The Hot Water Cure

NOTE: I wrote this in 2008 when I attended The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. It was published on a website that doesn’t exist anymore. I was thinking about it today because it’s cold and today was the first day of the season when I filled my water bottle with hot water, which I will continue to do for the next few months! Am I a weirdo or does anyone else do this? Anyhow – I dug up the old article to share – here it is! Kerry

The Hot Water Cure 

I recently had the pleasure of attending a talk with Dr. John Douillard, an Ayurvedic doctor based in Colorado. He taught us a simple, yet amazing technique to cut food cravings and clear a congested lymphatic system.

What’s so terrible about congested lymphs?

The lymphatic system is part of our body’s waste removal system, and it’s job is to flush free radicals (which are produced by stress), toxins and impurities from the body.

When our lymphatic system is clogged these toxins get trapped, which can lead to a host of problems, including: water retention, sore throat, allergies, bloating, belly fat, hip or thigh fat, fatigue and thyroid issues. Not good!

Dr. Douillard teaches that one way to clear a congested lymphatic system is by sipping plain old hot water every 10 minutes for two weeks.  You should sip half of your body weight in ounces per day (so 70 ounces for a 140-pound person). By boiling the water, you boil off dissolved mineral solids, making the water more easily absorbed by your cells. Boiling makes the molecules very active, so the heated water is more cleansing than cold water. Hot water also creates vaso-dilation, which means that your pores and tissues open and circulation and hydration improve.

When you first start sipping hot water, you may notice that you crave it. This is a sure sign that you body is dehydrated. Other people who attended Dr. Douillard’s talk reported that their cold disappeared, they stopped snacking between meals, felt calmer and more energized.

During these cold winter months, I have found sipping hot water to be incredibly soothing and warming. Cravings for sweets and caffeine have diminished. And even better, it keeps me hydrated during these dry winter days.

Happy sipping!
Kerry