Drink your water

I have always been fascinated by the vital role water plays in human life. Water, oxygen and light are the primary sources of life, and given that the human body consists largely of water, water itself is a crucial element for our wellbeing.

Gel water, desert water, vegetable water, structured water – there are many names for the water that makes up, for example, a cucumber and which constitutes most of the water in the human body. That water is called gel water.

“Drink your water” isn’t something we often find ourselves saying to our children, but perhaps we should?

I’m always drawn to research concerning water, and some time ago I read about the bioengineer Dr Gerald Pollack’s extensive work on water – and his discovery of ‘the fourth form of water’. Previously, water was described as being in liquid, solid (ice) and vapour forms, but Dr Gerald Pollack has now added a fourth form: gel water.

Anthropologist Gina Bria came across something similar in her work on desert regions and hydration. For how do desert peoples keep their bodies hydrated in the desert? It turned out that, for example, the Incas and Aztecs did not search for water on their desert treks, but instead looked for plants. Desert plants such as chia, cactus and yuca all have a high gel water content, which turns out to be a far better form of hydration for humans. This form of water is not called_H₂Obut_H₃O₂.

Gina Bria tested this on her 92-year-old mother, who had been struggling to maintain an optimal level of hydration. She claims that adding crushed chia seeds to her mother’s daily orange juice completely resolved the problem, right up until her mother passed away at the age of 98.

A third expert, Dr Dana Cohen, author of the book *Quench: A Book About Gel Water*, writes: “Because most of the water in our cells has this gel-like structure, we believe that the body absorbs gel water more effectively and that the water is released gradually, which further improves absorption.”

I could write a very long article on this topic, but if you Google ‘gel water’, you’ll find plenty of articles and YouTube videos on the subject. The most important thing for me in this article is to shed light on something as magical as the fact that water isn’t just water. Let’s take it to the next level!

How?

It’s very easy for us to ensure we get this more hydrating_H3O2 form of water in our diet. We’re already getting it every time we eat vegetables. But we can also make it ourselves by, for example, adding whole or crushed chia seeds to ordinary tap water, which changes the water’s structure.

So, we can drink less but absorb more, and thus, for me, the wondrous journey of understanding human health is endless. 

Here’s how you can make this hydrating gel water 

- Add 1/2 tsp of crushed or whole chia seeds to a glass of water*

- Leave the gel water to stand for at least 15 minutes or overnight

- Strain the water if you prefer it without chia 

*You can crush the chia seeds in a blender, grinder or mortar. It’s a good idea to crush the contents of a whole packet of chia seeds in one go, so you have some for future use.

Here’s how to use the hydrating gel water

- You can drink it on its own

- You can add the hydrating drink to your smoothie

- You can use it in bakes, porridge or your evening meal  

_H₂Ovs._H₃O₂

If you add fruit, chia seeds and/or vegetables, the molecular structure of the water (_H₂O) is transformed into_{H₃O₂ due to} an extra hydrogen and oxygen atom. The gel water is charged with electrolytes and is identical to the water in our cells, which means that when you consume gel water (_H3O2), it is absorbed more easily by your cells than_H2O.

About chia seeds

Chia seeds are packed with healthy omega-3 fatty acids (2 tbsp chia seeds contain more omega-3 fatty acids than a piece of salmon fillet). Chia seeds also contain antioxidants, proteins, calcium and dietary fibre, which strengthen the body and the skin.

I’m a self-proclaimed ‘water pusher’ – because I can’t help but try to inspire people to focus on keeping their bodies well-hydrated, as, in my view, that’s where the source of well-being begins. For the same reason, we write ‘STAU HYDRATED – DRINK WATER’ on all Karmameju Skincare products, as it’s equally important for our largest organ: the skin.

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Typical signs that your body is lacking hydration

- Dry, wrinkled skin.

- Lack of skin elasticity.

- Dry lips, mouth and tongue.

- Headaches.

- Indigestion.

- Dark yellow urine. Your urine should ideally be pale yellow.

- Insomnia and tiredness in the middle of the day.

- Cravings for salt and sugar.

When does your body need extra hydration?

- When it’s hot.

- When you’re at high altitudes where the air is thin.

- After drinking alcohol.

- When you spend a long time in rooms with air conditioning or radiators.

- Before, during and after physical activity.

A tip I often pass on is this: if you’re craving sugar or salt, try starting by eating a cucumber to see if it’s really the salt sticks your body is after. Your body is most likely just thirsty for that lovely gel-like water, which, incidentally, also forms part of our fascia – our connective tissue – our skin.

As always, when I write about water, I’m tempted to end with a:

Cheers!

All the best  

Mette Skjærbæk 

We recommend hydrating your skin and hair from the inside and out

Our AMAZE hair hydrator is amazingly hydrating and packed with bioactive plant extracts – it’s like a big, revitalising glass of gel water, just for your hair.

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Are you interested in our article Infused water, which is about ways to add extra hydration through various water recipes, you can find it here.