Book Review: Your Body's Many Cries for Water

Dr. Batmanghelidj writes a very passionate book proposing a new paradigm for medicine. He advocates that water’s purpose in the body is not just as a solvent, but as a hydroelectric pump throughout the body. His big idea asserts that “chronic and persistently increasing dehydration is the root cause of almost all currently encountered major diseases of the human body.” Though he writes zealously, there is truth and good science behind his practice of treating dyspepsia, back pain, migraines, hypertension, diabetes, asthma/allergies, and obesity with increasing water consumption.

I learned that how the vasoconstriction of nerves and blood vessels relate to dehydration. When lack of water is present in the body, the blood concentrates and must shut off flow to areas in the body that are sacrificed to promote adequate hydration to organs in high priority. I learned that artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, trick the brain to prepare for glucose entering the bloodstream. The brain then continues to send signals to the body to keep eating until that glucose is obtained, leading to overeating and continued dehydration. I also learned that the brain’s second source of energy is from water in the body. This hydroelectricity is mostly used for the nerve system carried all throughout the body.

Dr. Batmanghelidj encourages adequate salt intake as well as protein intake to support hydration. I agree with this claim however encourages eating sprouted beans, seeds, and grains to obtain more tryptophan because he gets stuck on the “freshness” of meat. I would agree that a balanced intake of protein from all sources is important, however, I would still encourage more well-raised animal sources of protein because of the bioavailability of amino acids.

At first glance, the premise of this book seems obvious and I was not prepared to learn more about the science of how our body uses the 55-60% water content of our body. Truly, dehydration is overlooked in our medical system and drinking water is not encouraged enough.

Another surprise in this book was the scrutiny on the research supporting the removal of Trans Fats used in processed food. The author does a good job of objectively analyzing the events and research done to judge trans fats. She exposes the holes in this research but also sheds light on how many other types of newly formed triglycerides are made during hydrogenation and interesterification, which is the new method used to process polyunsaturated fats. These newly formed triglycerides could very well be just as harmful, if not more, than trans fats.

I am not thrilled about Nina's support of dairy, especially without mentioning the harmful effects of pasteurization. Though, if the reader is able to integrate the overarching theme of this book, to look back historically and critique new scientific research, then one could also apply historical traditions used with dairy to make better food choices.

This book helps us look at the actual research, or rather lack of good research, to assess the decisions made by corporations, government recommendations, and doctor recommendations. It helps us recognize the harm that has ensued, rather blindly, irresponsibly, and possibly criminal. Over the past 50 years, the correlation between the high uses of polyunsaturated oils (in unstable and toxic forms) and the reduction of saturated fats has led to higher rates of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and larger epidemics such as depression, violence, and suicide. This book inspires all to start incorporating more organic, grass-fed, humanely raised meats/organs into our diet.