Understanding Thirst - Part One

Why do we drink water? Because we are thirsty, right? But what is thirst? The sensation that we call thirst is assuredly a brainstem built-in survival mechanism. Thirst exists to avoid dehydration. The sensation of thirst is proportionate to the level of dehydration; however, many people have neglected their thirst mechanism for so long that it is now compromised. In fact, studies have shown that it can become confused with hunger. Many people think they are hungry but are in fact are dehydrated.

The sensation of thirst is often described as a feeling of dryness in the mouth and tongue and a constricting sensation in the throat. Even though thirst almost always manifests in the same way, it can be differentiated into two types: extracellular , or hypovolemic, thirst and intracellular , or osmotic, thirst. Extracellular thirst is the more severe form.

Extracellular thirst manifests in two ways: when the volume of blood and extracellular fluid (the fluid that all cells "bathe" in) becomes too low and when there has been a large quantity of salt lost. These two phenomenon cause extracellular thirst.

Salt is critical for proper hydration balance. Salt is primarily found in the blood and extracellular fluids. Very little salt, specifically sodium, is found inside cells. The role of salt in the body is to retain water. One gram of salt retains eleven grams of water. Salt maintains a normal level of hydration to the cellular bathe that all cells exist in. Otherwise this fluid may shrink  too fast and endanger the survival of the cells. Salt is critical in the body's defense against dehydration.

Salt only leaves the body under extreme conditions, such as, vomiting, persistent diarrhea and excessive sweating. The more salt the body loses, the less water it can retain which in turn causes more water loss. When the body loses both salt and water, the situation becomes complicated. At this point both water and salt must be consumed. If water is drunk without  salt, the existing extracellular fluid’s salt concentration is lowered  thus causing even more water loss. Both must be taken, water to increase the volume and salt to retain the water ingested.

Understanding this critical relationship between salt and water could save a life. When someone has suffered severe heatstroke or sunstroke, it is very important to give them water with a little salt in it. If water alone is given, the condition can be made worse and even life threatening. In this scenario the water with a little salt added is to be drunk slowly and in small sips.

It has been my clinical experience that when people tell me that when they drink any  water, they have to urinate within minutes, that this is probably because they need salt and/or alkaline minerals to balance the extracellular fluids.

Next time we will look at the more common form of thirst called intracellular  or osmotic thirst. This is when the inside of the cells have lost hydric balance. Until then remember to pay attention to your thirst mechanism and drink the best water that is available to you. We at Life Ionizers™ believe that the best water available is alkaline, ionized, microclustered water.

For more information on water ionizers please go to www.lifeionizers.com or call 1-800-578-5939.

Yours pH or Better Health,
Dr. Peter L. Kopko, D.C.
Chief Science Advisor
Life Ionizers