activities that result in profuse sweating is mandatory.
Regarding cognitive thinking, the implications of this study are staggering. Brain dehydration may be a factor influencing not only performance of students in school but brain function in the workplace. Lack of an adequate and ongoing supply of water to the brain has been found to impair short-term memory, the recall of long-term memory, ability to do mental arithmetic, and the ability to focus and pay attention, to name just a few. In addition, dehydration is reportedly the number one reason for daytime sleepiness and low energy.
Studies by Dr. Corinne Allen, founder of the Advanced Learning and Development Institute, reveal that brain cells need twice the energy compared to cells in other parts of the body. Water is believed to be key in providing some of this needed energy. Water is also required for the production of vital hormones and brain chemicals such as neurotransmitters. These substances are absolutely essential for clear thinking. The mere transmission of information among neurons may utilize half of all the brain’s energy.
If your goal is to maintain optimum body weight, avoid dehydration. Dehydration has been found to slow down the metabolic rate by as much as 3 percent. According to Sandra Gibson, more than a third of Americans have suppressed their thirst mechanism to the point where it is often misinterpreted as hunger. They eat when actually their brain and body are craving water. So, by the time you are thirsty—if you are able to identify your thirst sensation—you are already dehydrated.
For most people, the longest span of time without drinking water occurs during sleep. Since I need 9 hours per night¾and I do not disrupt my sleep by waking up to drink water¾one of my first activities in the morning involves drinking 12 ounces of alkaline water. Almost as soon as my feet hit the floor. Matter of fact, I drank another 12 ounces just before starting to write this article.
Now that it’s finished, I think I’ll reward my brain with another 12 ounces. I, for one, want enough water on my brain.
In summary, adequate water on a regular basis will help you keep your wits about you—and most people need their wits as much as they need their water!
Note: If you have a medical condition that may require limiting your intake of water, be sure to contact your healthcare professional prior to making lifestyle changes.
Several years ago I found myself standing beside the Dead Sea, watching a tourist shake his canteen and mutter, “Water, water, everywhere—and not a drop to drink.”
Indeed, until the tiny restaurant reopened, there was not a drop to be had. Not for drinking, anyway. Unlike some places on this planet, here in America it’s quite easy to take for granted the availability of safe drinking water, usually easy to get a drink when thirsty.
The brain depends on the proper concentration of water to function effectively. In a Psychology Today article entitled “Why Your Brain Needs Water,” author Joshua Gowin PhD wrote:
Even if I’m not particularly thirsty, as a student of the brain, I’m convinced of the value of drinking enough water. Of all the tricks I’ve learned for keeping my mind sharp, from getting enough sleep to doing crossword puzzles, staying hydrated may be the one I follow most closely.
A team of scientists in Britain recently scanned the brains of teenagers after they had done an hour and a half of cycling. The participants who had exercised in sweat-inducing clothing had lost about two pounds of fluid in sweat—and their brain tissue had shrunk away from their skulls. Those who lost the most weight showed the most brain shrinkage. In subsequent activities to test their ability to plan and solve problems, this group of participants did as well as those who had dressed more lightly to minimize sweating, but the scans showed their brains were forced to work harder. I cringed at the thought of gray matter shrinking!
And it’s not just the brain that can be negatively impacted by dehydration, immune system function can be suppressed, as well. Dehydration can cause disease because the function of each body organ is tied in some way to water. Some people mistake thirst for hunger, packing on pounds when what the brain and body really needed was water. When I feel hungry, especially later in the day, I’ve learned to drink a glass of water and then evaluate how I feel in fifteen minutes. This has helped me learn to separate the sensations of hunger from those of thirst and I can avoid eating just to satisfy a need for more water.
Few people get up at night to drink water. Therefore, upon awakening, both the brain and body are ready for water. One of my habits is to drink a large glass of water as soon as I get up in the morning. I got that from my parents who believed in the benefits of staying hydrated. My mother used to call water liquid gold. One of the first questions I would hear before breakfast was, “Have you had your liquid gold?” As a child, sometimes that question irritated me but now I’m glad they pushed me to develop the habit.
Every cell in your brain and body needs water in order to perform the functions needed for life and living—from regulating body temperature, to moisturizing joints, to helping with metabolism, to keeping mucous membranes moist, to transporting nutrients.
So, ask yourself, “Do I drink enough water every day for my brain and body?”
Even in a country where it is easy to find safe drinking water, dehydration can be a problem. Some have estimated that many over the age of 55 are chronically dehydrated. As people age their thirst sensation tends to decrease so it’s important to drink for brain-body health, not for thirst. If you wait to drink until you feel thirsty, your body may already be dehydrated.
How much water is enough?
A physician at the St. Helena Center for Health recently told a group of participants, “Strive for two clear or very pale-yellow urines a day.” That was his basic measure to ensure he was drinking sufficient amounts of water on a daily basis.
If you need a reminder, develop a little phrase to repeat throughout the day. For example: Water, water everywhere—I think I’ll drink some now!
Note: Contact your healthcare professional to discuss your need for water, especially if you have a medical condition that may require moderating your intake.
