August 2008 Confused About Water Bottled vs Tap

Confused About Water: How Much Should You Drink?? Bottled vs Tap??

I was beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed by all of the conflicting information about water - one article suggests 8-10 glasses is not enough, the next says more than 8 is unnecessary or even harmful. Well I decided to do a little research of my own to clear up my confusion, I hope what I have learned will help you to make an informed choice for yourself.

Some facts about water:

• According to the British Dietetic Association (BDA) 72% of our weight is water, most of which is contained in our cells, the rest is fluid surrounding cells and plasma.
• Water is at work 24 hours per day: carrying nutrients to cells, carrying away waste, helping chemical reactions take place, keeping temperature regulated, keeping the eyes healthy, and lubricating joints, digestive and mucous tracts.
• Even a small change in fluid balance can cause us to feel unwell or make us ill according to Rachel Cook of BDA.
• Symptoms of too little water are headaches, fatigue and constipation.
• By the time you feel thirsty you may already be dehydrated, and thirst is the first symtom of dehydration.
• We can lose 2.5 litres of water per day mostly through urine (50%), as well as the skin (47%).
• When you lose water you are also losing electrolytes - minerals like calcium, postassium and sodium - which help maintain the body's fluid balance.
• Another indicator you need to drink more water is urine color - it should be a light straw color...if it is dark or has a strong smell you are probably dehydrated.
• So how much water should you drink? It looks like 8 glasses a day is recommended most often, so that is a fairly safe bet. But if you notice any of the above symptoms of mild dehydration, particularly in the warmer months, it is probably a good idea to up your water intake. And keep in mind that coffee, tea and alcohol can have a diuretic effect, so pure water is always your best bet to stay well hydrated.

Bottled Water vs. Tap Water

Bottled water consumption has tripled in 10 years and more than $4 billion is sold annually. According to Community Water Company in Arizona the standards for bottled water vary from tap water. Bottled water is regulated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and tap water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Click here to view Community Water's comparison chart which compares the different standards used by each agency, and their requirements for water safety. It appears that the EPA standards are much more stringent, and that the bottled water industry is far less regulated. For years I wouldn't consider drinking tap water, even if it was filtered, but with all I have been reading about the dangers of plastic (toxic chemicals are used to produce the bottles), and the environmental impact of using plastic bottles, I am now considering switching to filterd tap water. Of course the question then becomes what is the best way to filter it? I am in the process of researching that now and will let you know what I find.

Ocean Healers

Speaking of water, you have to check out a wonderful new alternative healing program -from Dr. Shelley Lynch and Charlene McLachlan. They have incorporated their amazing healing abilities with the natural healing capabilities of ocean water to help those in need of releasing stress and restoring balance. Ocean Healers is a program designed to enhance healing by releasing physical trauma, improve body system function and flexibility, as well as many other benefits. I know Shelley and Charlene personally, they are both incredibly talented health practitioners...if you are looking for a new approach to healing I suggest you check out Ocean Healers, or call 407-415-6706.

LYME DISEASE IS CAUSED BY TICK BITES!!

Every summer I post this warning as I have known several people who had an "undiagonsed illenss" only to find out it was Lyme Disease. So use caution this summer when camping or hiking, or if you have an outdoor animal, because if bitten by a tick you can develop this bacterial infection. Often misdiagnosed, its debilitating symptoms can lead to more serious health problems, so it is important to protect yourself.

Some facts about Lyme Disease:

• Symptoms include extreme tiredness, flu-like symptoms, joint pain, numbness or weakness in the limbs, depression, and Bell’s palsy (temporary paralysis of one side of the face).
• The classic sign of a Lyme infection is a bull’s-eye rash, but this appears on less than 50% of patients.
• The ELISA and Western Blot are tests given to detect the disease.
• The average person sees more than 12 doctors before receiving the correct diagnosis.
• Antibiotics are highly effective in treating Lyme disease in its early stages (make sure you take a probiotic whenever taking antibiotics!).
• Immune-boosting supplements like CoQ10 and Glutathione can be very helpful.

Some natural tips to protect yourself from ticks:

Consume Garlic – According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, people who took 1200 mg of garlic capsules for eight weeks were less likely to be bitten by ticks than those who didn’t. Researchers believe the odor released through body sweat is repulsive to bugs.

Natural Repellent – you don’t have to use toxic DEET to repel ticks and other bugs, your health food store probably has several natural products to choose from…the Centers foDisease Control recommends picaridin (Bayrepel) as an alternative without DEET’s side effects. For more information visit: www.lymehelp.org. and www.healthtouch.com

I recently found this quote attributed to Oprah Winfrey, entitled Thank You . I hope you enjoy its message as much as I did:

I live in the space of thankfulness – and I have been rewarded a million times over for it. I started out giving thanks for small things, and the more thankful I became, the more my bounty increased. That’s because what you focus on expands, and when you focus on the goodness in your life, you create more of it. Opportunities, relationships, even money flowed my way when I learned to be grateful no matter what happened in my life.