Coke, Cocaine, Acid and Addiction

John Pemberton, an Atlanta pharmacist at Jacobs’ Pharmacy created Coca-Cola in 1886.  That was a time when pharmacies dispensed cocaine, heroin and other currently illegal drugs at will.  Such medicines were thought to be helpful and harmless.  What a great way to have repeated sales for a fountain drink.  And what a bargain at just five cents a glass!

As a child the small 6-ounce green bottle was an occasional treat.  We would always look at the bottom to see where the bottle was made.  Collecting the bottles for the one cent deposit (nothing new about recycling) at the local filling station was the order of the day.  This practice eventually shifted to the no deposit no return concept for our modern convenience. 

“Soft” drinks have evolved from the occasional treat to a way of life.  The new addiction was not cocaine but sugar and artificial sweeteners.  Did I say addiction?  Just ask a long time user of diet drinks to stop and notice the blank stare on their face.  That information did not register.  For some these drinks completely replaced water.  After all, there is water in it…..right?

Smart Americans have becoming more health conscious to the point that even Coca Cola has noticed.  They realize they must change their marketing toward promoting their product as healthy.  So, we should drink our Coke and go to the gym?  After all it is really too much sugar that is the problem?

There is no doubt that the empty calories in sugar are not healthy and contributes to just about every known disease including cancer.  There are, however, many other considerations.  Normal body pH (the potential of hydrogen) of urine or saliva is a generally little acidic at 6.5 to 6.7.  Body pH is relative as the stomach pH is about 2 and the small intestine is 7.4.  Cellular pH is more acidic in the nucleus than in the cytoplasm.  We are actually like a battery with positive and negative charged areas.

Soft drinks can have a pH of around 3 depending on the drink.  In order to remain normal, your body will have to buffer this back up to 6.5.  Calcium is the most abundant buffer in the body.  The more you consume the more calcium you loose.  At some point your body may not be able to keep up resulting in a more acidic overall pH.  This can make you more susceptible to diseases of all types including cancer. 

Water is the recommended fluid of choice.  The most common water recommendation is weight divided by two equals the number of ounces per day.  This can vary due to weather and overall exertion.  Make sure you consume water without chlorine or fluoride.  There are water filters that will remove these harmful chemicals.  Water can be enhanced by adding lemon or lime.  Other options include Nitro Powder for electrolytes.  Hydrate I or Hydrate II can enhance the body’s ability to utilize water.

Stay Well!

Got Water?

One of the foundations of health is hydration.  It should be obvious that we should drink water.  If there were an owner’s manual for the human body, the recommended fluid for consumption is water.  Many recommend 8 glasses per day but this does not take into account body size or the time of day or year.  If we are working and sweating then we may need more.  My general recommendation is body weigh divided by two equals the number of ounces to consume per day.  Most people have an obligatory amount of water to consume of approximately 18 ounces for the body to just get by.

There are many estimates of the percentage of water in the body.  Let’s just say around 75%.  The body needs fluid to perform basic functions that includes the elimination of waste.  Dehydration can contribute to or cause joint pain from decreased synovial fluid, headaches, gall stones, kidney stones, gout, and high blood pressure to name a few.  How many times do you use drug therapies to treat simple dehydration? 

Are you drinking soft drinks or coffee and counting them as water?  I can probably say that if your fluid intake is primarily these drinks then you will not be healthy.  As a matter of fact, most of you that fall in the category are already on multiple drug therapies.  It is not wrong to drink coffee or have the occasional soft drink but it could be one of the most detrimental things you could do if you are not healthy.

Late signs of dehydrations may include dry mouth, infrequent urination, headache, back pain, constipation, heartburn, leg pain, or joint pain.  I am often asked what kind of water to drink.  The answer is relative to the individual.  If you are drinking soft drinks it is better to drink municipal tap water.  Of course it is better to avoid chlorine and fluoride in these water systems so you could purchase a filter.  Then you could get into which type of bottled water or water system.  Some recommend distilled water that is devoid of minerals and not the best choice. Some recommend alkaline water.  There is always someone that has the answer but the first answer is drink water.

For some, it seems that water will just run thru them.  Some may drink enough water but still experience dry mouth.  This happens when the cellular membrane has been compromised.  Cell wall function is imperative for health.  Improving this membrane calls for the elimination of trans fats and increasing good fats such as Fish Oil , or flax oil.  I often recommend Hydrate I or Hydrate II drops to enhance the body’s utilization of water.  These homeopathic products enhance fluid absorption thereby increasing intracellular water.  It is a great place to start.  Hydrate I is for individuals under 40 years old and Hydrate II for those of us over 40.

There are many inexpensive things you can do to enhance water.  This includes fresh cut lemon or lime juice.  Herbal teas are nice and have mild nutrient and therapeutic effects.  You could also use Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar that has many wonderful effects.  It is great as a digestion aid before a meal.  Nitro Powder is a wonderful electrolyte replacement formula that is better than the commercial sugar drinks.


Stay Well!