„I only drink hot water!“
Many people have incorporated this „Ayurveda tip“ into their lives and developed it to perfection: they don't leave the house without a thermos flask.
Hot water is not just „hot water“. Which water at which temperature are we actually talking about?
The fact isWater is our most important foodstuff!
Depending on age, around two thirds of the human body consists of water. Water transports nutrients to the cells, disposes of waste products via the kidneys and helps regulate our body temperature. The supply of minerals counts not The functions of water - these are mainly absorbed through solid foods such as fruit and vegetables.
The water
The „Caraka Samhita“ states: „The best water is slightly astringent, sweet, not slimy, light, not rough and not blocking.“ Classifications are made according to cardinal points, seasons, soils and reservoirs. Rainwater is considered naturally cooling, pure, healthy, flavoursome, clear and light.
Well, which crate in the drinks market comes close to these qualities?
The fact is:
Rainwater is almost free of minerals, spring water and river water are only slightly mineralised. It was industrialisation and the associated deep drilling that created the phenomenon of consuming water with a high mineral content. The water expert Bernhard Vogl postulates: „It is not at all natural, to drink mineral water.“
Conclusion:
From an Ayurvedic point of view, soft water low in minerals should be used - examples of this are Lauretana or Hornberger Lebensquell. This is unsaturated and can therefore absorb excess minerals in the body and channel them for elimination. The prejudice that this flushes out valuable minerals is scientifically untenable. An exact indicator of water quality is the electrical resistance measured in ohms. According to hydrologist Prof Vincent, the rule of thumb is: the higher the resistance, the easier the water is to absorb.
The temperature
Imagine a scale of cold >>> cool >>> neutral >>> warm >>> very warm >>> hot. Neutral stands for a room temperature of 20 degrees, for example. Cold corresponds to a refrigerator temperature of approx. 5° and hot occurs directly after boiling water, i.e. just under 100°.
From an Ayurvedic point of view, we can recommend predominantly warm water for Vata constitutions, neutral to warm water for Pitta constitutions and warm to hot water for Kapha constitutions. Hot water can only be sipped and has a drying, lightening and Āma-reducing effect - an absolute must for all detoxifications. Vata, on the other hand, can become drier and lighter through the exclusive consumption of hot water. Cool and cold water is not beneficial for warm-blooded people - but you are welcome to deviate from this rule with a good glass of white wine...
Ayurvedic texts also recommend boiling water to varying degrees, depending on the dosha dominance: for Vata by about a quarter, for Pitta by a third and for Kapha or Ama by half.
My tip
Check your state of health and define what you specifically want to optimise. Then select the right water at the right temperature. If you want to boil tap water, be sure to check its quality - otherwise „hot water“ will quickly turn into a „hot problem“. PROST - to your health!
With best wishes for your health,
Ralph Steuernagel
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