Heather Little-White, Contributor

We pay close attention to keeping our bodies clean, taking baths and showers as needed, but how much attention do we give to cleaning the intestines?

The digestive tract has a difficult task to digest food from the time it is eaten to when it passes through the system. The intestinal tract is often compared to a plumbing system in the home that will become clogged if grease and garbage are constantly poured down the drain.

One's diet should be fibre-rich, with lavish amounts of fruits and vegetables eaten in their raw state, preferably, and with as few processed foods as possible. After food is metabolised and nutrients absorbed in the body, what is left is toxic waste, which needs to be eliminated daily. If the toxic material stays in the lower intestine for too long, it becomes poisonous, resulting in ill health.

Fat-free

How can toxic substances be eliminated from the body? Besides fibre, a commodity essential for flushing the system for good health is water. As people strive for good health, they often fail to take advantage of the natural, fat-free and calorie-free cleanser, water. All chemical reactions in the body take place in water. Every cell in the human body is bathed in water, which contains materials to keep them vibrant. The other critical functions of water in the body are:

Transporting nutrients and oxygen for proper function of the body's tissues.

Removing toxins and waste products from the body.

Cooling body perspiration.

Digesting and absorbing vitamins and minerals.

Keeping the skin moist and supple instead of dry and parched.

Lubricating joints and internal organs of the body.

Water is needed to balance the fluids in the body. Without adequate supply of water, basic body functions are affected. The basic purification system fails to work efficiently, making it difficult for toxins to be expelled from the body.

Dehydration

The body becomes water-deficient or dehydrated when enough water does not pass through the body each day. As dehydration becomes severe, the results can be alarming, for example, loss of elasticity in the skin, muscular weakness, severe dryness of the throat, disorientation and hallucination.

Although the body is made up of 70-80 per cent water, when you do not drink enough water, the body triggers a survival response to hold on to your water reserves, resulting in bloating and swelling.

Diuretics provide temporary relief, but they rob you of nutrients you need. The problem of water retention can be solved by drinking more water. When the body has sufficient amounts of water, there will be no need for the body to conserve, and excesses will be released.

Quantity

A common question is, how much water should we drink each day to adequately cleanse the body? Water should be plain, not what is mixed with beverages, tea or coffee. In fact, tea, coffee and alcoholic beverages should be avoided as they act as diuretics which rob the body of essential nutrients. It is important to assess what you drink because ingredients like sugar, caffeine and artificial sweeteners in beverages are detrimental to the body. Water is very essential to good health.

During the course of a day, the body loses approximately three quarts of water through breathing, perspiration and elimination. As much as three quarts an hour can be lost with strenuous exercise or on a hot day. The elderly and athletes must pay special attention to their water requirements, especially in hot weather. The symptoms of dehydration may occur rather suddenly. Infants and people who are ill are particularly susceptible to dehydration.

There is a popular calculation which determines the amount of water you drink every day by how much you weigh. The recommended rule is that if you are within 25 pounds of your ideal weight, you should consume at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day. For every additional 25 pounds of excess weight, you should drink an extra eight-ounce glass of water.

Weight loss

There is a myth that drinking water leads to weight gain. The truth is that drinking plenty of water contributes to weight loss. Why? The kidneys and liver are part of the body's purification system, and the kidneys need water to help flush them out. If not, the kidneys work overtime and, in turn, cause the liver to take care of the overflow of toxins from the kidneys. When the liver is overburdened, it fails to function optimally. Subsequently, it metabolises less fat and slows down weight loss.

Naturally, drinking more water increases the frequency of going to the toilet. This should not be used as an excuse for not drinking lots of water. Your body needs pure, clean water for detoxification, as well as protection and maintaining stable bodily functions. When you drink adequate amounts of water, your urine should be very clear and free from strong odour.

Once you have tried flushing with water for several months, drinking water will come naturally and your body you will feel extremely different over time.

Heather Little-White, PhD, is a nutrition and lifestyle consultant in Kingston. Send comments to editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223.