IMMUNITY SPECIAL
Did you know plain and simple water can help support your immune system? But it’s not only about how much you drink – how much you absorb is key to health. Follow our expert tips to stay hydrated, plus why drinking hydrogen-rich water could be the best way to optimal health.
WHEN YOU think about boosting your immune system, it’s probable you’ll think of vitamins such as C and D, or echinacea, garlic or oregano, all of which help support immunity. But have you ever thought about how humble water could improve immunity? While eating well and taking your supplements most definitely helps you stay well and fend off bugs, staying well hydrated is one of the key things you can do for healthy immune function.
‘Poor hydration is a contributory factor in many degenerative diseases,’ says Roddy MacDonald, founder of Water for Health (water-for-health.co. uk), which sells water filters.
Staying hydrated isn’t all about how much water you drink though – it’s as much about the quality of that water and whether your body absorbs it. ‘One of the reasons people don’t absorb all their water is due to a lack of electrolytes in their body, and this often comes from not having enough salt,’ says Roddy.
Human’s need salt – although there is a small percentage of people that are sodium sensitive – and the best sources are unprocessed. ‘I would use either good quality natural sea salt or Himalayan salt as both are unprocessed,’ says Roddy.
And remember, processed foods are high in salt but of the wrong kind. ‘Their salt is processed, so all the beneficial minerals are removed. This means you still need to limit your intake of processed foods,’ says Roddy, who increased his own salt intake after reading The Salt Fix: Why the Experts Got it All Wrong and How Eating More Might Save Your Life by Dr James DiNicolantonio (£14.99, Piatkus). ‘I now cook with it and add it to my meals as well,’ he says.
ALL IN THE PH BAL ANCE
Another factor to consider is the pH of the water you drink (tap water should be between 6.5 and 8.5) – and of your body in general. ‘Modern-day diets, high levels of stress and environmental pollution all have negative effects on your body’s pH balance,’ says Roddy. Your blood pH needs to remain within a tight, slightly alkaline range for optimum health. ‘Unfortunately, the side effects of the typical diet, coupled with stress, increasingly push blood pH towards acidity, which has many negative consequences, including poorer oxygen transfer. This leaves you feeling tired and sluggish. If it continues long term, high acidity can increase your potential for disease and make you more susceptible to infection,’ he adds.
Good hydra
