Water

[shy1]

I don't really know if this is simply coincidence or if it is cause and effect, but my doctor advised increasing my water consumption to a minimum of a half ounce per pound of body weight. I could go as high as an ounce per pound. He claims that most people are severly dehydrated.

I've been doing this for a week now, at the half ounce/pound level. I've noticed that my mood has been elevated during this time .... every day/all day. This is certainly not something that was expected as my water intake is not related to depression. I can't think of any other reason why I would be in this happy mood.

If you choose to try this, I suggest slowly ramping up your intake to your final level. At first you'll be making several unexpected trips to the bathroom. I'll try to remember to let you know if this ongoing or just a one week illusion.

[maudlin]

Hi Shy,

I would be curious to hear about your further water experiences. I am experiencing the same thing, and was already worried about getting diluted. I am drinking sometimes a gallon of water per day, and that is when I feel the best. The minimum is half a gallon. One explanation is that our bodies consist of a great percentage of water, and the brain even more than the rest of the body. But I agree that is still unclear how that relates to depression.

Would be curious to hear whether you are still on the "water-drug".

[shy1]

Hi Maudlin,

It's been 3 weeks since I first posted. I'm still drinkng water (about a gallon per day most days, yep, I'm a big guy) much more than I ever have before. I now consider it the elixir of life.

I did not start this originally for depression, but I have only had one down day since I began. However, in all fairness, I still take one SJW tablet 5 times/week and I began Tai Chi on 3/1. Both are having some impact on my depression. So I'm not willing to say that water is a cure ... but I certainly now believe that proper water intake will help alleviate or lessen depressive symptoms. Before I started this regimen I considered one or two down days per week normal for me right now. Only one down day in 4 weeks is signigicant improvement, indeed. In fact, I can't remember this ever happening before.

Please keep me up to date on your progress. I would love to hear if you continue to see success. I trust we won't float away.

[ratboy83]

hi there,

i live near the north downs in surrey (england). one thing i do remember about people who live in such areas is that the water they drink is very 'hard' due to the chalk in the surrounding area. this results in much higher levels of naturally occuring magnesium and calcium in the drinking water. magnesium is one of the key depression nutrients. is your water 'hard' also. if so, and you're not getting enough magnesium from other sources, then maybe an increased magnesium intake is also a factor in why your mood has improved.

alex.

[shy1]

Hi Alex,

Great point about the minerals in the water. I've lost my annual water quality report, but I don't recall seeing anything extraordinary. Water from Lake Michigan (mine) is pretty soft water. Other than that, my diet has been pretty much the normal routine.

[maudlin]

Hi Alex and Shy,

It cannot be the Magnesium in my case either. I am taking enough magnesium as supplement (this alone worked for me for years against dysthymia and moderate depression), so it should not make the difference. I drink bottled water, I know it has problems as well but I live in a 1924 building and I bet the pipes are something between lead and copper. Only schlepping the gallons is unpleasant. And my neighbors make fun of me.

Shy, You asked to keep you updated. I am doing well when I get my half gallon, and I am doing worse when I am not getting it. My biggest problem is to keep up with drinking enough water. BTW, I count the two pints of green tea as well that I drink in the morning. But my job is so stressful that I sometimes realize at 6pm that I had nothing to drink (and nothing to eat either...) since breakfast. How do you manage to make yourself drink a whole gallon??

I was also looking into macrobiotic diets, and what they say is that more liquid is worse for you because the kidneys have to work much harder. Any thoughts? I am inclined to ignore it, since the water has been working (as long as I get enough of it).

[shy1]

How do you drink a gallon of water every day? In my case I begin with 20 oz or so before I leave for work in the morning. Since I work in an office, I have a pitcher style water filter I use and drink several glasses of water at my desk. I pretty much stop after dinner, otherwise I would truly float away!

Gosh, now it has been six weeks with only one down day. I'm beginning to believe that proper hydration does affect mood whether it affects depression or not.

By the way, I did a quick search online and seems that doctors, athletes, trainers.coaches and nutritionists all recommend 1/2 oz. of water per lb. of body weight every day. Not to say they're all right about this, but that's a nice cross section of support.

[ratboy83]

for me that would be drinking 3 litres a day. definately do-able!!! i'll need to adjust it though as do alot of exercise, which means i need more anyway. probs more like 4 litres!!!!

alex.

[Dalkin]

There's been several books actually written on how powerful water really is. I think a lot of ppls' depressions are actually linked to poor diets. Americans eat way too many processed foods that have lost all their nutrients. Lately I've been drinking a lot more water among other things, and I can tell my mood has dramatically gotten better. Our bodies rely on water to do just about everything. When you go to the bathroom and if your pee is not clear, you are dehydrated. By the time you feel thirsty it's too late. I almost always have a water bottle in my hands now a days.