Failing a capacity adjustment to the
"water volume" by th e blood vessels, gases would separate from the blood and fill the space/causing "gas locks." This property of lumen regulation for fluid circulation is a most advanced design within the principle of hydraulics
and after which the blood circulation of the body is modeled. Shunting of blood circu lations a normal routine. When we eat, most of the circulation is directed into the intestinal
tract by closing some capillary circulation elsewhere. When we eat, more capillaries are opened in the
gastrointestinal tract and fewer are open in the major muscle systems. Only areas where activity places a  more
urgent demand on the circulatory systems will be kept fully open for the passag e of blood. In other wor ds, it is the
blood-holding capacity of the capillary bed that determines the direction and rate of flow to any site at a given time. This process is naturally designed to cope with any priority work without the burden of maintaining an excess fluid
volume in the body. When the act of digestion has taken place and less blood is needed in the gastrointestinal
region, circulation to other areas will open more easily. In a most indirect way, t his is why w e feel less active
immediately after a meal and ready for action after som e time has passed . In short, there is a mechanism for
establishment of priority for circulating blood to any given area—some capillaries open and som e others close. The
order is predetermined accor ding to a scale of importance of function. The brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, and glands
take priority over muscles, bones, and skin in blood distribution—unless a different priority is p rogrammed into the
system. This will  happen if a continued demand on any part of the body will influence the extent of blood circu lation
to the area, such  as muscle development through regular exercise . WATER SHORTA GE: POTENT IALS FOR HYPERT ENSI ON
When we do not drink enough water to serve all the needs of the body, som e cells become dehydrated and lose
some of their wat er to the circulation. Capillary beds in some areas will  have to close so that some of the slack in
capacity is adjuste d for. In water shortage and body drought, 66 percent is taken from the water volume normally
held inside the cells; 26 percent is taken from the volume held outside the cells; and 8 percent is taken from blood
volume (see Figure 13). There is no alternative for the blood vessels other than closing their lumen to cope with the
loss in blood volume. The process begins by closing some capillaries in less-a ctive areas. Ot herwise, where will the
balance come from to keep these capillaries open? The deficient quantity must come either from outside or be
taken from another part of the body!It is the extent of cap illary bed activity throughout the body th at will ultimately determine the volume of circulating
blood. The more the muscles are exercised , the more their capillaries will open and hold a greater volume of blood
within the circulation reserves. This is t he reason why  exercise is a  most impo rtant compone nt for physiol ogical
adjustments in those suffering from hypertension. This is one aspect to the physiology of hypertension. The capillary
bed must remain open and full and offer no resistance to blood circu lation. When the capillary bed is clo sed and
offers resistance, only an increased force behind the circulating blood will ensure the passag e of some fluids
through the system. Another reason why th e capillary bed may become selectively dosed is shortage of water in the body. Ba sically,
water we drink will ultimat ely have to get into the cells—water regulates the volume of a cell from inside. Salt
regulates the amount of water that is held outside the cells—the ocean around the cell There is a very d elicate
balancing process in  the design of the body in the way it  maintains its co mposition of blood at the expense of
fluctuating the water content in some cells of the body. When there is a shortage of water, som e cells will go without
a portion of their normal needs and some others will get a predetermined rationed amount to maintain function (as it
was e xplained, the mechanism involves wat er filtration through the cell membrane). However, blood will normally
retain the consistency of its com position. It must do so to keep the normal composition of elements reaching the
vital centers. This is where the "solutes paradigm" is inadequate and goes wrong. It bases all assessments and evaluations of
body functions on the solids content of blood. It does not recognize the comparative dehydration of some other parts
of the body. All blood tests can  appear normal and yet the small capillaries of the heart and the brain may be closed
and cause some of the cells of these organs a gradual damage from increasing dehydration over a long period of
time. When you read the section on cholesterol formation, this sta tement will become more clear. When we lose thirst se nsation (or do not recognize the other signals of dehydration) and drink less water than the
daily requirement, the shutting down of some vascular beds is the only natural alternative to keep the rest of the
blood vessels full. The question is, how long can we go on like this? The answer is, long enough to ultimately
become very ill and die. Unless we get wise to the paradigm shift and professionally and generally begin to
recognize the problems a ssociated with water metabolism disturbance in the human body and its variety of thirst
signals, chronic dehydration will continue to take its toll on both our bodies and our society. Essen tial hype rtension should primarily be treated with an increase in daily water intake. The present way o f treating
hypertension is wrong to the point of scientific absur dity. The body is trying to retain its water volume, and we say to
the design of nature in us: "No, you do not understand—you must take diuretics and get rid of water!!" It so
happens, if we do not drink sufficient water, the only other way the body has to secure water is through the
mechanism of keeping sodium in the body. The RA system is directly involved. Only when sodium is retained will
water remain in the extra cellular fluid compartment. From this compartment, through the mechanism of shower -
head production, wat er will be forced into som e of the cells with  "priority" status. Thus, keeping sodium in the body
is a last resort way of retaining some water for its "shower-head" filtered use. There is a sensitivity of design attached to sodium retention in the body. To  assume this to be the cause of
hypertension is inaccurate and stems from insufficient knowledge of the water regulatory mechanisms in the human
body. When diuretics are given to get rid of the sodium, the body becomes more dehydrated. The "dry mouth" level
of dehydration is reached and some water is taken to compensate. The use of diuretics m aintain the body at an
expanding level of deficit wat er management. They do not cure hypertension; they m ake the body more determined
for salt and water absorption—however, never enough to correct the problem. That is why, a fter a while , diuretics
are not enough and supplemental medications will  be forced on the patient. Another problem in assessme nt of hypertension is its m eans of measurement. Anxiety associated with having
hypertension will automatically affect the person at examination time. Readings of the instruments may not reflect
the true, natural, and normal blood pressur e. An inexperienced or hasty medical practitioner, more in fear of
litigation than mindful of accur acy of judgment, might assume the patient to have hypertension, whereas the person
might only have an instant of "clinic anxiety," thus cau sing a higher reading of the instrument. One other very
important but less-known problem with the mechanism of reading blood pressure is the process of inflating the cuff
well above the systolic reading, and then letting the air out until the pulse is heard. Every large (and possib ly small) artery has a companion nerve that is there to monitor the flow of blood through the
vessel. With the loss of pressure beyon d the cuff that is now inflated to very high levels, the process of "pressur e"
opening of the obstruction in the arteries will be triggered. By the time the pressur e in the cuff is lowered to read the
pulsation level, the recording of an artificially induced higher blood pressure will become unavoidable. Unfortunately,
the measurement of hypertension is so arbitrary (and based on the diastolic level) that in this litigious so ciety a
minor error in assessment may label a person hype rtensive. This is when all the "fun and games" begin! Water by itself is the best natural diuretic. If the persons who have hypertension, and produce adequate urine,
increase their daily water intake, they will not need to take any diuretics. If prolonged "hype rtension-producing
dehydration" has also caused heart failure complications, water intake should be increased gradually. In this way,
one makes sur e that fluid collection in the body is not excessive and unmanageable. The mechanism of sodium retention in these people is in an "overdrive" mode. When water intake is increased
gradually and more urine is being produced, the edema fluid ("swelling") that is full of toxic substances will be
flushed out, and the heart will regain its strength. The following letters are presented here with the kind permission
of their authors, who  wished to share their welcome experiences with the readers of this book. Dear Dr. Batmanghelidj,
November 22,1993
I have just ordered another copy of your book on water, having given a son my first copy. I tell everybody about it
and my experiences. Perhaps you would be interested. My first so n Charles, 58, who lives with me is deaf and autistic. I take him 3 or 4 days a  week to a facility for the
handicapped. They had been taking his blood pressure there and notified me that the doctor said he should go on
medication - his BP wa s 140-160/100-104.1 had just received your book and asked  the M.D. to let me experimen t
for 2 weeks. Reluctantly he agreed, but warned me it was very dangerous. I kept Charles home and used the water routine, also adding a little magnesium a nd potassium. Two weeks later the nurse took his BP. and it was 106/80. She said-"The doctor will be in shortly"- evidently the
M.D. didn't believe her and he checked  it himself and had to admit it was so. He didn't ask me what I did, so I did
not tell him about water, but if the BP. continues as it is, I will tell him. I went on the water routine too without any particular problem in mind, but noticed that in about 10 days m ytendency to get dizzy if I moved my head quickly had disappeared. I also had been unable to lower my head to flat
at nights and had to have several pillows. Now lam much better, and have had only one spell in over a month: I am
82 and a 1/2. Thank you for the work you are doing - it is much needed. More power to you. Marjori Ramsay. If you can find out why this doctor was not interested in discov ering how Ch arles's mother brought his blood
pressur e back to normal, you  will then realize why we have a health care crisis o n our hands!! Micha el Peck has in the past been involved in an administrative capacity with the Foundation for the Simple in
Medicine. The foundation is a medical research ("think tank") institution. At a scientific and public education level,
the foundation is engaged in the introduction of the paradigm shift on water metabolism of the body in this country. Mr Pe ck briefly explains his medical problems since childhood. Who in the world would have thought so many
disparate medical conditions co uld be related, and after so many years, these conditions would disappear as a
result of a simple adjustment to daily water intake? The solution to Mr. Peck's medical problems was so unique his
wife also began to adopt the "treatment ritual." MICRO INVESTM ENTS, INC.
Dr. F. Batmanghelidj 
25 March 1992 
Foundation For The Simple In Medicine 
2146 Kings Ga rden Way 
Falls Church, Va. 22043
Dear Dr. F. Batmanghelidj,
This letter is a testimony to  the merits of water as an essential part of the daily dietary requirements for good health. I have been following your recommendations for nearly five years, and have found myself taking for granted the
positive effects of water intake. When I first started on the program I was overweight, with high blood pressure and suffering from asthma and
allergies, which I have had since a small child. l had been receiving treatment for these conditions. Today, I have my
weight and blood pressure under control (weight loss of approximately 30 pounds and a 10 point drop in blood
pressur e). The program reduced the frequency of asthma and allergy related problems, to the point of practical
nonexistence. Additionally, there were other benefits, I experienced fewer colds and flus, and generally with less
severity. I introduced this program to my w ife, who  had been on blood pressure medication for the past four yea rs, and
through increased water intake has recently been able to eliminate her medication. Thanks again for your program,
Micha el Peck
Micha el Paturis is a fellow Rotarian. He first became aware of my work when I was a sked to speak before his clu b a
few y ears ago. One day we had lunch together and I explained in detail why hype rtension and fat accumulation in
the body are generally the consequences of chr onically occur ring dehydration. He accep ted my a dvice of increasing
his daily water intake. He also convinced his wife to adopt the measure. Please note the impact of increased water
intake on allergies and asthma that have been stated in the two letters. Lt. Col. Walter Burmeister has observed the effect of water on his own blood pressure. As y ou can read in his letter,
which is being published with his kind consent, he, too, has experienced a drug-free and nature-designed
adjustment to his blood pressure. If water is a natural diuretic, why do intelligent and appearing-to-be-learned people still insist on using chemicals to
get rid of water from the kidneys? As far  as I am concerned, this action constitutes negligence. Since this action will
eventually damage the kidneys, and ultimately the heart, its practice should stop. My colleagues who  still insist on blindly using diuretics in the treatment of hypertension are walking into foreseeable
litigations for negligent treatment of their patients. The new information will provide their patients with sufficient
insight to understand what damages have been caused in them by the stupid way of asserting the treatment of
"hype rtension" with diuretics. Let the February 1995 class action suit of smokers against the tobacco industry be a
lesson for the health care industry. LAW  OFFICES  OF MICHAEL   PATURIS
431  N. LEE  STREET
OLD TOWN AL EXANDRIA, VIRGI NIA 2 2314
F. Batmanghelidj, M.D. Foundation For The Simple In Medicine 
2146 Kings Ga rden Way 
Falls Church, Virginia 22043
Dear Dr. Batmanghelidj:
I again wish to thank you for your kindness in  helping my wife and me to better appreciate the importance of water
to our health. We feel the conscious increase in our water consumption contributed greatly to our weight loss — a weight loss
which had been urged upon both of us by our respective physicians for years. My loss of approxim ately forty-five
(45) pounds has resulted in such a lower ing of my b lood pressure that I am no longer taking medicine for my blood
pressur e. My wife's weight loss has alleviated the discomfort she has experienced for years with  her back. In
addition, she believes the weight loss has reduced her discom fort and problems with her allergies. With best wishes, I remain
Sincerely,
E. Michael Paturis
3 August 1994
F. Batmanghelidj, M.D. Foundation For The Simple In Medicine 
2146 Kings Ga rden Way 
Falls Church, Virginia 22043
Dear Dr. Batmanghelidj:
Since my 24 May 1994 letter, and your consequent telephone call, a physical change of address has absorbed my
time. The new address is LTC Walter F. Burmeister, 118 Casitas del Este , El Paso, Texas 79935. Albeit, much more important than these facts, I am in a position to verify how ta p water effectively lowers
hypertension. Starting in early April 1994, leaving years of diuretics and calcium-blockers behind, in accordance with
your recommendation, for approximately 3 months I drank a minimum of eight 8-ounce glasses of tap water;
occasionally more. The blood pressure, heretofore contained by drugs, gradually dropped from an average around
150-160 systolic/over 95-98 diastolic to an amazing, drug free, 130-135 systolic/over 75-80 diastolic fluctuating
average. My wife makes these measurements at home; each time taking two or three readings. The record shows several
lows of 120s. over 75d. and a rare high of 140s. over 90d. However, the average range, as sta ted above, uniformly
dominates. In addition to vitamins and minerals, this drug-free approach, based essentially on tap water and a pinch of salt, has
relaxed my system end justifies the confidence that you  hold the handles of a truly revolutionary and marvelous
medical concept. Since you are about to publish a book with applicable testimonies of the Hydration System, my personal experience
is gratefully offered as a way of saying thank you . Respectful ly yours,
HIGHER BL OOD CHOL ESTEROL
Higher blood cholesterol is a sign that the cells of the body have developed a defense mechanism against the
osmotic force of the blood that keeps drawing water out through the cell membranes; or the co ncentrated blood can
not release sufficient water to go through the cell membr ane and maintain normal cell functions. Cholesterol is a
natural "clay" that, when poured in the gaps of the cell membrane, will make the cell wall impervious to the passag e
of water (see Figure 14). Its excessive manufactu re and deposition in the cell membrane is part of the natural
design for the protection of living cells against dehydration. In living cells that possess a  nucleus, cholesterol is the
agent that regulates permeability of the cell membrane to water. In living cells that do not possess a nucleus, the
composition of fatty acids employed in the manufactu re of the cell membrane gives it the power to survive
dehydration and drought. Cholesterol production in the cell membrane is a part of the cell survival system. It is a
necessar y substance. Its excess denotes dehydration. Normally, it is water that instantly, repeatedly, and transiently forms into adhesive sheets and binds the hydrocarbon
bricks to gether. In a dehydrated/membrane, this property of water is
lost At the same time that water is binding the solid structure of the membrane, it also diffuses through the gaps into
the cell. Figure 14 has been designed to demonstrate the structure of a bilayer membrane during full hydration and its
possible extreme dehydration. I have presented this researched concept at an international gathering of cancer
researchers. These same scientific sta tements are published and have been discussed by other researchers. Howdoes this phenomenon affect us in our everyday life? The answer is sim ple. Imagine that you are sitting at a table
and food is brought to you. If you, do not drink water before you eat the food, the process of food digestion will take
its toll on the cells of the body. W ater will have to be poured on the food in the stomach for proteins to break and
separate into the basic com position of their amino acids. In the intestine, more water will be required to process the
food ingredients and then send them to the liver. In the liver, the specialized cells will  further process the intestine-digested materials and then pass the resupplied
and composition adjusted blood to the right side of the heart. In th e liver, more water is used to  process the food
ingredients. The blood from the right side of the heart, which has also received some "fat" com ponents from the
lymphatic system that empties into the right side of the heart, will now be pumped into the lungs for oxygenation and
exchange of the dissolved gases in the blood. In the lungs, aeration of the blood further dehydrates it by the process
of evaporation of water—the "winter steam." Now this highly concentrated blood from the lungs is passed  to the left side of the heart and pumped into the arterial
circulation. The first cells that will face  this highly osmotically concentrated blood are the cells lining the larger blood
vessels and capillaries of the heart and the brain. Where the arteries bend, the osmotically damaged cells will also
face the pressure of the oncoming blood. Here, the cells will either need to protect themselves or become
irreversibly damaged. Do not forget that the integrity of their cell membrane is proportionately dependent on the
presence of "water" that is available to them and not that which is being osmotically pulled out. A look at Figure 15,
and then Figure 14, will make the understanding of this process o f "cholesterol adaptation" to dehydration easier. There comes a moment when the brain begins to recognize the further imposed severe shortage of water in the
body, and then in the middle of eating food will compel the person to drink it. It is already to o late, because the
damage is registered by th e cells lining the blood vessels. Ho wever, when this dehydration registers itself by
production of the dyspeptic pain, we most stupidly give the person antacid! Not water, antacids! Not water,
histamine-blocking agents! Unfor tunately, this is the problem with all treatment procedures under the "solutes
paradigm." All treatmen t procedures are "relief o f symptoms" oriented. The y are not geared t o the eliminatio n of the
root cause of the problem. This is why "di seases" are not cured. They are only "tre ated" during the lifetime of the
person. The root cause of degenerative diseases is not known, because a wrong paradigm is being pursued. If we begin to
appreciate that for the process of digestion of food, water is the most essen tial ingredient, most of the battle is won. If we give the necessar y water to the body before we eat food, all the battle against cholesterol formation in the
blood vessels will  be won. After a longer period of regulating daily water intake, so that the cells become fully hydrated, gradually the
cholesterol defense system against the free passage of water through the cell wall will be less required; its
production will decrease. The hormone-sensitive, fat-burning enzymes of the body have been shown to become
active after one hour's walk. They remain active for 12 hours. It also seems that with the lowering of blood
cholesterol and walking to induce the "fat burners'" activity, the deposited cholesterol will also be broken and
passage of blood through the already blocked arteries will become possible (see Mr. Fox's letter). Walking two times a day—every 12 hours—will maintain the activity of the hormone sensitive fat burning enzyme
(hormone sensitive lipase) during day and night and help clear away the excess lipid deposits in the arteries. Testimonials Th at Make You Ponder
Mr. Mohammed Wahby's concern is not unique to him; everyone who has raised blood cholesterol levels is worried. It is com mon knowledge that many diseases are associated with raised cholesterol levels in blood circulation. Different blood cholesterol levels have in the past been considered normal—all the time decreasing the accepted
threshold until around 200 (milligrams per 100 cubic centimeters of blood) is now considered normal. Even this
figure is an arbitrary assessme nt. I personally believe the normal range to be around 100 to 150. My own levels
started around 89 and never went above 130. Why? Because for years and years, my d ay started with two to three
glasses o f water. In any case , a March 28, 1991 New England Journal o f Medicine report, followed  by an edito rial,
about an 88-year-old man who eats 25 eggs daily and has normal blood cholesterol levels, reveals one fact. The
cholesterol we eat seems to have little to do with the high level of cholesterol in som e people's blood. Let us get one thing clear: Excess cholesterol formati on is the re sult of d ehydration. It is the dehydration that causes
many different
diseases and not the level of cholesterol in the circu lating blood. It Is therefore more prudent to attend to our daily
water intake rather than to what foods we eat. With proper enzyme activity, any food can be digested, including its
cholesterol content. Mr. Wahby could reduce his cholesterol levels without too much anxiety about his foo d intake
(see letter on page 90). He lived normally and yet his cho lesterol levels came down dramatically from 279 to 203 in two months without any
food limitations. All he had to do was to drink more water before his meals. If he had taken regular daily walks, this
level would have been further reduced during the two months. In time, it will be further reduced. His te stimonial is
printed by his kind permission. He is so  happy with the simplicity o f the process that he wishes to share his joy with
others. If increased water intake lowers ch olesterol levels, only to rise again, make sure your body is not getting short of
salt. Read the section on salt in chapter 12. You should realize that cholesterol is the basic building block for most
hormones in the human body. Na turally, a basic drive for increased hormone production will also raise the rate of
cholesterol production. Basically, it is assumed that heart disease begins with the deposit of cholesterol plaques in the arteries of the heart. At the final stages, the two may exist at the sam e time. Howev er, in my opinion, it begins when the constriction
producing chemicals from the lungs spill over into the circulation that goes to the heart. As i t is explained in the
chapter on asthma, in dehydration, part of the process of water preservation is the associated secretion of
substances that constrict the bronchioles. At a certain threshold that does not at the time manifest itself in an
asthma attack, the same chemicals, if they spill into the blood circulation that goes through to the lung, will also
constrict the walls of the heart arteries once they reach them. This situation will lead to heart pains, known as
anginal pains. EMBASSY  OF THE ARA B REPUBL IC OF  EGYPT 
PRESS & INFORM ATION BUREAU
1666 CONNECTICUT AVENUE. N. W. SUITE 4 40 
WASHINGT ON. D.C.  2000
May 1 st, 1991
Dr. Fereydo on Batmanghelidj 
Foundation For The Simple In Medicine 
P.O Bo x 3267, Falls Ch urch, VA 2 2043
Dear Dr. Batmanghelidj,
This is to say how grateful I am to you for making me a much less worried man. I have suffered from a high
cholesterol level since 1982. It was 278 when it was first discovered. I was then in Germany and I was p ut on such a
strict diet that I lost 16 pounds in less th an two months and the Cholesterol level went down to only 220. I refused to
accept to lower it further through medication especially since in Egypt the doctors sti ll believe that this level is not
really dangerous by the prevailing standards in our country. Since I entertain and attend business lunches m ore than what wou ld be expected even from a diplomat, because of
the additional burden of dealing with the media, my cholesterol was always going up to around 260 and back to
220s, by putting myself on very strict diet from time to time. Howev er, it must be noted that it was o nly outside my
home that the diet cam e crashing down. Otherwise,! was strict with myself. In fact,  even when I ate outside, I was
careful to choose dishes, wherever available, which were not particularly rich in fat. Last yea r I was shocked to discover that my blood cholesterol level had shot up to 279. I was lucky to have met you
then. When you "prescribed" ample water (two full glasses) be taken before meals instead of medication that I was
just about to submit myself to then, I was very skeptical. All the more so since you did not overemphasize dieting. In
two months, and with very little observance of all the old "rules' which were making my life miserable, my cho lesterol
went down to 203 for the first time in more than nine years! M Y weight too was surprisingly also down by about eight
pounds and has since been under control. In fact, I feel so good that I am sure that the next time I will be going for a
blood test, my cholesterol level will be found to be even lower. So, goodbye to the "normal" Egypt ian standards and
welcome to the American new levels of cho lesterol without the accompanying sense of deprivation! Enjoying eating, moderately of course, as I had not been doing for a long time and free from a worry that wasalways at the back of my mind, I believe I owe you a big THANK Y OU. YOURS SINCEREL Y
MINISTER MOHAM MED W AHBY
Director, Press and Information Bureau
These same chemicals can  also set the stage for the deposit of cholesterol in the walls of the arteries. The common
facto r to all of the various co nditions labeled as different diseases of the heart and the lungs is an established
dehydration. Take a look at Mr. Sam Liguori's letter, published by his kind permission. His a nginal pain disappeared
when he started to increase his wat er intake. He also has suffered from hiatus hernia. That, too, has sta rted to dear
up. Give him time, and it will recover completely. Al so take a look at Loretta Johnson's letter. You will see that even
at the young-at-heart age of 90, her anginal pain can be treated with water to the extent that she does not need any
medication for her heart pains. I have many, many letters sim ilar to these. It is not possible to publish them all. I have selected a few o f them to
show you that what I propose is not a theory. It, in fact /works for different people of varying ages. WARD
The Talk Station
155 0-AM
December 2, 1994
Global Health Service, Inc. 
Dr. Fereydo on Batmanghelidj 
Foundation For The Simple In Medicine 
P.O Bo x 3267, Falls Ch urch, VA 2 2043
Dear Dr. Batmanghelidj:
Just a short letter to thank you for informing our listeners about the health benefits o f drinking two quarts of water a
day. Not only did you help our radio audience, but I personally have enjoyed a resurgence of energy after drinking two
quarts of water each day for just over one week. The angina pain I endured for five years has disappeared and my d istress f rom a hiatal hernia has greatly lessened. I feel like a new person. I've been doing talk shows at WARD Ra dio for the past 20 years, and I must say y our interview w ith us is o ne I'll
always remember. Sincerely,
Samuel M. L iguori, Program Director
WARD Br oadcasting Corporation 
P.O Bo x 1550  Pittston, PA 1 8640 (717) 655-5521Mr. John Fox's case is very unusual in that his severe case  of heart disease was r eversed sufficiently to make life
once again normal for him—with out the bypass surgery that is now in  vogue. Mr. Fox is in his sixth decade of life. He is a retired electronics engineer who has sp ent many highly responsible years with the Navy. Today, he is one of
the 50 living Bates-Trained Natural "Visio n specialists. At so me point in time, he was nearly blind in one eye and
losing vision in the other. He became intrigued with the Bates method of vision training because of his own needs. As a result of his training, he is not going blind anymore and his eyesight is saved—virtually normal now. A few years back, he was con sidered hypertensive. He received medication to reduce his blood pressure. He could
not take the medications; they made him worse. His problems sta rted when he suffered his heart attacks. His le tter
explains what happened to him and how he is better now. Th e highlight of this letter is that after two months of
taking increased water, and a slight adjustment to his diet, in addition to his daily walks, his coronary arteries m ust
have cleared sufficiently for him to feel normal. He now enjoys  normal activity without having to endure any pain,
and all of that with out the use of any medication or suffering by-pass surgery. Imagine that a person with such a severe heart problem as Mr. Fox cou ld in about two months get back to normal
life and not need invasive treatment even though chemical treatments failed! The proposed nature-designed
approach to the problem scientifically and logically seems to depend on physiological reversal of the disease
process. It's an ideal way of offering cures for some degenerative disease conditions. BATES-F OXNatural Vision Training
2945 North Lexington Street 
Arlin gton Virginia 22207 
Telephone 703 536 7482
Attestation: 25 March 1992
It was in the spring of 1991 when I first learned from a member of the Foun dation For the Simple In  Medicine t he
value of water as a form of medication. Six months before, I had suffered two heart attacks a nd had undergone
angioplasty surgery. Afte r the operation, I was prescribed heavy dosages of calcium and beta blockers, baby
aspirin, nitroglycerine (for pain), and cholesterol-reducing medicine for recovery. The angiogram before the
angioplasty had shown one of the arteries of my heart was 97 percent blocked by cholesterol deposits. I was t old my
heart had been damaged. After six months of strict attention to my prescribed "recuperation" program, I noticed that my condition was rapidly
deteriorating, to the extent that I had difficulty sleeping because of pain in my left arm, back and chest, and also felt
these same pains whe n I took my daily walks. I visualized myself going for bypass sur gery at the sche duled time for
reevaluation of my condition. By this time, I also suffered from serious side effects caused by th e medications, su ch
as: my p rostate created retention and blocking problems; I had also developed problems with  my v ision and
memory recall. I first began my rehabilitation through diet by a regular intake of six to  eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day for
three days. I was told to drink water a half-hour before eating my daily meals. I cut off my anti-cholesterol pills,
aspirin and nitroglycerine pills. Judging by the effect of the water, it seemed I did not need them. I also started taking
orange juice and started using salt in my diet again (I had been on a sodium-free diet). After the first three days, I
was fee ling more comfortable about all of that added water. Afte r three weeks of gradually reducing the calcium and
beta-blockers, I noticed som e very favorable/ changes. Whenever I felt pain, I would drink water and /get instant
relief. My diet remained the same—fruits, vegetables, chicken, fish, orange juice, and carrot juice. To get more
tryptophan, I was asked to add cottage cheese and lentil soup to my d iet. Dr. Batmanghelidj requested that I take two one-hour walks (25 min. mile) a day. After the second month, I noticed
no more pain—even walking up steep hills. After the fifth month, I changed my walks to  1/2 hour and increased my
pace to a 15-minute mile. No constrictions wer e noticed during my walks and my energy had increased two-fold. Much  of my p ower to recall had been reestablished, and my vision returned to normal. In Octo ber 1991, I had a series of chemical and physical tests, including x-rays, so nogram, echocardiogram and
electrocardiogram, to determine the state of my heart. The tests sh owed that my h eart had restored to its normal
state and I did not need any form of medication to cope with my daily routine. My doctor could not believe how
simply all this change had taken place. John 0. Fox
Bates-Fox Natural Visio n Training
Adding the statements of Mr. Wahby to the results presented by Mr. Fox, Mr. Paturis, Mr. Liguori, Mrs. Johnson,
Col. Burmeister and Mr. Peck, one begins to recognize the fact that common tap water has medicinal values
hitherto unrecognized. Water is a readily avail able natural medicine f or some of the pr evalent a nd very serious
medical conditions that are known to kill many thousands of people every year. Is it heart disease or dehydration
that is killing people? In my professional and scientific view, it is dehydration that is the biggest killer, more than any
other condition you could imagine. The different aspects and "chemical idiosyncrasies" of each individual's body
reaction to the same pattern of dehydration have received different professio nal labels and have been treated
differently—and i neffective ly. Dehydration is the common factor. It is the difference in the "chemical blueprint" in the design of each body that
initially demonstrates the signs of chronic dehydration by different outward indicators. Later in the process, other
indicators of the same dehydration become apparent. The reason for this difference in the initial pattern may well be
the selective process of "shower-head" emergency hydration of some cell types in the body. If you take a second
look at the letters by Mr. Peck, Mr. Paturis and Mr. William Gray (p age 152), you will see that the individuals in
question had multiple problems that got better by the regulation of daily water intake. You are now privy to
information on whe re the mistake lies in the creation of monstrous problems with in the health care systems in
scientifical ly advanced countries. They see m to allow the arrogant treatment of a simpl e dehydration of the human
body by chemical mallets until real diseases a re born. EXCESS BODY  WEIGHT
"The secret of caring for a patient is car ing for the patient." Sir William Osier
Q: Why are 30 percent of Americans overweight? A: Because of a most basic confusion! They don't know when they are thirsty; they also don't know the difference between "fluids" and "water." Let us discuss the letters from Mr. Peck, Mr. Paturis, Priscilla Preston, and Donna Gutkowski that follow. Al l of themstated they lost between 30 and 45 pounds in weight when they switched to water as their preferred beverage. There is another person who  gradually lost 58 pounds in less than a year, weight she had gained in six yea rs. As
you read on, you will see how sim ply we gam weight. You would think it "simplistic" if you did not have the proof in
front of you. The central control system in the brain happens to recognize the low e nergy levels available for its fun ctions. The
sensations of thirst or hunger also stem from low, r eady-to-access energy levels. To mobilize energy from that
which is sto red in/the fat, one needs hormonal release mechanisms. This process/ta kes a while longer (and some
physical activity for energy release) than the urgent needs of the brain. The front of the brain either gets energy from
"hydr oelectricity" or from sugar in blood circulation. Its functional needs for hydroelectricity are more, urgent—not
only the energy formation from water, but also its transport system within the microstream flow system that depends
on more water. Thus, the sensation of thirst and hunger are generated simultaneously to indicate the brain's needs. We do not
recognize the sensation of thirst and assum e "both indicators" to be the urge to eat We eat food even when the
body should receive water. In these people who lost wei ght, by drinking water before eating food, they managed to
separate the two sensations. They did not overeat to satisfy an urge for the intake of water. Overeating Further Explained
The human brain is roughly 1 /50th of the total body weight. It is said to possess about nine trillion nerve cells
(computer chips). Brain cells are said to be 85 percent water. Twenty percent of blood circulation is allocated and
made available to the brain. This means that the brain gets to pick and choose from the circu lating blood what is
needed for its normal functions. The brain is the only part of the body th at is constantly active. It processes all
information from different parts of the body, as well as that which enters it from daily exposure to physical, social,
and electromagnetic e nvironment. To process all these inputs and alert all parts of the body for coordinated response, the brain spends a vast quantity
of energy. At  the same time, it spends energy in manufacturing primary ingredients and different brain chemical
messengers (neurotransmitters) that are made in the brain cells and have to be transported to the nerve endings
wherever they are. The transport system uses a vast quantity of energy. This high rate of energy consumption by
the brain is the main reason why it receives about 20 percent of blood circulation. Brain cells sto ckpile energy in two main forms: ATP a nd GTP r eserves—like the coal and coke dumps next to
power plants. Ce rtain actions are supplied with energy from ATP sto ckpiles that are located in different parts of the
cell, mainly within its m embranes. The cell membrane is where the information enters and where an action is
initiated. There is a system of energy rationing in operation in each cell. Not all stimulation will achieve an allocation
of energy from the ATP sto ckpile to get registered and invoke a response. There is a threshold for energy re lease for some "inputs." The brain calculates and understands what is important
and what is not for its energy expenditure. When ATP reserves are low, many stim uli do not invoke a response. This
low ATP r eserve in some overactive brain cells will become reflected as a fatigue state in functions controlled by
those brain cells. Exa ctly the same process is in operation for the GTP sto ckpiles. In certain emergency actions,
some energy from GTP stockp ile can be diverted to boost the ATP sto ckpile to sustain some of the most essential
functions that would otherwise suffer from lack of local energy. Storage of energy in the brain's energy pools seems to rely heavily on the availability of sugar. The brain is
constantly drawing from the blood sugar to replenish its ATP and GTP sto ckpiles. Recently it has been  discove red
that the human body has the ability to generate hydroelectric energy wh en water, by itself, goes through the cell
membr ane and turns some very sp ecial energy generating pumps; very much like the hydroelectric power
generation when a dam is built on a large river. Thus, the brain uses two mechanisms for its energy requirements:
One, from metabolism of food and formation of sugar: two,  from its water supply and conversion of hydroelectric
energy. It now seems that the brain depends very extensively on energy formation from "hydroelectricity,"
particularly for its transport system in its nerve supply to different parts of the body. To satisfy the brain's requirements, the human body has developed a very delicate balancing system to keep a
normal range of sugar concentration in the blood. It/does this in two ways. On e, by stimulating the intake of proteins
and starchy foods that it will convert to sugar, in addition to the sugar in the diet; two, by converting some starch and
proteins from stored reserves of the body into sugar. This latter mechanism is called "gluco-neo-gene-sis." It means
remaking of sugar from other materials. This re-manufacturing of sugar for use by the brain is done in the liver. The dependence of most brain functions on energy from sugar has developed a satiety or pleasure association for
the sweet taste. It has established a certain coding system for coordination of functions by th e other organs,
particularly by the liver when sweet taste stimulates the tongue. When there is not enough sugar in circu lation, the
liver begins to manufacture it and constantly tops up blood levels by the addition of more sugar. At the beginning, it
will convert stored starch, followed  by proteins and small quantities of fat. Fat conversion is a very slow p rocess. The body needs to go without food for some time before a higher rate of fat metabolism is established. Proteins are
more accessib le and broken down more easily than fat. Fat deposits are made up of many single units of "fatty
acids" joined together. It is the individual fatty acids that are broken for their energy value. Each gram of fat gives
nine calories of energy. Each gram of protein or sugar provides only four calories of energy. Th is is the reason,
when fat is metabolized, a person is far  less h ungry. In children, fat stores are brown in color and have much blood circulation in them. In brown fat, fat is metabolizeddirectly and heat is generated. In later years of life, fat stores have less blood circulation and are less accessible to
the enzyme s that would mobilize the fatty acids for conversion in the liver and the muscles. When muscles are
inactive, they are more easily a ttacke d and their protein is broken down for conversion into sugar. However, if
muscles are used, they begin to metabolize some of their stored fat as a choice source of energy to do work and
maintain or increase their bulk To do this, they begin to activate a fat-breaking enzyme called "hormone sensitive
lipase." It has been shown in repeated blood tests in  Sweden that this enzyme 's activity is seen after one hour's
walk and retains its fat-breaking activity for 12 hours. Once  muscles begin to use fat, more sugar will become
available to be used by the brain. With repeated walks, activity of the fat-burning enzymes become much more pronounced. Thus, a component of
any dieting program should be muscle use for its long-lasting, primary and direct physiological effect on fat
breakdown. It is this enzyme in blood circulation that will also clean all blood vessel  walls of fatty plaques and
deposits. It was this physiological response of the body to walking that reversed the health problems of Mr. John
Fox. Increased water intake gave him energy and stamina and walking stimulated the enzyme s that cleared his
arteries. Office work and desk jobs in our modern way of life are only a cultural transformation. The body physiology has not
yet transformed sufficiently to accommodate for this functionally abnormal use of the human body. The human body
still needs muscle activity to maintain normal functions. If the body functions normally, it will know w hen to eat and
how much to eat without storing fat. Every part of the body will use its sh are of energy supply for efficient and well-
coordinated functioning. This is what it is designed for. However, if the brain is used more (in times of stress) and the body is not used proportionately to supply the brain
with its su gar needs, a less-disciplined person will give in to eating more often and in larger quantities. It becomes
more dramatic if o ne does not recognize the other thirst signals of the human body when it needs water for its
energy supply, when in place of drinking water by itself more food is consumed. In stress, the body becomes
dehydrated. The reason we tend to gain weight is one simple fact: we eat to supply the brain with energy for its
constant round-the-clock activity. Ho wever, when food is eaten, only about 20 percent of it reaches the brain. The
rest will gradually become stored if muscle  activity does not use up its allocated portion. With water as a source of
energy, this storage does not happen. Excess water is passed out in the form of urine. Diet Sodas Can Cause Weight Gain
My observation has been that diet sodas (all variety of manufactured soft drinks are called soda instead of using the
label on the drink), even though containing no appreciable number of calories, are possib ly the cause of more
weight gain in people who resort to taking them to control their weight. One person stands out: A you ng man in his
twenties, about 5' 5" in height. lake most college students, he used to drink regular sodas while under constant
pressur e for completion of his stu dies. He had already gained excess wei ght by the time he graduated. After graduation, to reduce weight, he began drinking eight cans of diet sodas per day. In about two years, he must
have gained another 30 pounds. He  seemed to get as round as he was tall. His wal k became difficult, and he
seemed to have to swing his hip to take a step. He also drank his diet soda at mealtimes and ate more than his
body needed. He still consumes his diet sodas—he seems to be addicted—and, despite all other efforts, co ntinues
to be overweight. This paradox in our understanding of the relationship between taking a sweetener that does not directly contribute to
the total calorie intake of the body and weight gain needs explanation. The following is the result of my research into
this enigma. There are many such persons who resort to taking diet sodas and, instead of losing weight, they begin
to gain it. The transcript of a testimonial from Donna Gutkowski, who for years only consumed sodas and steadily
gained weight regardless of anything else she did to shed the excess pounds, will also follow. In America in 1850, about 13 ounces of sod a were consumed per person per year. In the late 1980s, more than 500
twelve-ounce cans of sod as were consumed per person per yea r.
The 1994 annual report of the beverage industry shows that per-capita consumption of sodas is 49.1 gallons per
year. Of th is amount, 28.2 percent of consumption is the share of different diet sodas. Diet soda consumption is
beginning to decline. Eighty-four percent of all sodas consumed belong to two companies (Coca-Cola 48.2 percent
and Pepsi-Cola 35.9 percent). Of this 84 percent share of market and their different labels manufactured, only 5.5
percent are caffeine-free diet sodas. These figures indicate that a vast number of people are drinking caffeinated
sodas, of which 22 percent consists of diet sodas. A survey at the campus of Pe nnsylvania State University has shown that some students drank 14 cans of soda a
day. One girl had consumed 37 Cokes in two days. Many admitted they could not live without these soft drinks. If
deprived, these persons would develop withdrawal symptoms, very much like those addicted to other drugs. Boys
Life magazine surveyed its readers and found that eight percent of them drink eight or more sodas a day. The
administrators of one Boy Scout Jamboree had collected 200,000 empty cans for recycling. The Soft Drink
Associa tion surveyed  the use of soft d rinks in hospitals in America and found 85 percent of them serve sodas with
their patients' meals. Research has shown that caffeine is addictive. The media, to placate a beverage industry that
spends vast sums o f money for advertising its products, have come up with a less expressive word to announce the
news. They call it "caffeine dependency." When consumption of sod as is e ncouraged by society, it is assumed these manufactu red beverages can replace
the needs of the body for water. It is assum ed, just because these beverages co ntain water, the body will beadequately served. This assumption is wrong. This broad-base increase in consumption of mainly caffeine-
containing sodas for ms the background to many of the health problems of our society. Th e mistaken assumption
that all fluids are equivalent to water for the water needs of the human body is the main cause of many of the ills of
the human body, and it is frequently associated with the initial excessiv e gain in weight. To understand the above
statement, we need to recognize some simple principles of anatomy and physiology of the brain that regulate eating
and drinking. The confusion that all manufactured beverages will  supply the body with its daily water needs, more than any other
cause, is responsible for some of the diseases that we encounter. Gross disfigurement of the body by fat collection
is the initial step in the decline of the human body, and in my opinion is caused by the wrong choice of fluids intake. Some of these beverages do more damage than others. Caffeine, one of the main com ponents of most sodas, is a drug. It has addictive properties because of its direct
action on the brain. It also acts o n the kidneys and causes increased urine production. Caffeine has diuretic
properties. It is physiologically a dehydrating agent. This characteristic is t he main reason a person is forced to drink
so many cans of soda every day and never be satisfied. The water does not stay in the body long enough. At the
same time, many persons confuse  their feeling of thirst for water. Thinking they have consumed enough "water" that
is in the soda, they assume they are hungry and begin to eat more than their body's need for food. Thus,
dehydration caused by caff eine-containing sodas, in due time, will cause a gradual gain in weight from overeating as
a direct result of confusion of thirst and hunger sensations. Caffeine has "pi ck-me-up" properties. It stimulates the brain/body even when a person is exhausted! It seems that
caffeine lowers the threshold of ATP sto ckpile control. Stored ATP i s used up for some functions that would not
normally gain access to  it when there is a set level of reserves. When sodas contain sugar, at least some of the brain's need for sugar is satisfied. If caffeine is releasing ATP
energy to enhance performance, at least its sugar companion will replenish some of the lost ATP, even if the final
result is a deficit expenditure of ATP b y the brain. In early 1980s, a new p roduct was introduced into the beverage industry—an artificia l sweetener other than
saccharin. It is called aspartame. Aspa rtame i s 180 times a s sweet a s sugar without any cal orie output. I t is now in
common use because the Food and Drug Administration (PDA)  has deemed it safe to use in place of sug ar. In a
very sho rt period of time, it has been incorporated in over 5000 recipes. In the intestinal tract, aspartame converts to two highly excitatory neurotransmitter amino acids: aspartate and
phenylalanine, as wel l as methyl  alcohol/formaldehyde —wood  alcohol. It is claimed  the liver renders methyl alcohol
non-toxic. I personally think this claim is made to brush aside voiced objections for commercialization of a
manufactured "food" that has a known  toxic by product. If caffeine converts ATP to  AMP, a spent energy "ash," aspartate converts GTP e nergy stockpile to GMP. Bo th AMP
and GMP are spent fuels; they cause thirst/hunger to replace the lost fuel stockp iles in the brain cells. Thus, diet
sodas ca use indiscriminate overuse of energy reserves of cells in the brain. It is a well-recognized, scie ntific fact that spent fuel (AMP) does ca use hunger. Caffeine causes addiction, and
people who consume it on a regular basis should be assumed to be "sodaholics." Hence, caffeinated diet sodas in
sedentary persons must cause weight gain; they indirectly stimulate more food intake because of the brain's forced
use of its energy reserves. Be ar in mind that only som e of the energy value of foods eaten will be used by th e brain. The rest of the consumed energy will be stored in the form of fat if not used by m uscle activity. This weight gain is
one of many results of diet soda consumption. The more important reflex that occur s is a brain reaction to sweet taste. The jargon used is "cephalic phase
response." A conditioned  reflex becomes es tablished as a result of life-long exp erience with sweet taste th at is
associated with the introduction of new energy into the body. When sweet taste stim ulates the tongue, the brain
programs the liver to prepare for acceptance of new energy— sugar—from outside. The liver, in turn, stops the
manufacture of sugar from the protein and starch reserves of the body and instead begins to store the metabolic
fuels that are circulating in the blood. As M ichael G. Tardoff, Mark I. Friedman, and other scientists h ave shown,
cephalic phase responses alter the metabolic activity in favor of nutrient storage; the fuel available for conversion is
reduced which leads to the development of appetite. If it is indeed sugar that stimulates the response, the effect on the liver will be the regulation of that which has
entered the body. Ho wever, if sw eet taste is not followed by nutrient availability, an urge to eat will be the outcome. It
is the liver that produces the signals and the urge to eat The more sweet taste without the accompanying calories
that stimulates the taste buds, the more there is an urge to eat—overeat. The effect of cephalic phase response to sweet taste has been dearly shown in animal models with the use of
saccharin. Usin g aspartame, several scientists h ave shown a similar urge to overeat in humans. Blundel and Hill
have shown that non-nutritive sweeteners—a spartame in solution—will enhance appetite and increase short-term
food intake. They report: "After ingestion of aspartame, the volunteers wer e left with a residual hunger compared
with what they reported after glucose. This residual hunger is fun ctional, it leads to increased food consumption." Tardoff and Friedman have shown that this urge to eat more food after artificia l sweeteners ca n last up to 90
minutes after the sweet drink; even when all blood tests sh ow normal values. They showed that even when blood
levels for insulin, the higher readings of which is thought to be the cause of hunger, achieved normal levels test
animals consumed more food than the control batch. What this means is that the "brain" retains for a long time theurge to eat when the taste buds for sugar are stimulated without sugar having entered the system. The sweet taste
will cause the brain to program the liver to store supplies rather than release supplies from its sto rage. Basically, this physiological response to sweeteners with out their accompanying calories that the body has been told
has entered it will compel the person to find and make good the registered marker for energy consumption. This is
another physiological reason why p eople who consume diet sodas to reduce weight may suffer from the paradoxica l
response of their body to  repeated stimulation of the taste buds with sugar substitutes. When caffeine and aspartame are introduced into the body, they will dictate their stimulating effect on the cell
physiology in the brain, the liver, the kidneys, the pancreas, the endocrine glands, and so on. Aspartame is
converted to phenylalanine and aspartate. Both have direct stimulatory effects o n the brain. The sum total of the
effect of caffeine and aspartame will very quickly e stablish a new mode of activity for the brain just because they are
repeatedly available in larger quantities than the ones that wou ld otherwise establish a balanced physiology. Most neurotransmitters are seco ndary products from one or another amino acid. However, aspartate is one of a pair
of unique amino acids that don't need to be converted to a secondary product to act on the brain to cause an effect. There are receiving points (receptors) for these two stimulant amino acids (aspartate and glutamate) on certain
nerve cells that influence body physiology very dramatically. The use of artificial sweeteners for their false stim ulation of "nerve terminals" that register the entry of "energy"
supplies into the body have more severe repercussions than simply causing increase in weight. These chemicals
constantly swing the body physiology in the direction dictated by th e nerve system they stimulate. Their use without
a thorough understanding of their long-term effects in the body, just because they also pleasantly stim ulate the taste
buds, is shortsighted. My understanding of the microphysiology within cells causes m e concern when I think of the
routine use of these amino acids. I worry for the outcome of the long-term effect of the direct stimulation of the
nerve/ glandular systems in the brain with these chemical sweeteners. They are naturally positioned for other
important, but balanced functions, in the body. Research has shown that receptors for aspartate are abundantly present on som e nerve systems whose products
also stimulate the reproductive organs and breasts. A constant stimulation of breast glands without the other factors
associated with pregnancy may well be implicated in the rise in the rate of breast cancer in women. The hormone,
prolactin, may play a major role in this direction. One of the less explored complications of aspartame may be its
effect as a possib le facilitator in cancer formation in the brain. Fed to rats, aspartame has been implicated in brain
tumor formation in experimental animals. As an analogy, imagine a small sail boat that is going from one nearby port to another and has to reach its
destination before dark when the direction of the winds is n ot ideal. If the sailor, instead of paying strict attention to
the rules of sailing, gives in to the pleasure and exhilaration of fast sailing with the wind, he will have abandoned his
purpose and sailed his boat to totally different and unknown shores, and in the dark. The odds are that he and his
boat will not survive the trip. On its jou rney of life, the human body is just like a sail boat. If the mind abandons purpose and forgets the design of
the body, and gives in to the overstimulation of the palate with artificial and non-representative products ( such as
spices), in the long run, the body chemistry may not be able to deal with cons tant false informati on and not suff er
damage. It is primitive and simplistic thinking that one could easily lace water with  all sorts of pleasure-enhancing chemicals
and substitute these fluids for the natural and dean water that the human body needs. Some of these chemicals,
caffeine, aspartame, saccharin and alcohol, through their constant lopsided effect on the brain, unidirectionally—
single mindedly—p rogram the body chemistry w ith results contrary to the natural design of the body. Very much like
the sail boat in the dark that will get beached in uncharted shores if its sailor gives in to the pleasures and
exhilaration of fast sailing in place of sticking to the rules of sai ling with safety in mind, the intake of wrong fluids will
affect the life of anyon e who  continually consumes them. As it has been explained so far, the human body has many different indicators whe n it runs short of water. At these
times, it needs only water. As it has been explained, it will com plicate matters if one gives the body artificia l taste-
enhancing fluids on a regular basis and in full substitution of the water needs of the body. One should remember that caffeine is sim ilarly an addictive drug, the use of which has become "legal." Children, in
particular, become vulnerable to the addictive properties of these caffeine-containing beverages. Stimulating the
body at the early stages of life of a child with pleasure-enhancing chemicals in beverages, in some will program the
senses to use harder addictive drugs when they reach school age. Thus, the long-term and constant use of sodas in general, and diet sodas in particular, should be assumed to be
responsible for some of the more serious health problems of our socie ty. Disto rting the physical appearance of the
body as a result of excess f at storage is the first step in this direction. Some manufactu red beverages should only
be used sparingly, if at all, by younger people, whe n the right programs for the future health of a child is the aim of
parents. Dr. Marcia Gutkowski is a nutrition consultant. After reading my book, she convinced her daughter Donna to begin
changing her habit in fluids intake. The result has astounded the mother and daughter. The following is the
transcript of Donna's testimonial. Dear Dr. BatmanghelidjApril 25,1994 I
My mother asked , that I write to you and tell you about my recent weight loss success. I know that I could have a
much  more successful loss if I would follow your formula and curb my eating habits, along with starting a regular
routine of exercise . Howe ver just getting myself to get off of 6 to 8 cans of Mountain Dew a day is a miracle in itself. Within the last 9 months to a year, I have successfully been able to keep 35 excess p ounds of baggage off. I am
able to wear clothes that I thought would never touch my body again. I also have just about reached my goal size
for my upcoming wedding. Eve n my fiancé had to admit that lam looking much  better than when he first met me five
years ago. My success has been contributed to faithfully drinking 1/2 my body weight in ounces in water every day. Wherever I
go, so does my water. To work, shopping, even my long 7 hour long car rides. (That does make for a lot of rest area
stops, but they are worth it.) I do treat myself to an occasional mineral water or beer when I go out, but I have
usually gotten my quota of water in for the day. One interesting thing that I have noticed howeve r is that once I have finished drinking my quota of water, I have
absolutely no desire to drink anymore. Also I have found that I'm not thirsty a nymore and it will usually take me
awhile to drink some other type of beverage whether it be juice, milk, beer, mineral water, etc. I am looking forward to Octo ber 1st which is my wedding day when I can walk down the aisle looking better than I
have looked in 15 years, since I graduated from high school. It will also be nice to put my weight on my new drivers
license without having to cringe for the first time in my life. Thanks for the smaller me!!!! Donna M. Gutkowski
It is now February of 1995. Donna is happily married.
Your_Body_s_Many_Cries_for_Water_by_Batmanghelidj.txt
Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        Failing a capacity adjustment to the
"water volume" by th e blood vessels, gases would separate from the blood and fill the space/causing "gas locks. " This property of lumen regulation for fluid circulation is a most advanced design within the principle of hydraulics
and after which the blood circulation of the body is modeled. Shunting of blood circu lations a normal routine. When we eat, most of the circulation is directed into the intestinal
tract by closing some capillary circulation elsewhere. When we eat, more capillaries are opened in the
gastrointestinal tract and fewer are open in the major muscle systems. Only areas where activity places a  more
urgent demand on the circulatory systems will be kept fully open for the passag e of blood. In other wor ds, it is the
blood-holding capacity of the capillary bed that determines the direction and rate of flow to any site at a given time. This process is naturally designed to cope with any priority work without the burden of maintaining an excess fluid
volume in the body. When the act of digestion has taken place and less blood is needed in the gastrointestinal
region, circulation to other areas will open more easily. In a most indirect way, t his is why w e feel less active
immediately after a meal and ready for action after som e time has passed. In short, there is a mechanism for
establishment of priority for circulating blood to any given area—some capillaries open and som e others close. The
order is predetermined accor ding to a scale of importance of function. The brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, and glands
take priority over muscles, bones, and skin in blood distribution—unless a different priority is p rogrammed into the
system. This will  happen if a continued demand on any part of the body will influence the extent of blood circu lation
to the area, such  as muscle development through regular exercise. WATER SHORTA GE: POTENT IALS FOR HYPERT ENSI ON
When we do not drink enough water to serve all the needs of the body, som e cells become dehydrated and lose
some of their wat er to the circulation. Capillary beds in some areas will  have to close so that some of the slack in
capacity is adjuste d for. In water shortage and body drought, 66 percent is taken from the water volume normally
held inside the cells; 26 percent is taken from the volume held outside the cells; and 8 percent is taken from blood
volume (see Figure 13). There is no alternative for the blood vessels other than closing their lumen to cope with the
loss in blood volume. The process begins by closing some capillaries in less-a ctive areas. Ot herwise, where will the
balance come from to keep these capillaries open. The deficient quantity must come either from outside or be
taken from another part of the body. It is the extent of cap illary bed activity throughout the body th at will ultimately determine the volume of circulating
blood. The more the muscles are exercised, the more their capillaries will open and hold a greater volume of blood
within the circulation reserves. This is t he reason why  exercise is a  most impo rtant compone nt for physiol ogical
adjustments in those suffering from hypertension. This is one aspect to the physiology of hypertension. The capillary
bed must remain open and full and offer no resistance to blood circu lation. When the capillary bed is clo sed and
offers resistance, only an increased force behind the circulating blood will ensure the passag e of some fluids
through the system. Another reason why th e capillary bed may become selectively dosed is shortage of water in the body. Ba sically,
water we drink will ultimat ely have to get into the cells—water regulates the volume of a cell from inside. Salt
regulates the amount of water that is held outside the cells—the ocean around the cell There is a very d elicate
balancing process in  the design of the body in the way it  maintains its co mposition of blood at the expense of
fluctuating the water content in some cells of the body. When there is a shortage of water, som e cells will go without
a portion of their normal needs and some others will get a predetermined rationed amount to maintain function (as it
was e xplained, the mechanism involves wat er filtration through the cell membrane). However, blood will normally
retain the consistency of its com position. It must do so to keep the normal composition of elements reaching the
vital centers. This is where the "solutes paradigm" is inadequate and goes wrong. It bases all assessments and evaluations of
body functions on the solids content of blood. It does not recognize the comparative dehydration of some other parts
of the body. All blood tests can  appear normal and yet the small capillaries of the heart and the brain may be closed
and cause some of the cells of these organs a gradual damage from increasing dehydration over a long period of
time. When you read the section on cholesterol formation, this sta tement will become more clear. When we lose thirst se nsation (or do not recognize the other signals of dehydration) and drink less water than the
daily requirement, the shutting down of some vascular beds is the only natural alternative to keep the rest of the
blood vessels full. The question is, how long can we go on like this. The answer is, long enough to ultimately
become very ill and die. Unless we get wise to the paradigm shift and professionally and generally begin to
recognize the problems a ssociated with water metabolism disturbance in the human body and its variety of thirst
signals, chronic dehydration will continue to take its toll on both our bodies and our society. Essen tial hype rtension should primarily be treated with an increase in daily water intake. The present way o f treating
hypertension is wrong to the point of scientific absur dity. The body is trying to retain its water volume, and we say to
the design of nature in us: "No, you do not understand—you must take diuretics and get rid of water. " It so
happens, if we do not drink sufficient water, the only other way the body has to secure water is through the
mechanism of keeping sodium in the body. The RA system is directly involved. Only when sodium is retained will
water remain in the extra cellular fluid compartment. From this compartment, through the mechanism of shower -
head production, wat er will be forced into som e of the cells with  "priority" status. Thus, keeping sodium in the body
is a last resort way of retaining some water for its "shower-head" filtered use. There is a sensitivity of design attached to sodium retention in the body. To  assume this to be the cause of
hypertension is inaccurate and stems from insufficient knowledge of the water regulatory mechanisms in the human
body. When diuretics are given to get rid of the sodium, the body becomes more dehydrated. The "dry mouth" level
of dehydration is reached and some water is taken to compensate. The use of diuretics m aintain the body at an
expanding level of deficit wat er management. They do not cure hypertension; they m ake the body more determined
for salt and water absorption—however, never enough to correct the problem. That is why, a fter a while, diuretics
are not enough and supplemental medications will  be forced on the patient. Another problem in assessme nt of hypertension is its m eans of measurement. Anxiety associated with having
hypertension will automatically affect the person at examination time. Readings of the instruments may not reflect
the true, natural, and normal blood pressur e. An inexperienced or hasty medical practitioner, more in fear of
litigation than mindful of accur acy of judgment, might assume the patient to have hypertension, whereas the person
might only have an instant of "clinic anxiety," thus cau sing a higher reading of the instrument. One other very
important but less-known problem with the mechanism of reading blood pressure is the process of inflating the cuff
well above the systolic reading, and then letting the air out until the pulse is heard. Every large (and possib ly small) artery has a companion nerve that is there to monitor the flow of blood through the
vessel. With the loss of pressure beyon d the cuff that is now inflated to very high levels, the process of "pressur e"
opening of the obstruction in the arteries will be triggered. By the time the pressur e in the cuff is lowered to read the
pulsation level, the recording of an artificially induced higher blood pressure will become unavoidable. Unfortunately,
the measurement of hypertension is so arbitrary (and based on the diastolic level) that in this litigious so ciety a
minor error in assessment may label a person hype rtensive. This is when all the "fun and games" begin. Water by itself is the best natural diuretic. If the persons who have hypertension, and produce adequate urine,
increase their daily water intake, they will not need to take any diuretics. If prolonged "hype rtension-producing
dehydration" has also caused heart failure complications, water intake should be increased gradually. In this way,
one makes sur e that fluid collection in the body is not excessive and unmanageable. The mechanism of sodium retention in these people is in an "overdrive" mode. When water intake is increased
gradually and more urine is being produced, the edema fluid ("swelling") that is full of toxic substances will be
flushed out, and the heart will regain its strength. The following letters are presented here with the kind permission
of their authors, who  wished to share their welcome experiences with the readers of this book. Dear Dr. Batmanghelidj,
November 22,1993
I have just ordered another copy of your book on water, having given a son my first copy. I tell everybody about it
and my experiences. Perhaps you would be interested. My first so n Charles, 58, who lives with me is deaf and autistic. I take him 3 or 4 days a  week to a facility for the
handicapped. They had been taking his blood pressure there and notified me that the doctor said he should go on
medication - his BP wa s 140-160/100-104. 1 had just received your book and asked  the M. D. to let me experimen t
for 2 weeks. Reluctantly he agreed, but warned me it was very dangerous. I kept Charles home and used the water routine, also adding a little magnesium a nd potassium. Two weeks later the nurse took his BP. and it was 106/80. She said-"The doctor will be in shortly"- evidently the
M.
Why are 30 percent of Americans overweight? A: Because of a most basic confusion! They don't know when they are thirsty; they also don't know the difference between "fluids" and "water." Let us discuss the letters from Mr. Peck, Mr. Paturis, Priscilla Preston, and Donna Gutkowski that follow. Al l of themstated they lost between 30 and 45 pounds in weight when they switched to water as their preferred beverage. There is another person who  gradually lost 58 pounds in less than a year, weight she had gained in six yea rs. As
The blood circulation is redirected to the gastrointestinal tract, and the capillaries in other areas are closed.
What is the primary reason why we feel less active after eating a meal?
Dehydration
What is the main cause of many diseases, according to Dr. Batmanghelidj?
The body is not used in a way that is in line with its natural design, and the constant stimulation of the brain by artificial sweeteners and other substances leads to overeating.
What is the main reason why people tend to gain weight, according to the text?
It does not address the root cause of the problem and may even worsen the condition.
What is the main issue with using diuretics to treat hypertension?
Water, which is used to generate "hydroelectricity" within the cells.
What is the primary source of energy for the brain?