Water, Water Everywhere… but Is It Safe to Drink?
by Lana J. Ford, Ph.D.
Water is the most common liquid on earth and yet its function in the human body is vastly underrated.
Water is not even listed as an essential food source on a typical chart of nutrients that the body needs which is read by most fifth graders. And yet, 70% of the human body is composed of water with 60% found inside the cells and 40% found outside the cells. In fact, every function of the body is related to the flow of water to ensure the transmission of energy, transportation of nutrients and the removal of waste products (Batmanghelidi, Your Body’s Many Cries for Water, 1997).
Water is more than just a solvent or a delivery system for minerals and other nutrients. Water can be thought of as a highway or a transportation system that delivers electromagnetic currents to fuel cellular metabolism. Water works to set up a “resonate” field through which all cells communicate.
Water in the Human Body
Brain Tissue 85%
Muscle tissue 75%
Bone mass 22%
Chlorinated or
Fluoridated Water?
Many people are concerned with chlorine in their drinking water because chlorine kills bacteria and living organisms - even bacteria that are good for us. Chlorine is absorbed through the skin as well as the large intestine. Whether chlorine enters the body through bathing or drinking it causes massive scarring of the arteries. Regardless of how much cholesterol you have or don’t have; cholesterol will attach itself to the site of arterial scarring and begin the clogging process which restricts arterial blood flow.
In addition to chlorine, many US cities also have high levels of fluoride. According to the Centers for Disease Control at least 22% of American children now have dental fluorosis. Fluoride is toxic; it is a product of superphosphate fertilizers.
Dr. William Hirzy, Vice President of EPA headquarters in Washington D.C. reports fluoride to be a hazardous waste product for which, contrary to public perception, there are no health benefits. Fluoride is not an essential nutrient; it is listed as an “unapproved drug” by the FDA and as a “contaminant” by the EPA. Fluoride has also been found to leach lead from old water pipes which has resulted in high levels of lead showing up in consumers of fluorinated water (R. Gridelli, http://www.thewatertruth.com, 2008)
Filtered Water
Water filters are just that - they are designed to filter contaminants that have leached into sources of drinking water. Filters vary vastly in their ability to remove heavy minerals such as lead, mercury, iron and arsenic. While some micron filters may reduce parasites and chlorine, most will not remove fluoride or change the quality of water.
Acidosis and Bottled Water
Informed health conscious consumers have looked to bottled water to avoid the chlorine - fluoride concern. Yet many do not realize that bottled water is acidic and is not even as good for the body as tap water when it comes to an examination of pH(potential Hydrogen).
A pH scale from 1-14 suggests neutral is 7.0. Lower pH levels create a condition known as acidosis which is the underlying cause of nearly all chronic conditions in the body and has been associated with the high prevalence of cancer (cited from writings by Dr. Otto Warberg who received the Nobel Prize for discovering the cause of cancer).
Diets composed mostly of meat, potatoes, fried foods, soft drinks and sugars build up acid salts in the body that may be stored in organ systems including the heart, pancreas, liver or colon. The buildup of acid wastes are now believed to be the cornerstone of aging (Michael Lam, MD, Director of Medical Education at the Academy of Anti-Aging Research and Editor of the Journal of Anti-Aging Research).
Excess acidity forces the body to borrow minerals including calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium from vital organs, bones and teeth.
Dr. Michael Lam, author of The Five Proven Secrets to Longevity (available on line) has written that acidosis has been shown to create six major problems in the body:
8 acidosis creates a condition known as insulin sensitivity. As a result the body is flooded with so much insulin that it attempts to convert every calorie into fat as a protective measure. This leads to weight gain and is associated with diabetes,
8 acidosis accelerates free radical damage and premature aging. Signs of acidosis include wrinkling, age spots, and failing hormonal systems which interfere with eyesight, memory and a host of other related age conditions,
8 acidosis disrupts lipid and fatty acid metabolism that is involved in nerve and brain function leading to neurological problems such as Muscular Sclerosis and Muscular Dystrophy. The acid environment also causes LDL-cholesterol to be laid down at an accelerated rate in the heart and clogging the vascular network,
8 acidosis erodes the cell wall membrane of the heart, arteries and veins, compromising the entire cardiovascular system,
8 acidosis alters energy metabolism taking place at the cell level. As a result calcium may be leached from the bones creating a condition known as osteoporosis, and
8 acidosis reduces oxygen in the blood eventually leading to cellular death.
Oxidation vs. Active Hydrogen
Acidosis in the human body is similar to rusting of a metal container left in the rain; it causes oxidation in the body. To reduce the effects of oxidation it is important to consume water that will neutralize the harmful acidic wastes that create free radicals in the body. This suggests it is important to drink water that has a high presence of active hydrogen in the water.
To measure active hydrogen that neutralizes oxidation, an Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) meter is used. A reading of mV indicates the millivolts of hydrogen electrons in the water available to bond with free radicals.
Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) is a basically a measure of voltage. When water is measured with a negative millivolt reading it is electron rich and thus life enhancing; when measured with a positive millivolt reading it is proton rich and life depleting. The chart on the right shows average ORP readings of popular brands of bottled water. (Testing completed in independent laboratories are composite averages of several tests, reported by R. Gridelli, 2008).
Average ORP readings of bottled water
Penta +613
Aquifina +543
Dasani +521
Reverse Osmosis +500
Perrier +457
Distilled Water +411
Evian +404
Kangen/Enagic -765
Clustered Water
Electrolysis creates a greater number of hydrogen atoms for bonding, thus clustering single water molecules. Clustered water is hydrogen rich, an important factor in reduction of oxygenation and removal of free radicals. The increased prevalence of hydrogen, in turn, creates both oxygen-hydrogen bonds and hydrogen covalent bonds (sharing of the same electrons). This makes the size of a clustered water molecule more compact meaning it is better able to penetrate the cell membrane. A compact clustered water molecule is thus able to carry nutrients into the cell and remove cellular toxins. Understanding the workings of the cell membrane is critical in health as chronic conditions always result from rigidity of the cell membrane (Bruce Lipton, Biology of Belief, 2007). The term “clustered water” has also been called “structured water,” “hexagonal water,” or “micro-clustered” water.
My Story
Given the quality of water on our planet with contaminants showing up everywhere, the questionable long term availability of supplements and the economic climate, it became imperative to me that I seek out the best source of water. Having given up on reverse osmosis and bottled water (with their high positive ORP and acidic pH values), tap water (that was chlorinated) and distilled (or de-mineralized water), I needed not only a consumable product but one I could produce myself. Thankfully a friend told me about Kangen water.
Kangen is a Japanese word best translated into English as “return to original.” While there are now several Kangen at home water machines available (under the popular name of “ionizers”) I have chosen a counter top water device. It is considered a medical devise and is approved for hospital use in Japan and has recently become available in the US. This devicecarries a registration certificate with the Patent and Trademark office in the United States, has been approved and endorsed by the Geriatric Disease Prevention Association and carries the IEEU Environ-mental Award by Inter-national Earth Environment University, awarded in 2004.
With this wonderful device I am changing my lifestyle and my health. At the push of a button, I can control the pH level (without compromising the high negative ORP value) to create:
8 Strong acidic water to disinfect my hands, remove tarter and plaque from my teeth and as a disinfectant as it will kill bacteria, fungus and microbes on contact in 30 seconds,
8 Weak acidic water for toning my skin in place of commercial facial cleaners and astringents; and I use this type of water to boil pasta for improved texture,
8 Neutral water is best used for taking supplements and for making baby formulas for neighborhood mothers,
8 Alkalized water is used for all drinking on a daily basis and will switch the terrain of my body from acid to alkaline. I use this water for making soups and stews as the alkaline water enhances the flavor. With the enhanced flavor, I find there is a drastic reduction of my salt intake, and
8 Super strong non-drinking alkalized water is excellent as a foot bath to detoxify my body several times a week. I use this water to wash all fruits and vegetables as it will remove pesticide residue. I have found too that I can revitalize greens by soaking and draining them.
Finally, without wearing gloves I have been using this water to clean everything - from toilet bowels to windows; and been able to remove stains including hair dye, lipstick, wine, and rust from clothing.
I would love to make this alkaline water available to as many people as I can. It has allowed me to minimize the cost of hair and skin products, and eliminate household cleaners from going down my drain, further contaminating ground water. The best benefit is that I feel more vital and energized, have greater mental focus and manage stress with greater ease. I invite you to join me in this quest for improved health and well being.
Lana J. Ford, Ph.D. served as a college professor for 30 years prior to devoting the last 15 years to alternative health care research and clinical practice with a focus on bioenergetics. Her web site is http://www.kangenwaterglobal.com. The site serves as an education/information site and will not allow you to leave personal information, contact Lana directly at 360-927-5517.
June 26 2008 09:47 pm | Healthy Eating & Living and Other Useful Articles
2 Responses to “Water, Water Everywhere… but Is It Safe to Drink?”
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anti aging nutrient on 22 Aug 2008 at 7:51 am #
anti aging nutrient…
this alone provides very clear answer to the most misunderstood part of the issue…
liquid magnesium supplements on 01 Oct 2008 at 11:43 pm #
liquid magnesium supplements…
Your post reminded me of “the richest man in babylon”…