Hydration and Beverages Articles
Drinking the right among of water daily is the single most important thing you can do to benefit your health. It is one of the most inexpensive and simple things we can do for our health.
How much water should I drink? Simply divide your body weight by 2 and this will give you the ounces of water to drink daily. Example: 150 lbs divided by 2 = 75 oz. per day.
1 – Coffee, sodas and other drinks containing lots of sugar and/or caffeine do not count as water
2 – Caffeine and sugar can upset the body’s natural water balance and contribute to dehydration
3 – Circulation, digestion, absorption and elimination depend on water to function optimally
4 – The consequences of dehydration (not drinking water) can result in chronic diseases
5 – Good practice is to drink 1 to 2 glasses in the morning and evening and than 1 hour before meals
6 – Many people eat because they think they are hungry, in fact they are thirsty and don’t even know it
7 – Drinking adequate water can help facilitate weight loss
Bottled water has rapidly become a very popular drink. In this age of convenience bottled water fits in very well with many new modern lifestyles. It provides portable and handily available purified and sanitized drinking water. It is also an upgrade from the many artificially or with high fructose corn syrup sweetened drinks that have flooded the market.
The question is whether or not it is a great improvement over tap water.
On the positive side tap water is cheap, basically safe, easily available, has fluoride which can help prevent tooth decay, has a neutral or slightly alkaline pH, usually contains some good minerals and depending on where you’re at can have a good taste.
On the negative side tap water can be polluted with many industrial chemicals that are not totally removed by the water purification systems, can contain excessive amounts of iron, sulfur or fluoride, can draw lead or copper from the pipes, and on occasion he contaminated with bacteria and waste products from occasional flooding.
On the positive side bottled water is safe from bacterial infections, can taste good, easily portable, can have an alkaline pH and be free of fluoride.
On the negative side bottled water is very expensive, has usually a very acid pH, has no fluoride in the water, may have very few nutritional minerals, may contain unacceptable levels of the plastic chemicals (bisphenyl A) that leech from plastic containers.
Conclusions:
1. Fluoride in the water is both positive and negative depending on who is drinking it.
2. Kids benefit from the fluoride helping to reduce the amount of a dental decay. However this is a doubtful benefit for most adults and there is some concern that the fluoride ion in tap water reacts with the some of the trace chemicals in the tap water making them more carcinogenic.
3. It is my opinion that fluoride is best applied topically by your dentist or hygienist for the most effective protection of your teeth with minimal systemic side effects.
4. High fluoride concentration tooth gels can be used by high-risk adults and by kids under supervision to avoid excess swallowing of the gel. 2-3 times a week is enough to be effective.
5. Having an occasional bottle of water is not a health risk. Drinking only bottled water could be a problem. The best of both worlds would be to buy a water filter and alkalizing unit that will purify your tap water and increase the pH of the water up to 9. There are many health benefits in doing this. Alkaline water increases your body’s ability to neutralize excess acid ions that come from the high amount of acid foods and liquids we ingest. This will help the body reduce inflammation, tooth decay and enamel erosion in the mouth and generalized water retention. Weight loss and lower blood pressure is another benefit.
Want a drug that can lower your risk of diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and colon cancer? That could lift your moods and treat headaches? That could lower your risk of cavities?
Harvard research studies found that downing one to three cups of America’s favorite caffeinated morning beverage can reduce diabetes risk by single digits. Overall the research shows that coffee is more healthful than harmful. At least six studies indicate that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease. Other research show that compared to not drinking coffee at least two cups daily can translate to a 25% reduced risk of colon cancer, an 80% drop in cirrhosis of the liver risk, and nearly half the risk of gallstones.
There’s also some evidence that coffee may help manage asthma and even control attacks when medication is unavailable, stop a headache, boost a mood and even prevent cavities.
The compound in coffee that prevents cavities is trigonelline, which gives coffee the aroma and bitter taste, has antibacterial and anti-adhesive properties. Plus coffee has a lot of antioxidants such as chlorogenic acid and tocopherols and minerals such as magnesium. A group of compounds called quinines that when induced to lab rats increases insulin sensitivity, and that improves the body’s response to insulin.
If you get chilled and begin to get the symptoms of a cold or flu, first take 1000 milligrams of Vitamin C with 8 ounces of water, then fill a tub with very hot water, as hot as your feet and legs can stand, sit on the edge of the tub with your feet and lets in the water and a blanket wrapped around you until you sweat. Add more hot water as it begins to cool, and sit there at least 20-30 minutes.
Why this works? A hot environment increases your circulation and kills viruses. (Fevers are part of the body’s defenses against microbes.)
The only caution on this treatment is whether you have enough strength and balance to sit on the edge of a tub. You can do this for an older person who does not have the strength by getting a large, deep bucket and filling it with hot water, putting some plastic under the bucket, and having them sit in a chair.
This begins to work immediately. I have had colds go away completely in less than 12 hours with this method.
What is so great about the Amalaki fruit? – by Candice and Rick Kwiecinski
Excerpts from ZriiTM’s Health & Wellness Report – Volume 1/Number 1 – by Candice and Rick Kwiecinski
Hot Water For Colds And Flu – by Dr Martha H Howard, MD
Coffee: The New Health Food – by Dr Melody Hart
Bottled Water Vs. Tap Water – by Raymond Hatland, DDS
Teas & Health – by Dr Helen Lee, D.C.
Tea Fights Alzheimer’s – by Dr. Martha Howard
Gina Orlando’s Favorite Protein Fruit Shake/Smoothie – by by Gina Orlando
The 7 Most Important Facts About Water – by Dr Kristina Sargent
Tea can be a soothing & healthy beverage of choice especially during the cold winter months. However, there are a couple things to keep in mind. Most of the better known teas will contain some caffeine, even green tea. You can get these teas decaffeinated, however, this indicates that it is LESS caffeine than the original. Green, black & oolong teas are derived from the same plant called Camellia sinensis and only differ depending on the way it is prepared. Black teas are put through an oxidative process then heated creating increased caffeine & the darker color. Oolong teas are also partially oxidized or fermented. Green teas are less processed and thus have shown to provide some health benefits: antioxidant, antimicrobial, may help to reduce lipid levels, aid with diarrhea &/or vomiting, etc. Teas also contain tannic acid which is great as an anti-inflammatory & anti-microbial for swelling, bee stings, & burns.
Herbal & fruit teas which are made from various herbs, botanicals, seeds, flowers & fruit can provide many health benefits as well.
For example:
Roobios or Red tea: antioxidant, aids with headaches, hay fever, infant colic/stomach cramping, hypertension, nervousness, helps those prone to kidney stones, contains minerals, copper, iron, potassium, manganese.
Peppermint: soothes irritable bowel, nausea, vomiting, contains Vitamin B, calcium & potassium
Chamomile Tea: may aid in decreasing complications from diabetes, helps soothe & relax, suppress fungal growth, aids irritable bowel symptoms.
And an infinite variety of herbal blended teas.
In order to get the most enjoyment & benefit, it is important to find the highest quality of tea—not all teas are alike in the way that they are grown, harvested, processed and cared for.
An antioxidant in green tea (a flavonoid found in plants) may fight the memory robbing effects seen with plaque deposits in Alzheimer’s disease. The antioxidant known as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) significantly reduces the formation of beta-amyloid proteins in the brain.
An abnormal buildup of beta-amyloid plaque in the brain is implicated in the nerve damage and memory loss seen in Alzheimer’s disease. Tea also inhibits the activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) which breaks down the chemical messenger or neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. Alzheimer’s is characterized by a drop in acetylcholine.
Green tea also hinders the activity of the enzyme butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). Green tea has Catechins in which half is made up of EGCG, which is 20 times more powerful than vitamin C as a antioxidant. One would need to drink 3 or more cups of tea per day, each with two tea bags per cup or loose one tablespoon per cup. The dose of EGCG would equal 1,500 or 1,600 milligrams daily.
Other health benefits Green Tea may have is for conditions of Cancer, High Cholesterol, Cardiovascular problems and other age related disorders.
by Gina Orlando
Protein is made up of amino acids. Amino acids support your blood sugar and your brain chemistry. There is a lot of sagging blood sugar and brain chemistry, which then pulls people to eat sugar, other carbs, chocolate, baked goods, junk. Eating these foods may feel good for a few minutes, but then people feel down, low energy, nervous, hungry, obsessed with thinking about food, then start munching and many gain weight.
Eating a protein-based breakfast without grain/wheat is a tip that can benefit you. Many people eat no breakfast, or a carb breakfast composed of high-glycemic carbs and lots of grain-based foods, especially wheat (bread, toast, muffin, bagel, cereal). This causes some short-term gain (a sugar high) and a big backside loss… loss of energy, control, having an instable mood and an increase in cravings, weight, moodiness, brain fog, exhaustion, sadness, and weight. And wheat is an opiate brain receptor stimulant… so it can become addictive and add to the slump in your brain chemistry and blood sugar, creating an addictive cycle.
Making an easy and delicious protein fruit shake is a great way to have a balanced meal of good quality protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats. This following recipe is balanced. If you add more fruit, it will begin to get imbalanced. So start a new breakfast ritual, let go of wheat and other grains for breakfast and kick-start your program to feel better. It takes about 5 minutes to prepare this delicious smoothie. This is a meal in itself. You can have it at other times of the day instead, but give it a try for breakfast. Enjoy!
Gina Orlando’s Favorite Protein Fruit Shake/Smoothie
In a blender put:
1 cup of filtered or spring water (if using all frozen fruit, you may wish to substitute a ¼ cup of boiled water to take the chill off the frozen fruit)
1/2 cup (frozen) organic mango cubes [bananas are a bit high on the glycemic index]
1/2 cup (frozen) organic berries (strawberries, mixed berries or blueberries)
1 scoop (5 T.) of protein powder (egg white (isn’t gritty), whey or rice protein) [avoid soy, unless you know you are not allergic to it, and that it works for you. Soy has been known to diminish thyroid function in some women.]
2-3 tsp. Omega 3 oil, found in health food stores such as flax oil
You may wish to add:
1-3 tsp. of fiber (finely ground flax, mixed fibers or psyllium or ¼ tsp. apple pectin) Fiber will make it more gritty, but fiber is necessary for good health.
Optional: 2-3 tsp. of Miracle Greens powder (freeze-dried from veggies and fruits and also contains healthy bacteria called probiotics) or some other green food powder.
Blend. Adjust taste and texture. Protein powder will always have a little grit to it. The fruit and oil smooth it out. Keep protein, carb and fat in balance. Be creative! Enjoy!