Water

Many commonly-consumed beverages are poor options for patients on the Marshall Protocol (MP). For example, milk contains vitamin D and many sodas contain large amounts of sugar, both of which can be counterproductive for MP patients.

As beverages go, plain water is one of the best drinks for an MP patient, as it lacks many of the substances which can hinder progress.

There is no evidence to suggest, however, that drinking eight to ten glasses of water a day, as some health experts recommend, is beneficial.

Ingredients:

• one level teaspoon of salt
• 8 tsps sugar or 10 tsps NOW brand dextrose
• 1 liter of water (about 5 cups, 200 ml each)

Directions: To just make one cupful divide by 5. Of course, you could make it weaker, with less sugar and salt, but if you make it with much less sugar, it will taste saltier and some might have trouble drinking it.

This website has some other ideas regarding potassium and is geared to children. One doesn't want too much potassium in some cases, particularly when on olmesartan, but if one is really depleted by vomiting and diarrhea, and doesn't generally have a problem with an excess of potassium, one could use some of their ideas.

Doctors sometimes tell one to buy Gatorade when having a lot of diarrhea from a gastrointestinal flu, but I don't like the dyes and they may add too much potassium (and require a trip to the store). Some people have to restrict salt due to high blood pressure or other reasons and in this case, they should consult their doctor.

I'm not suggesting these things for general use, just special circumstances, if your doctor approves (to avoid having to go to the hospital for an IV – though sometimes, if one can't keep the fluid down due to vomiting, that may be required).

For general purposes, just drinking enough water should be enough to stay adequately hydrated, as most people get enough salt in their diet.

Joyce Waterhouse, PhD

MP patients who are looking for a cool drink as an occasional treat to supplement water may drink sugar-free, flavored bottled water or powdered sugar-free drinks without added vitamins. Iced teas (herbal or green) brewed weak are another option. Carbonated sugar-free sodas should be limited to no more than two per day. Splenda is the preferred sugar-free sweetener. MP patients should avoid vitamin water.

• The Water Myth