The properties of seawater: Is drinking good for your health?

This sea bath is good for you, you know. In addition, the thermal baths are beneficial for the body and are particularly recommended for the relief of certain rheumatological conditions. But what Drinking seawater can improve healthEven the loss of weight is an absolute novelty, even though the study of the healing properties of seawater had already made sleep for dozens of scientists since time immemorial.

Those who have deepened the subject are the doctors María Alejandra Rodríguez Zía and María Teresa Ilari Valentí, and the lawyer Mariano Arnal, authors of the book The sea water, from the Aquamaris Foundation. In this work, the specialists explained why seawater is one of the most complete liquids on the planet, how to drink to obtain the healing effects and, finally, all the conditions that can be treated with this drink: obesity to high blood pressure, gastritis, hemorrhoids, constipation, asthma, colds, acne, psoriasis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and osteoporosis.

It is known the use of seawater for medicinal purposes since ancient times. Already, the father of medicine, Hippocrates has described its use externally in skin conditions and the treatment of pain. Then Avicenna, Celso and Galen explained the therapeutic virtues of the sea and recommended it to recover lost health.

In the sixteenth century, the King of France, Henry III, receives marine treatments on the advice of his doctor, who considers the beneficial effects of marine baths as "fortifying, astringent, antipyrogenic". The first book on thalbadotherapy was written in Oxford by Dr. Richard Russell in 1753, titled The use of seawater in diseases of the glands. He describes how the population – and especially children – living in coastal cities is generally healthier than that of the interior. That is why he recommended sea bathing and even seawater consumption, generalizing its use in Britain, France, Holland and Germany.

In 1896, Rene Quinton led the first experiments on the use of seawater in dogs. In 1897 it was applied intravenously and under hospital supervision to a terminally ill patient who had recovered completely. Quinton has demonstrated the healing power of seawater in practice and has saved thousands of lives by administering it to serious patients in marine clinics. Currently, in some countries such as Spain and more and more countries in Latin America, the culinary use of seawater as a nutritional supplement has been proposed. In other countries such as Japan, many companies have been developed around seawater, including its use in medical treatments and its excipient for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals.

The difference with table salt

The medical specialist in internal medicine and director of Santo Domingo Clinic in Managua, María Teresa Ilari Valentí, reported in the book her valuable experience on the therapeutic use of seawater applied at Santo Domingo Clinic. Jesuit fathers in Managua since 2003. About 200 doctors have been trained and more than 20,000 consultations have been offered with seawater treatment. According to the doctor, "The ocean water is composed of 96.5% water (H2O) and 3.5% minerals which, evaporated to 96.5% H2O, become salts". It also contains chlorine, sodium, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, potbadium, bromine, strontium, fluorine, iron, manganese, copper, silica, iodine and phosphorus, among other minerals.

"The term" common salt "applies to salt from mines in the earth and salt obtained by drying on the coast," the doctor said. "It is necessary to specify that this salt, washed, refined and additive, has nothing to do with sea water whose flavor is due to the combination of all the above-mentioned elements, among which the sodium ion (Na ) prevails because of its salty taste, which in the oceans is dissociated from chlorine, are distinct molecules ".

How to drink seawater

Learning to drink seawater should be done little by little. "The ways to prepare it and drink it will depend on the therapeutic or nutritional goal pursued." Oral seawater administration can take these two formats: isotonic or hypertonic, "explained authors.

And they detailed: "Isotonic seawater is seawater that has the same salinity as the human body and is prepared with three parts of drinking water and one part of seawater per liter." It can be used as drinking water or added. fruit juices and natural infusions, while hypertonic seawater has a level or "tone" of salinity superior to ours, corresponds to pure sea water, undiluted and is used as regulator of the intestine, purgative, digestive, before meals to reduce hunger and anxiety, as toothpaste or mouthwash in the oral cavity, in the kitchen for salting food and for topical treatments in the form of bath or salad dressings.

For the joint conditions, rheumatism type, arthritis, osteoarthritis, myalgia and fibromyalgia, osteoporosis were traditionally recommended in medicinal mineral thermal waters in Europe, both in bathing and ingesting. Social security in several European countries has prescribed and funded these treatments regularly.

"It is obvious that seawater, whose mineral composition is the sum of all other medicinal mineral waters, has demonstrated superior efficacy in the treatment of these pathologies," said Ilari Valentí, who pointed out: "Thirst does not only determine the lack of water, but also the lack of minerals (hence the use of isotonic waters in sport and isotonic sera in hospitals), as well as in the mechanisms that regulate the level of satiety, the mineral balance of admission is crucial, which is why one of the simplest mechanisms of control food anxiety is to provide a sufficient amount of minerals (by the addition of seawater); because the satiety alert system works perfectly thanks to a fair supply of minerals, which reduces the need for food. It helps us reduce our diet without suffering hunger or anxiety. "

"Everything indicates, and each time with more determination, that taking seawater in the forms that best accept and appreciate our palate can be one of the most powerful tools to help us fight against obesity and against hypertension and diabetes who accompany it, "said clinical and endocrinologist María Alejandra Rodríguez Zía.

This is why the contribution of seawater minerals, both in the kitchen and in drink form, is a powerful brake on obesity. "In addition to completely giving up ordinary salt and replacing it with sea water, it is advisable to replace the drinking water: change the cool water into isotonic, because with it l & rsquo; Body gains minerals and when the palate detects it, it feels less hungry -If this is not the case, it is recommended to concentrate the isotonic water drunk a few moments before each meal (between 15 and 20 minutes ), because one thus gets a pleasant sensation of satiety which makes it possible to reduce the diet without any sacrifice The solution to the problems of anorexia and bulimia caused by the sea water is governed by the same parameters as the treatment of obesity, minerals being the key. "

Its use as depurative and regulator of the digestive system (detoxifying, purgative, laxative) is based on the fact that "seawater allows the cleaning of the body by a mechanism of waste disposal, by a laxative response that manifests itself through a diarrhea, first expression of purification There is an excellent remedy against constipation: ingest seawater in a limited period of time, in this case, the amount is important, but always with caution (maximum of half a liter hypertonic, if it is not possible to evacuate).

In case of bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia, "the most suitable for these conditions is to go to the seaside to breathe water sprayed by the waves (the sea breeze), but as it is not always possible for everyone to resort to this remedy, the technology has been helped by means of: the creation of artificial nebulizers, there are compressors and ultrasounds, both very affordable ". "If you are dealing with bronchodilators on prescription medical, the drug can dissolve in this seawater, rather than in saline, and maintain treatment at least a week after the total improvement," recommended specialists .

AT renal diseases (Rare or insufficient urination, kidney stones, urinary tract infections), absorption of sea water with abundant fluids, helps with the expulsion of stones and the remission of other renal diseases. "There must be adequate control of ingestion and elimination in case of oliguria due to kidney failure".

"In the dental specialty, seawater is as effective as the best toothpastes and mouthwashes. As a precaution, simply wash your teeth with hypertonic seawater after each meal and rinse your mouth with seawater without reducing it, according to experts. In case of crisis (pyorrhea, gingivitis, inflammation, canker sores and infections), the remedy consists of an oral rinse with hypertonic seawater, repeated all the day as many times as necessary. "

Sea water in the kitchen

The seawater can also be used to cook the most varied dishes, from soups to stews to rice, vegetables and broths. To do this, you must find the right proportion of fresh water and seawater (as is usually done with salt), because neither all have the same need for minerals, so the same palace, or all foods require the same. amount of salt

"The proportion of freshwater and seawater should be tested, starting with the isotonic form: three parts freshwater and one seawater, and then varies depending from the request of our palace. " For fries and toasted, To mineralize, you must marinate or macerate in hypertonic seawater (without lowering it) several hours before cooking. The marinating time will also depend on the texture and thickness of each food and the palate demand. It is interesting to salt barbecues, roasts and grills by pouring a trickle of seawater over the entire contents of the grill and turning over the already grilled pieces, the water evaporates and the minerals remain; which gives it a unique flavor, much healthier and tastier than with ordinary salt, "they said in the book.