Ditch WATER THERAPY? Find out what you need to know

I'm sure you have heard about watery therapy and it's benefits. A lot of people in Zimbabwe have been asking about it and even administering the regimen. By definition, water therapy is a process of ingesting a large amount of water at specific intervals, usually in the morning, in order to achieve therapeutic benefits. Consequently, there has been a lot of excitement around the subject especially with the rise of alternative medicine in the country. However, the question is, does water therapy work? This is what we explore in this post and the benefits that are associated with water therapy. Make sure you read about ways to purify water here.

ditch water therapy, water therapy,how to lose weight with water therapy,water therapy for weight loss,japanese water therapy for weight loss,style therapy,therapy,fashion therapy,will water clear up my skin,the water project,water purity,will water clear up your skin,charity water,water well,drink water to lose weight,water,ditch,lose weight with water,clean water,low testosterone replacement therapy


Origins of water therapy

This form of therapy has roots in the Japanese tradition. Over the past few years, there has been a shift of focus by Zimbabwe to Eastern nations and this has seen a rise of Asian population locally. It's no surprise that even their traditions are being accepted everywhere, especially Chinese medicine.

How do you use water therapy?

According to literature and also after talking to those who follow this Japanese culture, these are the steps you take for the regimen to be effective:

1. Wake up in the morning

2. Drink about 800mls to 1200mls of warm purified water on an empty stomach, before you even brush your teeth. The idea is to push in large volumes of water all at once, so if you get out of breath wait a minute or two then continue.

3. Some even recommend adding a little lemon juice to the water

4. Afterwards, you can brush your teeth but avoid any food for at least 45 minutes

5. Thereafter, you may continue with your day to day routine

This should not be a one day affair, but you have to incorporate it in your daily routine.

What are the benefits of water therapy?

The major benefit of water therapy that has been documented is weight loss. However, there are other benefits some which are listed below and I will not go into details of the mechanism of action as it is discussed elsewhere.

Does water therapy work? Some of the benefits documented:
  • Weight loss

  • Stress relief

  • Reduced risk of illnesses

  • Improves body energy

  • Detoxifies the body
According to one article I have read, one of the factors that has driven people to start water therapy is increased life expectancy as it was noted that the Japanese can live beyond 100 years of age. Water therapy has been isolated as the focal tradition to adopt but I believe there are a lot of other factors at play including genetics, that give them longevity. How is this water administration any different from what is recommended by health professionals?

Normal daily water requirements

According to the WHO, the recommended daily water intake in a temperate climate is about 15.5 cups per day (3.7 L) for an average male and 11.5 cups per day (2.7L) in an average woman. This means you spread the times when you have to drink the water.

Water intoxication

This is when you administer too much water and the body doesn't tolerate the excess fluid. The body has a clever way of maintaining normal fluid and electrolyte balance. If you drink a lot of water, excess fluid is lost via the kidneys but if you drink water abnormally large amounts of water (at least 1 L per hour) you get water intoxication. Here you get fluid and electrolyte disturbances.

Does water therapy work? If you get over-zealous this is what you get:
  • Nausea and vomiting

  • Headache

  • Confusion

  • Visual disturbances

  • Muscle pains

  • Numbness

  • Brain damage

  • Death in severe cases
This means if one is using water therapy, there is need to be cautious as the risk of water intoxication is there. A lot of people I have spoken, who use water therapy, gradually reduce the amount of water they drink due to the discomfort that may be involved with administering a lot of water at once.

Conclusion

So does water therapy work?  The benefits of water therapy are the same benefits that are present if you drink water religiously according to WHO requirements. However, a lot of people hardly meet the normal quantities and only drink water when very thirsty or during mealtime. If you drink a litre of water in the morning and add to it a cup or two of water throughout the day, you still miss out on the full benefits of being adequately hydrated. The body has an incredible renin-angiotensin system that maintains fluid homeostasis, and studies support the WHO recommendations. The question of Japanese longevity requires extensive research and cannot be explained by water therapy alone as what some 'gurus' claim. Drink your water normally, and if you want to lose weight make sure you read here.