Minerals are important in our diet but they need water and stomach acid to be broken down and to be able to reach the cells. The most used minerals are sodium, potassium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, manganese, selenium, iron, copper, chromium, and molybdenum.

Salt is needed in addition to water after an exercise session to replace what was lost through sweating. The minerals that help regulate water in the cells are potassium, calcium, magnesium and zinc. They keep blood pressure at a healthy level when working with sodium.

Dr. Batmanghelidj explains how to deal with aging stomach acid issues: “As we grow older, some of us manufacture less and less acid in our stomachs. These people can become deficient of vital minerals in their bodies. They also have difficulty in digesting meat. In older cultures, eating pickles with food was a precautionary measure to prevent this problem. The use of vinegar in salads eaten with meals has the same effect, if the salad dressing is sour in taste.” Lemons work in the same way since they contain plenty of citric acid. Without digestive acid, minerals cannot be broken down. Water in the diet ensures that the minerals will get to their designated cells.

Alcohol is dehydrating for the following reasons: first, it causes the kidneys to flush out water. Alcohol causes brain cell dehydration, a fact exhibited by hangover symptoms. Alcohol is a depressant to the nervous system. It can cause impotence, immune system dysfunction or liver damage. Alcohol makes free radicals, similar to acidic material, which will damage the body. Melatonin is needed for fighting these free radicals. The result is low melatonin. Dehydration leads to endorphin release, which causes alcohol to have addictive properties.

Replacing alcohol with water will actually help addiction as Dr. Batmanghelidj explains: “Water has a natural satiety impact through the hormones motilin, serotonin, and adrenaline, which culminates in the enhanced action of the body’s endorphins. Alcoholics learn that alcohol, through its stressful dehydrating action on the brain, will also cause the release of endorphins. This is how they become addicted to alcohol.If alcoholics begin to increase their water intake, or reach for a glass of water in place of a beer or a shot of their favorite hard stuff, their cravings for alcohol will tend to decrease.” Water provides the energy and a natural high to get through each day.

Cholesterol is necessary for our body to function in many, many ways. Too much cholesterol can also be a bad thing. When we are dehydrated, the cells in our body plug their lining with cholesterol clay-like deposits to prevent further water loss. This is when cholesterol starts to build up plaque in dangerous places like arteries. When we eat, our blood becomes concentrated with food matter, unless we take adequate water with our meal. Concentrated blood makes the body feel dehydrated, and once again, excess cholesterol ends up in places like the liver and major arteries.

Dr. Batmanghelidj discusses what we can do to help this situation: “To prevent excess cholesterol deposits by the cells lining the arteries and the liver, you need to drink regularly an ample amount of water a half hour before food intake. By this action, the cells of the body will become well hydrated before confronting the concentrated blood after food intake. There will also be enough water for the processes of digestion and respiration, without needing to tap into the water held inside the cells lining the blood vessels.” After some time of keeping the body hydrated, it will lower its need to produce cholesterol and the body’s balance will eventually even out.

Salt is a necessary mineral for all humans. It is particularly beneficial to those with asthma, allergies, and autoimmune disease. Salt is a precious commodity in desert lands and is traded for other goods because

it is so valuable. Salt works with water and potassium to regulate water in the body.

Dr. Batmanghelidj explains the process: “Water regulates the water content of the interior of the cell by working its way into all the cells it reaches. It has to get there to cleanse and extract the toxic waste of cell metabolism. Once water gets into the cells, the potassium content of the cells holds on to it and keeps it there—to the extent that potassium is available inside the cells….Salt forces some water to keep it company outside the cells (osmotic retention of water by salt). It balances the amount of water that is held outside the cells.” There needs to be a balance between the water inside the cells and the water surrounding the outside of the cells. Water, salt and potassium balance the two fluids very well. Dr.Batmanghelidj recommends unrefined sea salt and dried kelp.