Japanese Water Therapy and Its Many Benefits

Is it Worth the Hype?

To begin with, what is water therapy?

Simply put, when you use water for therapeutic reasons, you partake in water therapy. Japanese water therapy recommends that you drink five to six glasses of pure water, room temperature, or warm, right after waking up in the morning. You do this before consuming anything or brushing your teeth in the morning. Once you have had the water, you wait for about 45 minutes before having your morning beverage and breakfast.

Why is it important?

Water composes almost 75% of our body. It plays a critical role in all our bodily functions. However, bodily functions, such as sweating and urination, deplete the water level in our bodies.

This is why it is of utmost importance that we replenish the lost hydration by consuming plenty of water. Mornings are the best time to hydrate the body as they provide a healthy start to the day.

What are its origins?

Ancient civilizations often made use of the healing properties of natural elements such as mud, plants, fruits, spices, etc. However, using water for therapeutic uses finds its origin in Japanese culture. They were the first to use water for its myriad health benefits.

What are the benefits of Japanese water therapy?

There are many health benefits of following the water therapy regime. Proponents believe that water provides a cure for several health issues.

Aids weight loss

Japanese water therapy recommends the consumption of several glasses of warm or room temperature water on an empty stomach every morning. It also suggests a strict 15 minutes eating window. You eat only in those fifteen minutes and then don’t consume anything else for the next two hours. This practice restricts your calorie consumption to a great extent. Weight loss through water therapy works in multiple ways. First, when you replace sugary drinks with water you potentially cut down on hundreds of calories per day. Then, short eating windows further cuts down the caloric intake per meal. Also, when you drink water before every meal you are likely to feel fuller and end up eating less. Many studies have shown positive results that water can have in weight loss.

Improves gut health and metabolism

Japanese water therapy believes that cold water leads to the hardening of fats and oils along the walls of the digestive tract. Warm or room temperature water helps in cleansing the digestive tract. It also promotes healthy gut bacteria that help improve digestion. Water therapy also tends to improve metabolism. As a result, the body can digest food quicker and burn more calories and you end up feeling more energetic throughout the day.

Helps in complete detoxification

Water is naturally neutral. It helps in flushing harmful toxins out of the body and maintains the pH level. This detoxifying effect of water improves the health of the skin and prevents issues such as acne and pigmentation. Well-hydrated bodies also lead to healthy tresses. Water helps by moisturizing lackluster and damaged hair, improves the elasticity, and prevents hair loss.

Alleviates constipation

Poor digestive health is the brewing ground for a variety of health conditions. Water therapy helps enhance the absorption and assimilation of nutrients from the food we eat. It prevents constipation and bloating by improving bowel movements. Better bowel movements and daily release of toxins can have wonderful effects on the overall health and well-being. It also greatly improves the mood and sets a positive tone for the rest of the day.

Other than the aforementioned benefits, water therapy can also potentially deliver the following benefits

Well-lubricated joints.
Regulated body temperature.
Prevents hypertension/blood pressure.
Improves kidney health, prevents kidney stones.
Reduces water retention, further facilitating weight loss.

So, is Japanese water therapy worth the hype?

Water is the liquid of life. Every single organism on the planet directly depends upon water for health and sustenance. Proponents believe it to be able to cure all kinds of illnesses, including type 2 diabetes and cancer. However, constructive research is necessary to prove that.

Also, there is such a thing as over-hydration. Drinking more water than what your kidneys can process and flush out can lead to over-hydration. It can also lead to dilution of essential salts and minerals in the body and rare cases, it can prove fatal. As a general precaution when practicing water therapy, do not drink more than a liter of water per hour. That is the amount of water a set of healthy kidneys can process at a time.

Like every other holistic healing approach, you should not use water therapy as the primary treatment for serious illnesses. However, you can use it as a complementary therapy to maintain overall health and well-being.

Sarah Mitchell, RD, LDN

Sarah Mitchell is a Registered Dietitian and Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (RD, LDN) based in Austin, Texas, with over 12 years of experience in women's health nutrition. She earned her B.S. in Dietetics from the University of Texas at Austin and completed her clinical dietetic internship at St. David's Medical Center. Sarah specializes in hormonal health, PCOS management, and weight-neutral approaches to nutrition for women in their 30s and 40s. She spent seven years as a clinical dietitian at a women's health clinic before transitioning to private practice and health writing, where she focuses on making evidence-based nutrition accessible to everyday women. Her work has been featured in Everyday Health, Women's Health Magazine, and Healthline. She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Women's Health Dietetic Practice Group. All nutrition-related articles on Living Healthy Life are reviewed by Sarah to ensure accuracy and clinical integrity.