Is Salt Good or Bad For You?

Salt is not just good for you, it is a basic and necessary nutrient needed for the healthy functioning of our bodies. 

However, as is the case for many other foods, the amount of processing that the common salt undergoes before it reaches our tables is unfortunately enough not only to strip it down of the great majority of its nutrients (more than 80 minerals apart from sodium and chloride), but also to change radically its structure to the point that, instead of being beneficial it actually becomes a damaging substance.

The human body is made of about 70% water and 0.9% salt. This is also the same concentration of salt that makes up the amniotic fluid in which the baby grows during the nine months of pregnancy.

The wonderful way in which salt interacts with water is a true synergy (when two or more components produce an effect which is greater than the sum of their individual effects) and it is what makes salt so important for our body.

Salt crystals have a unique characteristic that distinguish them from other crystals: the sodium (Na) ions are positively charged, while the chloride (Cl) ions are negatively charged. The main structure in salt crystals is therefore not molecular but electrical. When salt crystals come in contact with water, the water molecules – made of one negative oxygen atom and two positive hydrogen atoms – surround each sodium and chloride ion, separating them from the compound and making therefore the salt dissolve in water. When the water evaporates the sodium and chloride ions are able to get together again and becoming, once again, salt crystals.

For our body to stay healthy it is fundamental to have a constant balance of the water inside and outside the cells, and salt provides this balance through the process of osmosis.

Also, each and every cell in our body absorbs nutrients and energy from the salt carried through the body by water.

Table Salt magnified

Unfortunately the “table salt” that we know and use every day has undergone a great amount of processing, filtering and bleaching to eliminate each and every trace of the 84 minerals which are normally found in sea salt and rock salt. After all this processing the product that reaches our tables is no longer “salt” but it is reduced to no more than just sodium and chloride (NaCl). 

The problem is that sodium and chloride, in order to be available to our body, need other minerals like potassium, calcium, magnesium and zinc, just to name a few. Since the common table salt is only made of sodium and chloride, our body has to provide all the other minerals needed, sourcing them from the cells.

Therefore, when we consume regular table salt (as different from sea salt and rock salt), instead of giving our body the fundamental nutrients needed by the cells to work and keep us healthy, we are actually introducing in our system a substance which robs the cells of precious minerals and energy. Our body reacts to this attack with a domino effect of physiological responses like high blood pressure, cellulite, fluid retention, heart enlargement and osteoporosis (due to the extraction of calcium from the bones in order to process the sodium chloride). An excess of sodium chloride in our body also causes airway restriction and consequently increases the number of attacks in asthma sufferers.

Sodium is also used by the food industry as a preservative. Pick up any jar from your pantry, even jam, and you will find that it contains some amount of sodium, which, at the end of the day, increases by many times our total amount of sodium and chloride intake, creating an increasing burden on our body.

Therefore the main reason why we are told to severely lower our intake of salt, especially if we suffer from hypertension, is because the common table salt truly poses a big threat to our system.

Rock Salt magnified

However what we are rarely told is that unrefined sea salt and rock salt are actually fundamental and beneficial to our health.

One of the purest form of salt is the crystal salt from mines on the Himalaya. Deposited there million of years ago, the Himalayan salt comes to us from a time when oceans were still pristine, unpolluted and full of vital energy.

Dr. Barbara Hendel, co-author with Peter Ferreira of the book “Water & Salt. The Essence of Life”, has conducted many years of clinical studies on the beneficial effects of using Himalayan salt and found that regular intake of this salt brings blood pressure back to normal – lowering it if it is too high and actually increasing it when it is too low. It also raises the pH of our body towards a more alkaline level (protecting us from cancer and diabetes) and it heals diseases like arthritis, gout, skin disorders and asthma.

Therefore, going back to the question in the title of this article, unrefined sea salt and rock salt are fundamental and extremely beneficial to our health. We need these minerals as a daily intake, together with plenty of water, to keep our system balanced, strong and healthy. Sodium chloride on the other hand is not more than a mere ghost compared to the rich and vital salt that it was sourced from, and as such is a dangerous and unhealthy addition to our diet.

Five Great Herbs to Fight Colds and Flu

A common cold is always lurking somewhere, whether you live in the southern hemisphere with the winter months fast approaching, or in the northern hemisphere where the change of season can bring the occasional “spring cold”.

Five herbs, which are also very common in almost every household, can help a great deal in fighting the onset of a cold and to help get rid of the excess mucus and coughing – the most annoying symptoms of colds!

Garlic

Garlic has long been known for its beneficial action on the immune system. It is very good both for the digestive system and for the lungs and respiratory system. In the past garlic has been used for bronchial infections and tuberculosis. If you don’t like too much the taste of fresh garlic, you can buy it in capsules and it works well. However the best way to use garlic in the case of a cold is to crush a fresh clove, add some fresh grated ginger (see below), pour some boiling water, add some lemon juice and honey and have it as a tea. Taken in this way garlic is also beneficial for the sore throat which often comes with a cold. Garlic also helps in getting rid of the mucus by coughing it up.

Ginger

Ginger has many therapeutic properties. It is probably mostly known as an aid in digestion and as a relief to both morning sickness and motion sickness. It is also widely used as a treatment for muscle spasms and to help blood circulation. The use of ginger is also highly recommended in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory problems and it is also helpful in breaking fevers by warming the body and increasing perspiration.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon, which is generally known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic and anti-clotting properties is also highly valued for its warming qualities and therefore effective to provide relief for a cold or a flu. You can use it as a tea mixing it with fresh ginger. High doses of cinnamon can cause a miscarriage, so use it with caution if you are pregnant.

Elder

Elder has strong antiviral properties and it is well known to help destroying intestinal worms. It is also useful in case of rheumatism and diseases of the respiratory system. A tea of elder flowers helps detoxify the body, and therefore is very beneficial for colds, flu and bronchitis. Like ginger, elder is also useful in increasing perspiration, helping in this way to detoxify the body and breaking fevers.

Thyme

Thyme has great antiseptic properties as well as being an expectorant and digestive tonic. It is highly regarded in the relief of respiratory congestion, bronchitis, asthma, cough and sore throat. It can be use as a dry herb to make a tea, or add a few drops of thyme essential oil, together with eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils in an air diffuser to help you breathe easier and give the room a healing and calming scent. As in the case of cinnamon, thyme also should be use with caution if pregnant.

Some might wonder the reason Echinacea is not in the above list. 

Echinacea has been publicized and sold all over the world by natural supplements producers as a prime natural remedy for colds. Then, all of a sudden, in 2003 and then 2005 several scholarly articles revealed the results of studies which proved that Echinacea is not really that effective in the treatment of colds and flu.

The reason for this “discovery” is quite simple. If you look at ancient uses of Echinacea, both in Old Europe as well as among many native American tribes, you will discover that Echinacea has always been used for snake, spider and insect bites which are severely swollen. The highly regarded cleansing and detoxifying properties of Echinacea are in fact extremely effective for blood poisoning. However, this has nothing to do with colds and flu, which is probably the reason why Echinacea didn’t bring any major relief with those ailments.

5 golden rules to a slimmer and healthier you!

Christmas holidays are a beautiful time of the year full of love, full of presents but also full of cakes, chocolates and generally speaking full of unused calories which all go straight to hips (for us girls) and stomachs (for the boys)...

I’m not a believer in strict diets which have lots of “no-foods” and that do not educate people to a better nutrition which becomes a lifestyle and which is forgiving of some chocolate sins and some fish-and-chips outings that we all love every now and then.

This is why I decided to share with all of you my 5 golden rules for nutrition which have been part of my lifestyle for many years, are easy to follow (no need to look up a complex calendar to see what you can have for dinner each day!) and above all work very well!!

1. Drink a good glass of water before you put any food in your mouth!

Water is one of the most important elements for the good functioning of our bodies. If our daily intake of water is not sufficient the consequences, like high blood pressure and high cholesterol, are quite immediate. Everyone should aim to a daily minimum of 1 litre of water per every 30 kilos of body weight, and increase this quantity when you are exercising or if you live in warmer temperatures. Also, very often when our bodies are dehydrated, we might feel hungry rather than thirsty, so it’s a good idea to drink a good glass of water before any meal: it will replenish the water content in your body and partially fill up your stomach taking the edge off the hunger and making you eat a bit less during the meal.
It is also a good practice to start a day with a glass of water in which you squeeze half a lemon or lime. These fruits, even though they are acidic, become alkaline when they enter our system, and a pH of 7.4 is essential to lose weight and keep it off!

2. Make sure that half of your plate is taken by green fresh veggies!

The best thing is to have a giant fresh salad made up of different leaves (lettuce, spinach, rocket and basil are just a few typical choices), a couple of tomatoes, celery, carrots, raw mushrooms and whatever else you like in a salad. Now, the secret is to have 2 or 3 mouthfuls of salad before you have anything from the main dish. I often do this when we are having a takeaway pizza, but you can do that with any other meal which is not 100% healthy like fish and chips, or your favourite takeaway. I find that by eating the salad first, I fill up some more space (some has already been taken by the glass of water!) and when I get to the pizza I only have a couple of slices.

3. Combine the right foods...
The right combination of foods is highly important both for weight loss and for a healthier body.
Excellent combinations are:
a) Proteins (like meat, fish and eggs) and non starchy vegetables (lettuce, mushrooms, broccoli, zucchini, tomatoes, capsicum, spinach, asparagus, cabbage and green beans to name a few);
b)Starchy vegetables (like potatoes, pumpkin, peas, carrots, beans and corn) with proteins and non starchy vegetables.
c) Grains (like pasta, bread, millet and couscous) with non starchy vegetables.
 
4. Delay the sweet foods cravings!
Sugar and sweet foods are acid forming in our body, which means that they make us fat in two ways: first by creating acids which our body has to “pack away” in fat cells, and secondly by providing us of an excessive amount of calories in just a mouthful. So, when you have a craving, before you go to the pantry and grab a packet of chocolate biscuits, drink slowly a glass of water... then munch on a piece of fresh fruit or a carrot or some celery... If you are still craving, now you can go a grab a piece of chocolate, make sure it is a small one and don’t feel guilty about it, enjoy it and tell yourself that you are a healthy person and you are improving every day!

           5. Walk it off, dance it off, swim it off and remember to smile!
Exercise does not need to be a boring chore that we have to do to keep healthy...
If you have a dog take him for a long walk of at least 20 minutes every day, walk with long steps, breathing deeply and aim to increase your speed a little bit every day to the point of doing a light jog... Your fourlegged friend will be very grateful too!
Maybe you prefer dancing? Get your partner or a friend to join you and enroll in some dancing classes of your favourite style... it’s heaps of fun and it will get your heart beating!
If you live close to the ocean you can go for a walk and a swim in the morning, it’s a fantastic and energizing way to start the day, and you also get the benefits of all the gorgeous minerals that are in the ocean, magnesium included!
And last, but not least, make sure you keep a positive attitude, don’t nag yourself if you commit a little chocolate sin but congratulate yourself for becoming every day a slimmer, healthier and happier person!!

The link between pH and cancer (and some other common ailments!)

The body pH is a measure of alkalinity and acidity in our entire system.

PH stands for Potential of Hydrogen and it is closely related to the amount of oxygen our cells and organs have available. The ideal pH for a person is around 7.4 which leans more towards alkalinity.

The reason why the pH is so important is that:

    1. The vast majority of diseases including heart disease, cancer, nerve problems, premature aging and allergies, just to quote a few, have all been linked to an acidic pH, lower then 7.4

   2. The average typical western diet is highly acid forming, therefore causing our pH to be lower than 7.4 and consequently cause our bodies to be much more susceptible to disease.

In 1928 Dr Otto Warburg, a biochemist and a doctor, discovered that tumor cells are anaerobic which means they don’t breathe oxygen. In 1931 Dr. Warburg received the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine for his research.

Many recent studies have confirmed what Dr. Warburg found, which is that an oxygen deprived, acidic environment is highly conducive to cancer. When our pH is 7.4, and therefore there is plenty of oxygen in our system, cancer cells are very weak and are easily overcome by our immune system.

Every food is either alkaline or acid in itself, and it is also alkaline or acid forming after having been processed by our body. Very often however the inherent alkalinity or acidity of a food is completely different from the final pH impact that a particular food has on our body.

For example citrus fruit like oranges, limes and lemons are renowned for being acidic however, after they have been digested and processed by our bodies, they actually become alkaline forming and therefore contributing our own pH to be more alkaline.

Refined sugars are very acid forming which is also one of the reasons why alcoholic drinks like beer, wine and spirits contribute heavily to lower our pH towards the acidic.

Salt on the other hand has an alkaline forming effect and the pH of ocean water is typically between 7.9 to 8.2 and for this reason it can be used in its isotonic form, diluted and cold-filtered, as a plasma substitute in a blood transfusion.

The typical traditional western diet is heavily based on acid forming foods: meat, dairy products, white pasta and bread, refined sugars, pastries, highly processed foods, tea, coffee, beer, wine and spirits are all overly present in our daily diet contributing to a higher acidic pH in our bodies.

Alkaline forming foods such as green leafy vegetables and fruits are too often relegated to a secondary role in our meals as small quantities side dishes and in many cases used just as a “visual” and colourful garnish for the main dish.

The table below is a guide to learn the alkalinity and acidity of some common foods. In your daily diet try to pick 75% of foods from the 3 columns on the left (alkaline forming foods) and 25% from the 3 columns on the right (acid forming foods).

You can check the pH of your saliva by using pH strips. They are usually available at the chemist as well as on the internet. If your pH is more towards the acidic (below 7) the best thing to do is start immediately a diet with more foods from the alkaline columns and very little foods from the acidic columns. Try to avoid completely the foods in the right end column (+++ ACID) for a few weeks and take some aluminium free bi-carb soda every day, one teaspoon in a glass of water. Check your pH level daily, first thing in the morning as you wake up and before you put anything into your mouth.

Please note: The table below is only meant to give an approximate indication of alkalinity and acidity in some common foods. It should therefore be used just as a guide and not as a precise measurement tool.

FOOD CATEGORIES	+++ ALKALINE	++ ALKALINE	+ ALKALINE	+ ACIDIC	++ ACIDIC	+++ ACIDIC
VEGETABLES	Vegetable Juices, Parsley, Raw Spinach, Broccoli, Celery, Garlic, Barley Grass	Carrots, Green Beans, Lima Beans, Beets, Lettuce, Zucchini	Squash, Asparagus, Rhubarb, Fresh Corn, Mushrooms, Onions, Cabbage, Peas, Cauliflower, Turnip, Beetroot, Potato, Olives, Soybeans, Tofu	Sweet Potato, Cooked Spinach, Kidney Beans		Pickled vegetables
FRUIT	Dried Figs, Raisins	Dates, Blackcurrant, Grapes, Papaya, Kiwi, Berries, Apples, Pears	Coconut, Sour Cherries, Tomatos, Oranges, Cherries, Pineapple, Peaches, Avocados, Grapefruit, Mangoes, Strawberries, Papayas, Lemons, Watermelon, Limes	Blueberries, Cranberries, Bananas, Plums, Processed Fruit Juices	Canned Fruit
GRAINS AND CEREALS			Lentils, Sweetcorn, Wild Rice, Quinoa, Millet, Buckwheat	Rye Bread, Whole Grain Bread, Oats, Brown Rice	White Rice, White Bread, Pastries, Biscuits, Pasta
MEAT				Liver, Oysters, Organ Meat	Fish, Turkey, Chicken, Lamb	Beef, Pork, Veal, Shellfish, Canned Tuna & Sardines
EGGS AND DAIRY			Soy Cheese, Soy Milk, Goat Milk, Goat Cheese, Buttermilk, Whey	Whole Milk, Butter, Yogurt, Cottage Cheese, Cream, Ice Cream	Eggs, Camembert, Hard Cheese	Parmesan, Processed Cheese
NUTS AND SEEDS		Hazelnuts, Almonds	Hazelnuts, Almonds	Pumpkin, Sesame, Sunflower Seeds	Pecans, Cashews, Pistachios	Peanuts, Walnuts
FATS			Flax Seed Oil, Olive Oil, Canola Oil	Corn Oil, Sunflower Oil, Margarine,
DRINKS	Herb Teas, Lemon	Green tea	Ginger tea	Cocoa	Wine	Tea, coffee, beer, spirits
SWEETENERS	Stevia	Maple Syrup, Rice Syrup	Raw Honey, Raw Sugar	White Sugar, Processed Honey	Milk Chocolate, Brown Sugar, Molasses, Jam, Ketchup, Mayonnaise, Mustard, Vinegar	Artificial sweeteners

Do you need to increase your calcium intake? Get some magnesium!

The lack of sufficient calcium in our 
body is one of the leading causes of osteoporosis. However what we are very rarely told are two very important facts related to the intake of calcium:

1. It is almost impossible for our body to absorb the calcium coming from cow's milk and dairy products;

2. If we don't have enough magnesium in our system the body cannot absorb calcium at all;

Even though it is true that cow’s milk and dairy products have a very high content of calcium, it is unfortunately in a form which is very difficult for our body to absorb. Many of you are certainly aware that some people cannot drink milk at all, they are lactose intolerant. What happens is that when we are born, until we start eating solid foods, our body produces an enzyme, called lactase, which is required to properly digest milk. When we get to three or four years of age the huge majority of people (around 98%) stops producing the enzyme lactase. However, while some people have a very strong reaction to milk and have to stop drinking it at all, others have just very mild symptoms which, very often, are not even identified as being caused by lactose intolerance.

This means that, even though some people may be more sensitive to the lack of that enzyme and therefore have a strong allergic reaction to any intake of milk and dairy products, the rest of us, who do not show any symptoms and keep on drinking milk for the calcium intake, are actually wasting time and resources. Not only that… When we drink cow’s milk and eat dairy products, because of the lack of that enzyme, our body has to work harder to digest it and in doing that it uses more calcium. So, not only we don’t get the benefit of absorbing the calcium in the milk we drink, but we actually consume more calcium from our reserves in the process.

Non-dairy sources of calcium include sesame seeds, most nuts, green leafy vegetables and pulses.

Sesame seeds

However, regardless of how high is your intake of calcium through food and calcium supplements, if you have a deficiency of magnesium your body will not be able to absorb the calcium at all.

The best way to have a good intake of magnesium is through the skin (transdermal) as this is the fastest way into our body system. You can get Magnesium Flakes and use them in a bath, soaking yourself after a long day at work and relax. Magnesium is fantastic for the muscles as well and I use it quite often in my massage therapy to achieve better relaxation.


If you are a woman and use the anti-conception pill or if you are going through menopause you are very likely to have a magnesium deficiency. Symptoms of lacking magnesium in your body are sleeplessness, leg cramps and that very annoying eye twitch that everyone of us has experienced one time or another. A regular use of magnesium flakes in your bath, or the use of magnesium oil will easily fix all these problems and give you a very good, restoring night of sleep. 


I buy my Magnesium Flakes from www.echolife.com.au and I highly recommend them for their friendly approach and professionalism.

Is red meat the best source of iron?

Red meat is only one of the many and varied foods which provide iron to our body, and it’s definitively not the best one. 

There are two different types of iron available in foods: ‘hem-iron’ and ‘non hem-iron’ and the difference between the two is quite important for our iron absorption and our health. 

Iron, like any other metal, although it is very important for the healthy function of the body, tends to accumulate in our cells and organs making it difficult for the body to get rid of the excess. An excessive amount of iron has been linked to heart disease, arthritis as well as liver and pancreas degeneration.

Hem-iron, which is the type present in red meat and all animal products, is actually “second hand” iron: the animal has already absorbed and processed the iron which we then eat in the form of a beef steak, hamburger, ham and so on. Absorption of hem-iron is very fast in our body because it has already been processed.

Non hem-iron, on the other hand, is present in all green leafy vegetables, some nuts, seeds and beans (kidney beans are particularly rich). When we eat those foods our body has to extract the iron, process it and make it available for our cells and organs, so the absorption is less immediate compared to hem-iron.

So, you are probably thinking now “Well, it is obvious then that eating a beef steak is better than a salad in order to get an adequate iron intake”… But nothing could be further from the truth! Because hem-iron has already been processed by the animal whose meat we are eating, our body does not have a trigger to stop its intake when our body has as much as it needs, and this in turn leads to an excessive amount of iron that stays in our body.

 

With non-hem iron the body needs to extract it from the plants we are eating, process it and finally absorb it. During this process the body records the amount of iron that we are taking in and stops when it has enough for the healthy function of cells and organs. By doing this the body is able to prevent an excessive intake of iron and the health problems associated with it.

Therefore, when we eat red meat we actually tamper with the body’s ability to regulate the amount of iron we take in and making it therefore more difficult for the body to ensure the correct function of all organs and cells.

Five secrets to a gorgeous and healthy skin

1. Never ever put on your skin anything that you wouldn't put in your mouth!

Our skin is one of the main ways into our bodies. Everything you put on your skin will get absorbed fairly quickly and reach all the other organs and cells of your body.
So the question now is: why would you use on your skin something that you wouldn't dare to swallow?
Have a look in your bathroom cabinet and take notice of how many products you have in there that carry the warning: "For external use only"... Problem is that whatever you use "externally" will travel "internally" within a few hours and in some cases within a few minutes!

2. Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water a day.

Just like the rest of our body, water makes up a huge amount of our skin cells, so it is very important to have an adequate amount of water within our system to keep those cells plumped up and working beautifully to give us a healthy, glowing skin!

3. Eat plenty of fruit, vegetables, seeds and nuts.

Just as it is true that everything we put on our skin will be absorbed within our body, it is also true the opposite: everything we eat will show on our skin. Our skin is one of the organs, like the liver and the kidneys, that help get rid of toxins and keep our body system clean and healthy.
Fruits and vegetables are an incredible source of anti-oxidants that help fighting toxins so that the skin has to work less and we look younger and healthier!
Seeds and nuts contain good fats and oils that help moisturise the skin from inside out!

4. Exercise at least 20 minutes every day.

Exercise is not just going to the gym and sweat for half an hour on the treadmill or doing weights. You can just as well exercise by taking your dog for a brisk walk, take the stairs instead of the lift at work, get off the bus two stops earlier and walk the rest of the way. Exercise is of primary importance to the skin (as well as to the rest of the body!) for many reasons: first of all it gets your blood circulation going which provides all your cells with fresh oxygen, secondly it gets the lymph (another important player in the cleaning of the body) circulating as well and last but not least, exercise relaxes you and will make you sleep better which are two other important factors for a beautiful and healthy skin.

5. Become conscious of your breathing.

Find a time every day to sit in a place which relaxes you, in the garden, on the beach or in your favourite chair at home. Make sure that, for at least 15 minutes, your not going to be disturbed and focus on your breathing. Breathe in slowly, visualising the air getting into every little corner of your body, feeding every cell with precious oxygen, pumping breathing life into every layer of your system. Now breathe out slowly, visualising the air taking out of your body your tiredness, your stress, your anxiety and all your problems. Breathe in again, and this time, be the air and flow throughout your body carrying into it peace, health, love and nice smells. When breathing out, think again of carrying out everything that bothers you, both physically and emotionally. This is the simplest way of meditating and it's very relaxing.

If you follow these 5 simple steps you will see your skin, and all your body, becoming healthier and healthier. It won't happen in one day or even in one week, but surely in a couple of months you will start noticing the change and you will feel much more energetic and happy... Talking about being happy... Don't forget to smile!! It makes wonders for your body, for your mind and for your spirit!!

Water: a wonderful gift from Nature

Our gorgeous planet is made of 70% water. Streaming down as a beautiful refreshing mountain creek, placidly seating in a valley as a calming lake or as roaring and whiting waves in the oceans all around us.

Water also makes up between 55% and 78% of our bodies so it shouldn't come as a surprise to know that water is not only a primary necessity for us to have inside and out, but also that water itself can heal so many illnesses and unbalances that we may experience.

High blood pressure and high cholesterol are just two of the most common health problems that are essentially caused by an insufficient amount of water in our body. Water is essential to the good functioning of our system, so if we don't drink enough water the body will have to source it from the cells. Cholesterol is the substance that makes up the walls of the cells and it will be overproduced if the cells are under threat, as it happens when the cells don't have enough water. Therefore a very direct result of not drinking enough water is that the cells produce an increased quantity of cholesterol, which then overflows in the bloodstream resulting in what we call "high cholesterol".

An insufficient intake of water is also one of the main causes of high blood pressure. As an automatic response for not having enough water, the body will shut off the smaller capillaries and the blood will become thicker. A higher blood pressure will therefore be needed in order to pump the blood around and the heart will also have to work harder.

How much water should we drink?

A good ratio is roughly 1 litre of water for every 30 kilos of body weight. So a 60 kilos person should drink 2 litres of water every day, a 90 kilos person should have an intake of 3 litres and so on. An increased amount of water is required when exercising and when we have high temperature, like fever.

What type of water should we drink? 

Rain water is definitively the best...! 

Have you noticed how plants thrive with rain water? It's because water is a living organism that needs air, movement and sunlight, and rain water has all of that! On the other hand tap water is very often chlorinated and fluoridated... Many of us have heard the story about water fluoridation being used as a prevention for tooth decay... The reality is that after several decades of water fluoridation in countries like Australia and USA, many studies found that the incidence of tooth decay in Western European countries, where the water is not fluoridated, is exactly the same as in USA and Australia where the water is fluoridated.

The fact that water is a living organism has been proven by many years of study by Masaru Emoto, the author of "The hidden messages of water" who studied the quality of the water crystals as well as the response of the crystals to bad and good energy.

The Shimanto river is away from major cities and does not have big dams so it is a very healthy river, often referred to as "the last clear stream of Japan". On the other hand the Biwako Lake is well known for its highly polluted waters. The photos above of the crystals from the Shimanto river and the Biwako lake don't need any further comment... The study on water crystals by Masuro Emoto have also gone beyond the simple observation, as he found that the water crystals actually respond to positive or negative energy emanated by other living organisms around.

Salt water is an incredible healer for wounds, allergies, skin rashes as well as working beautifully for a blocked nose due to a cold or the flu. Try inhaling some ocean water next time you have a cold and you will reap the benefits of this incredible gift of Nature.

Salt water has also been found to be so similar to human blood to the point that it can be used as a substitute for blood in a transfusion. An eye-opener about this issue is provided by Dianne Jacobs Thompson in an article published on Nexus magazine in 2006