Ask the Trainer: Know Your Water
Life will challenge you for sure. I was talking to a new client yesterday who is having problems with his business. He had decided that after a month of working out that he was going to take a break from training because he didn’t have the head space for it. He wanted to focus on saving his business.
I told him that the best way to approach the situation was from a healthy standpoint, that he needed to workout to relieve stress and relax himself in order to gain greater clarity in making decisions. The best decisions are made when the mind is free of stress and able to comprehend the whole situation.
Far too often we put ourselves last when in crisis mode. The key point to remember is that everything follows your health. Nurture yourself with all things healthy, not destructive. No drugs or alcoholic drinks can deliver the results of exercise and engaging in healthy practices. Remember this if you are experiencing troubled times.
Trainer Tip
Over the last few months I have received a lot of questions about water. I have addressed water before, but from the standpoint of how much to consume and why – but there is more. Tara wrote in asking what I thought about all the hype behind the multitude of different types of water. She asked, “I am confused and would appreciate some direction in choosing a bottled water that lives up to its claim. What is the difference between waters with vitamins, electrolytes, flavoring, etc?”
To make short of an incredibly interesting and long topic, I will give you the basic scientific facts and leave the rest of the discovery about water up to you.
Structured Water/ Hexagonal Water
For the sake of simplicity, there are two types of water, bulk water and structured water. The best water on the market is structured water. It is called structured water because individual H2O (water) molecules bind together in tight clusters of 6 to form a hexagonal shaped water structure. Each of the individual water molecules are connected to one another by their hydrogen atoms forming what is called a hydrogen bond. It is in this bond that the power of structured water is created.
Think of it as a key to a padlock. When 6 water molecules align themselves in a hexagonal structure they can generate more energy between them, than by themselves. When more than 6 molecules of water group together, they become bulk water which is too big to be accepted inside your cells. Hexagonal water is the perfect fit and easily enters straight into your cells.
Once inside your cells, structured water does amazing things:
- Cleans metabolic waste (waste created from the cells burning food for energy)
- Aids in brain function (water conducts the electrical impulses of the brain)
- Enhances muscular reaction (conducts the electrical impulse from the brain down the neurons that stimulates muscular movement)
Bulk water stays outside the cells and is not permitted to pass inside because its molecular structure is too big. As a result, even people who drink sufficient amounts of water may still be dehydrated. It is dehydration that significantly contributes to a host of ill effects to the body including:
- Premature aging
- Dry skin, acne, wrinkles
- Constipation
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Asthma
- Joint pain
- Fatigue
When comparing the claims of bottled waters, look for waters that are structured. Then check out their website to see how long the water holds its structure after it has been bottled. Most lose their hexagonal structure as soon as it is bottled. The only waters that I know of that meet this test are Aquavybe and AquaHydrate. Check out their websites to learn more about the wonderful world of structured water. Note that most vitamin-enhanced waters are bulk waters, which do not meet the same standards as a true structured water.
The fail-safe plan for combating dehydration and packing your body full of antioxidants/vitamins is to consume 5 cups of fruits and vegetable a day along with drinking 2 liters of water. Fruits and vegetables are full of water that has been conveniently arranged in the hexagonal structure by our own Mother Nature.
Check back next Friday and I will answer another email from askthetrainer@blogdowntown.com.
Til next time—Exercise More, Play Hard, Work Smart.
Billy Locke
Extreme Natural Fitness Trainer
dogolaca on April 18, 2009, at 03:45PM – #1
There is no scientific evidence to support the existence or value of anything called "structured water." It's pseudo-science in the same realm as homeopathy.
See http://www.chem1.com/CQ/clusqk.html for a discussion.
Do not be tricked by invocations of fake science into spending your money on expensive designer waters.
The Dude on April 18, 2009, at 06:05PM – #2
Huh, so by this logic, humans have been dehydrated since the dawn of time, and are now only getting proper hydration with this expensive, designer water?
Sorry, I'm with dogolaca on this one.
Grumpy on April 18, 2009, at 08:20PM – #3
Please don't continue this series, this is bordering on making me unsubscribe..
Jeremiah B.C. Axelrod on April 18, 2009, at 08:27PM – #4
dogolaca is absolutely right. Blogdowntown should issue a correction or retraction ASAP.
The chemistry cited in this article would not get by a sleepy first-year chem student and should not have gotten by Blogdowntown's usually excellent owners.
It is this simple: water never stays for any appreciable amount of time in some sort of hexagonal structure when liquid. Those hydrogen bonds are internal - they do not create any clusters. This entire article is utterly ridiculous and should be taken down from this site or, at the very least, accompanied by some serious editorial caveats - the fine reputation of Blogdowntown is endangered by it as it now stands.
Leave it up on April 18, 2009, at 10:08PM – #5
Why is the trainer's potential quackery cause for censure?
It's a perfect example of how one should always exercise suspicion when reading blogs or anything on the web. Doctors routinely tell people not to diagnose themselves based on web research since the content is largely unfiltered. Hence, its accuracy is dubious.
If Jesus in a Kit Kat went as far as it did, then give this fool his forum to write what he wants and take responsibility for yourselves.
You take blogs seriously?
The Dude on April 19, 2009, at 03:14AM – #6
@ Leave it up
So by your logic, blogdowntown should let any one of its editors put up any article he/she chooses about anything, regardless of factual accuracy...because this is "just a blog"? That is not what this site was founded on. This site was created, and has sustained itself by being a CREDIBLE source of information for the past several years.
This site has always been upfront in listing corrections and updates to its articles when needed so as to be a practical source for everything related to living in Downtown LA. Why should that tradition end now?
Pegger on April 19, 2009, at 08:07AM – #7
Aside from the proported benefits of structured water come the articles (there are plenty) about the dangers of drinking TOO MUCH water, namely created by the burden placed upon one's kidneys and heart. Water for simple, continuing hydration and within reason, not water for the sake of reaching a quota, should be the motto.
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on April 19, 2009, at 08:53AM – #8
The Dude: In columns, our position has been to let authors write their opinions. That's different from our normal news coverage (where I can be a little more of a dictator), and perhaps the way that these columns are displayed needs to be tweaked to make that more evident.
In general, though, this thread illustrates what I love about having a medium where the audience is so readily able to jump in and give their own response. I don't buy into the structured water idea, but I wouldn't have even known it was out there had Billy not brought it up.
Paul Shin on April 19, 2009, at 11:18AM – #9
I am a Ph.D. chemist who has actually conducted the research to prove that there is no definitive proof "hexagonal" water as reported by Mu Shik Jhon. I am also concerned about scientific literacy and unethical application of science (pseudoscience) toward financial gain. I believe in the "Give a man enough rope..." idea. It is wonderful to see that there are those who spot such chicanery and label it as such. Simply identifying it as such does the job!
The Dude on April 19, 2009, at 04:05PM – #10
@ Eric:
Well if that's the case, I would agree that some formatting change should be implemented to visually separate the "completely for entertainment" versus the "based in reality" components of the site. That way when searching for latest stories, it will be more apparent what is news/opinion/commentary, versus entertainment (i.e. Oliver, Trainer, etc).
My only concern, though, is that I'm not sure how useful some of the purely for entertainment content is to a lot of your readers. I won't tell you how to do your job, especially since you've done a great job the past few years, but I do sympathize with the balancing act one must do between giving somebody the opportunity for a grassroots soapbox, and providing content that is relevant to the audience.
I did some research, and Locke doesn't seem to have any direct ties with the two designer waters he was shilling, so I guess there wasn't any mal-intent, but on first read, it seemed like a "snake oil salesman" piece.
Death is inevitable on April 19, 2009, at 04:53PM – #11
Unless you want to continue to make bottled water companies rich or live in a 3rd world country, drink from the tap. Save our landfills from your plastic container obsession
No one cares what water you drink and yes, death is coming anyone, at some point or another.
philpalm on April 20, 2009, at 12:05AM – #12
If your urine looks supersaturated with waste products, you need to drink more water. Unfortunately the excretion of excess sugar (a diabetic condition) may or may not smell sweet and a sugar test of the urine (as opposed to tasting it!) maybe wise to do occasionally if frequent urination occurs.
There are other ways to tell if your body needs more water. Some bodies get a bit taunt, dry mouth may occur or the inability to spit. Unfortunately when you get that far in being dehydrated your body may suffer some damage (like heat stroke). I say it is better to be safe than sorry....
willy on April 22, 2009, at 08:53AM – #13
I think it's already been said above, but this article is quackery and benehth the consistent quality of blogdownton.
dont ask the trainer. on April 22, 2009, at 09:37PM – #14
Is this guy for real? This article is insulting towards the entire health profession. The fact that this guy has a platform to speak about exercise and nutrition is honestly a joke.
Blogdowntown: I dont think u guys understand how misleading this article is. you might as well get someone who calls himself a "financial expert" to come in here and tell us that 20 dollar bills dont actually fit in our wallets..so we should throw them in the nearest fireplace.
gqtoughpolo on April 26, 2009, at 05:24AM – #15
First of all this article is a joke!!
When I first started reading the article, I was thinking Billy is going to talk about client retention during tough economic times. I was wrong. As you all have read, it's down hill from there.
Second, the discussion of blogging has been an issues for years. We need to stick to the point of this article.
I work in two industries the health and fitness and Sales industry. I don't think I would consider sales as an industry in itself but I've sold it all. Yes, this does sound like a sales pitch !!
This article is absolute insult to health and fitness profession.
Why? very easy, scoop of practice. We all know what a trainer's job consist of.
Train,motivate,educate,support, provide feedback. He or she should be helping you reach your fitness objections! That's it! There are many other smaller task that we should consider as well.
This article goes beyond he's scoop of practice. Paul Shine was moving to this point. He has a PH and is a Chemist, not billy.
The point: Billy please stick to fitness, sounds like your very knowledgeable in fitness not science. I'm sure your a great trainer and your clients like you. You are lucky to be writing in blog downtown. Please don't destroy your credibility. Remember something like this can have severe penalties from the organization that certifies you.
just a blog on April 26, 2009, at 12:48PM – #16
keep repeating "it's only a blog"
what's a blog? a blog is something 9 year olds can make from their bedrooms
if you value your health, try consulting a licensed doctor before believing everything you read