Your Body's Many Cries for Water: You're Not Sick; You're Thirsty: Don't Treat Thirst with Medications [Paperback]

But is there more to it than that? Dr Batmanghelidj thinks there iis. I found this book by accident when I was trying to find out just WHY water is supposed to be good for you, and I was riveted from the first page. It's easy to be sceptical of anyone so enthusiastic, but, if Dr Batmanghelidjhe is right, then far too many people are taking medication for problems such as high blood pressure and raised cholesterol, when all they really need to do is to drink a lot more water.

I don't suffer from either of those conditions myself, thankfully, but since I started taking the book's advice and drinking at least two litres of plain water each day, I've noticed a huge improvement in my energy levels. It's often hard to keep to this regime when I'm away from home, and I really notice the difference – even when I'm on holiday, I get fatigued much more easily when I drink less water.

My one criticism of this book is that there is not enough independent confirmation of the many fascinating anecdotes. I guess the idea of water being a cure-all is too dangerous for the pharmaceutical companies' profits and too naive for most doctors!

I bought the book, and began drinking more water. I found that my weight dropped more than 20 pounds in about four months, I had more energy, and my allergies improved. I also found that I had less desire for caffeine and alcohol. My mood improved, as well.

Since then, I have given this book as a gift to dozens of people who described themselves as having the potentially water-related health problems described in this volume. Most of them have reported improvements. I have not had such a positive response from any other health book that I have shared with others.

The book's basic point is that our bodies are 75 percent water. Because we are so dependent on keeping this balance (especially in our brains), the body has many mechanisms to conserve water for its most essential uses. When we become too dehydrated for too long, these conservation systems can produce unpleasant and unhealthy symptoms of pain, high blood pressure, depression, and allergies. Most physicians will treat the symptom rather than looking for potential causes. In many cases, water will help. The book explains why for pain from dyspepsia, colitis, false appendicitis attacks, general abdominal pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, back and neck pressure, angina, and headaches. He also addresses water-related mechanisms for helping relieve stress, depression, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, excessive weight, asthma, allergies, and diabetes.

Although I am not a scientist or a physician, the arguments seemed solid enough to try more water. At the same time, I could see no harm from drinking more water. I believe I have been helped, especially by drinking more water before, during, and after long plane flights.

Dr. Batmanghelidj also includes his ideas about how AIDS could be related to body chemistry imbalances in the book. This section does not fit with the rest of the material or to drinking more water, and I did not know what to make of it.

The basic problem is that as we get older, we lose our sense of thirst. As a result, unless we pay attention to drinking more water, we won't drink enough.

If you are like me, you will find that you have to spread the water out over the day to get the right amount. I usually drink one eight-ounce serving at a time. I prefer bottled water, and often put fruit slices in it for variety. But when bottled water isn't available, I let tap water sit long enough for the chlorine to leave. I also choose clear soups, and vegetables and fruits with lots of water content when they are available. This reduces how much has to be drunk as water.

Many people who drink little water tell me that they do not have access to clean rest rooms during much of the day. For those individuals, learning to time water consumption is critical.

The book's main drawback is that it doesn't have the editorial simplification that we are accustomed to seeing in health books. As a result, you will probably find it rambling. I graded the book down one star for this quality.

After you finish having your first glass of water to help you start enjoying life more, I suggest that you think about whether or not you are getting enough sleep. Although most of us can get along with very little for a while, doing that too long simply produces stress and other debiliating side effects. I found that water drinking helped me sleep better, and enjoy feeling more rested in the morning. I hope you do too!

To your good health!