The Single BEST Health Product on the Market
I rarely recommend health products. They are usually associated with the latest, greatest fads in trying to get your hard earned dollar in exchange for a fast-track to better health.
But what if I told you that there is a new health drink on the market that improves your energy levels, slows the aging process, helps prevent weight gain, and significantly reduces your risk of developing cancer? How much would you pay?
What if I told you that this same beverage makes you look and feel younger, helps digestion, improves mental clarity, prevents disease and reduces joint pain and stiffness? Now how much would you pay?
Now, what if I told you that it isn’t new and it doesn’t cost a thing. It’s already in your house and you can have all you want…Sounds too good to be true? Well, it’s the only health ‘product’ that I can unconditionally recommend. I recommend it for EVERYONE. Regardless of age, size, health condition or economic status, there is not a single person on the planet that cannot benefit from what it has to offer: Its water.
It sounds kind of silly when we look at the marketing properties of something as prevalent and simple as water. When we have an abundance of something, we have a tendency to take it for granted. But if water was presented to us as a new product on the market, think of all the great things we could say about it.
Water Helps Your Brain: Your brain is composed of nearly 75% water. A drop of just 2% in body water causes short term memory problems and significant difficulties with concentration. Good hydration helps you become mentally alert throughout the day.
Water Keeps You Thin: Your brain can easily confuse hunger with thirst. Instead of drinking water, we eat. Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat.
Water Helps Digestion: Constipation is one of the biggest symptoms of dehydration. Without enough water, your food doesn’t move properly through your digestive tract and it to get plugged up. Water also aids in the transport of the nutrients out of our food and into our cells.
Water Fights ‘The Big C’: Drinking enough water daily decreases the risk of developing colon cancer by 45%, slashes the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.
Water Keeps You Limber: Our muscles are approximately 60% water. Our joints are lubricated by water. When we don’t drink enough water we crust up and our muscles become like beef jerky.
Water Keeps You Young: Much of our aging process has to do with inflammation and tissue destruction. Drinking water helps our bodies natural repair process and adequate hydration makes it possible for water to move through all the membranes of your body so that the largest organ in the body, the skin, is adequately hydrated.
If you didn’t get the message about drinking water in Session 3, please review it again and start drinking more water today!
Water means the difference between good health and disease. Consider some of the benefits.
Good Hydration Cuts the Risk of Disease
Research studies show that good hydration cuts the risk of breast cancer by 79%, reduces the risk of colon cancer by 45% and slashes the risk of bladder cancer by 50%.
Good Hydration Enhances Mental Clarity
A drop of just 2% in body water causes short term memory problems and significant difficulties with concentration. Good hydration helps you become mentally alert throughout the day.
Good Hydration Improves Digestion
A digestive system without sufficient fluid is constipated. Fluid is essential for nutrients to pass through the delicate membranes of the intestines. If the body is adequately hydrated sufficient fluid is present in the digestive track to distribute nutrients throughout the body.
Good Hydration Softens Skin Texture
Adequate hydration makes it possible for water to move through all the membranes of your body so that the largest organ in the body, the skin, is adequately hydrated.
Skin texture softens. The natural aging process is slowed. Wrinkles vanish. Bagging skin tightens.
Why bother to go through the pain of a face lift when giving your body water is a safe, natural and effective alternative with no complications?
Good Hydration Slows the Aging Process
The reason for poor hydration as we age is the gradual decline of the thirst mechanism in the brain. When we are young and get thirsty there is no stopping us when we are thirsty.
A different story emerges as we age. The thirst signal becomes distorted because we ignore it and because we drink dehydrating drinks such as coffee or alcohol.
Good hydration lowers the surface tension of the water that is ingested and reduces the cluster size of its molecules. Wetting capacity is increased, making water more readily available for transport to each and every cell of the body.
Good Hydration Relieves Back and Joint Pain
A little known fact is that adequate hydration has been shown to relieve back and joint pain for as many as 80% of sufferers.
Good Hydration Helps Control Body Weight
For many people the thirst mechanism in the body is so weak that it is mistaken for hunger in one third of Americans. Instead of drinking water we eat.
Adequate hydration resets the thirst mechanism in the brain so that hunger is not confused with thirst. The obvious benefit is a subsequent loss of excess weight that is caused by eating too much food.
In summary, what are the mind-boggling benefits of good hydration?
* We look and feel younger.
* Mental clarity gets a welcome boost.
* Our digestive system sends nutrients to each cell
* Weight control is restored.
* Ability to handle stress is enhanced.
* Pain from aching joints is reduced.
* Overall flexibility is restored.
All systems in the body function at their peak potential with good hydration. Sound too good to be true?
It is not. As simple minded as it may sound, water is the secret to good health.
Robert Rodgers Ph.D. believes that the body knows how to heal itself. It just needs a little help sometimes. Extensive information on natural and homeopathic remedies for dehydration can be found at Aquas.us
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Rodgers
Thirst can be a poor way of monitoring of your water needs. You can lose your thirst sensation and the critical perception of needing water. No longer recognizing a water need (unless very dehydrated), you can become gradually, increasingly, and chronically dehydrated with increasing age. A “dry mouth” may be a late sign of dehydration.
Please note that it is extremely important to obtain an accurate diagnosis before trying to find a cure. Many diseases and conditions share common symptoms: if you treat yourself for the wrong illness or a specific symptom of a complex disease, you may delay legitimate treatment of a serious underlying problem. In other words, the greatest danger in self-treatment may be self-diagnosis. If you do not know what you really have, you can not treat it!
Knowing how difficult it is to weed out misinformation and piece together countless facts in order to see the “big picture”, we now provide simple online access to The Analyst™. Used by doctors and patients alike, The Analyst™ is a computerized diagnostic tool that sits on a vast accumulation of knowledge and research. By combining thousands of connections between signs, symptoms, risk factors, conditions and treatments, The Analyst™ will help to build an accurate picture of your current health status, the risks you are running and courses of action (including appropriate lab testing) that should be considered. Full information is available here.
Water has many functions in your body. Water:
• Transports vitamins, minerals, amino acids, glucose, hormones, enzymes and other substances throughout your body
• Assists chemical reactions such as the burning of glucose and the breakdown of fat for energy
• Carries digestive juices
• Lubricates joints, eyeballs, nasal passages, and the intestines
• Is a shock absorber for your eyes and spinal cord
• Maintains your body temperature – cools it by evaporation from the skin and lungs, throws off heat when blood is circulated near the body’s surface – helps retain warmth in winter
• Removes wastes through the kidneys and helps solid waste pass through the intestines
Here are some interesting facts:
• 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (This likely applies to half the world population)
• Even MILD dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism as much as 3%.
• One glass of water shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.
• Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
• Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day (half of that coming from food and drinks other than plain water) could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.
• A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.
• Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer. Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day?
Signs & Symptoms
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Pain may be a warning of localized thirst; that is, the pain signal may be a warning of dehydration in that specific area (a regional thirst), for example low back pain, migraine headache, joint pain, and angina. Chronic dehydration may contribute to a reduction in lymph flow, which in turn may contribute to or cause varied problems.
Obvious signs of dehydration include: crinkled skin, dry mouth, excess thirst or absence of urination for over six hours.
Treatment & Prevention
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It is a common error to substitute tea, coffee, caffeine-containing soft drinks, or alcohol-containing beverages for water. Do not consider alcoholic beverage, soda, coffee or tea as an equal substitute for water. Caffeine and alcohol act as diuretics, further increasing your water needs.
Remember that approximately half of your daily water intake comes from the food that you eat, so you only need to drink around half of your suggested requirement directly.
Calculate your overall daily need by taking your weight in kilograms (or your weight in pounds divided by 2), in ounces per day. For example, 140lbs / 2 = 70oz; 70oz / 8 = about 9 cups per day.
It is recommended by some that you not drink water with meals, unless you need to. Other doctors believe that the stomach needs a certain consistency to do its job and if we don’t drink enough with our meals the stomach pulls water from the blood stream; if we drink too much with our meals the excess water simply gets absorbed. The logical recommendation, therefore, is to try both and see what works best for you.
Good times to drink water are on rising, at least 1/2 hour before meals and 2-3 hours after, and before bed. You need more if the temperature is hot and if you exercise. A general rule is to add an extra 2 glasses per day for every 5°F over 85°F if you are at rest, and more if you exercise.
References & Further Information
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We recommend that you read Your Body’s Many Cries for Water by Dr. Batmanghelidj, MD. It may be available from your local library. If purchased, you may be able to help others you think of while reading it!
“In my professional and scientific view, it is dehydration that is the biggest killer, more than any other condition you could imagine. The different aspects and ‘chemical idiosyncrasies’ of each individual’s body reaction to the same pattern of dehydration have received different professional labels and have been treated differently and ineffectively.” Dr. Batmanghelidj, MD.
Health Benefits of Water
How 8 Glasses a Day Keeps Fat Away
Incredible as it may seem, water is quite possibly the single most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off. Although most of us take for granted, water may be the only true “magic potion” for permanent weight loss.
Water supresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits.
Here’s why: The kidneys can’t function properly without enough water. When they don’t work to capacity, some of their load is dumped onto the liver. One of the liver’s primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body. But if the liver has to do some of the kidney’s work it can’t operate at full throttle. As a result, it metabolizes less fat more fat remains stored in the body and weight loss stops.
Drinking enough water is the best treatment for fluid retention. When the body gets less water,it perceives this as a threat to survival and begins to hold on to every drop. Water is stored in extracellular spaces (outside the cell). This shows up as swollen feet, legs and hands.
Diuretics offer a temporary solution at best. They force out stored water along with some essential nutrients. Again, the body perceives a treat and will replace the lost water at the first opportunity. Thus, the condition quickly returns.
The best way to overcome the problem of water retention is to give your body what it needs — plenty of water. Only then will stored water be released.
If you have a constant problem with water retention, excess salt may be to blame. Your body will tolerate sodium only in a certain concentration. The more salt you eat the more water your system retains to dilute it.
But getting rid of unneeded salt is easy — just drink more water. As it’s forced through the kidneys it takes away excess sodium.
The overweight person needs more water than a thin one. Larger people have larger metabolic loads. Since we know that water is the key to fat metabolism, it follows that the over weight person needs more water.
Water helps to maintain proper muscle tone by giving muscles their natural ability to contract and by preventing dehydration. It also helps to prevent the sagging skin that usually follows weigh loss — shrinking cells are buoyed by water which plumps the skin and leaves it clear, healthy and resilient.
Water helps rid the body of waste. During weight loss, the body has a lot more waste to get rid of — all that metabolized fat must be shed. Again, adequate water helps flush out the waste.
Water can help relieve constipation. When the body gets too little water, it siphons what it needs from internal sources. The colon is one primary source. Result? Constipation. But when a person drinks enough water, normal bowel function usually returns.
So far, we’ve discovered some remarkable truths about water and weight loss:
• The body will not function properly without enough water and can’t metabolize stored fat efficiently.
• Retained water shows up as excess weight.
• To get rid of excess water you must drink more water.
• Drinking water is essential to weight loss.
How much water is enough? On the average, a person should drink eight 8-ounce glasses every day. That’s about 2 quarts. However, the overweight person needs one additional glass for every 25 pounds of excess weight. The amount you drink also should be increased if you exercise briskly or if the weather is hot and dry.
Water should preferably be cold. It’s absorbed into the system more quickly than warm water. And some evidence suggests that drinking cold water can actually help burn calories. To utilize water most efficiently during weight loss, follow this schedule:
Morning: 1 quart consumed over a 30-minute period.
Noon: 1 quart consumed over a 30-minute period.
Evening: 1 quart consumed between five and six o’clock.
When the body gets the water it needs to function optimally, it’s fluids are perfectly balanced. When this happens, you have reached the “breakthrough point.” What does this mean?
• Endocrine-gland function improves.
• Fluid retention is alleviated as stored water is lost.
• More fat is used as fuel because the liver is free to metabolize stored fat.
• Natural thirst returns.
• There is a loss of hunger almost over night.
If you stop drinking enough water, your body fluids will be thrown out of balance again, and you may experience fluid retention, unexplained weight gain and loss of thirst. To remedy the situation you’ll have to go back and force another “breakthrough.”
The health benefits of water are indisputable. Water in the body carries oxygen and nutrients to every cell and tissue in the body, regulates body temperature, flushes out toxins and helps keep the skin looking vibrant and younger.
In addition to plain water, there are many other fluid sources for the body too. These include commercially manufactured water, fruit juices, coffee, tea, soups, water-rich fruits and vegetables. But nothing beats the goodness of plain water.
Not sure how much water should be drunk each day? Well, most doctors and health experts commonly recommend drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water everyday. Here are some strategies to drink more water.
Start the Day with a Glass of Water
Try drinking a glass of hot water with a squeeze of fresh lime or lemon first thing in the morning. This gives the digestion a boost as well as giving the water a refreshing flavor.
Make Water Constantly Available
Keep water within reach at all times. Have a bottle of water on the office desk, in the car and on the side table in the bedroom. Those frequently on the move should also pack a small bottle of water in the handbag. If there are children in tow, make sure there are water bottles in their backpacks as well.
Spread Out Water Intake
Some people forget to drink regularly during the day and try to make it up by gulping down a few glasses of water at one go late in the evening. Avoid that. Spread out water intake throughout the day. Make it a point to drink in the morning, at noon, in the afternoon and evening or after each visit to the toilet.
Create a Water Intake Schedule
If remembering to drink more water is a real problem, create a water intake schedule. For instance, drink a glass of water first thing in the morning after waking up, after breakfast, before lunch, before dinner, and so on. Need more reminding? Try using the “Drink More Water” reminder tool downloadable from the WaterAid website. It’s a great tool for those who spend a great deal of time in front of the computer.
Have Water with Other Beverages
When eating out, those who just have to drink other beverages such as alcohol, coffee or tea should always order a glass of water as well. Try alternating the beverages with water as some of them can cause dehydration.
Adjust Temperatures of Drinking Water
On summer days, keep a jug or bottle of water in the refrigerator so that there is always chilled drinking water available. On cold winter days, drink warm plain water instead of hot coffee or tea to keep warm.
Keeping the body hydrated is easy. To drink more water everyday, make water constantly available, spread out water intake throughout the day, create a water intake schedule, have water with other beverages and adjust the temperatures of drinking water accordingly.
Read more at Suite101: How to Drink More Water: Tips to Keep the Body Hydrated http://nutrition.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_drink_more_water#ixzz0koyHPWe6
Water: How much should you drink every day?
Factors that influence water needs
You may need to modify your total fluid intake depending on how active you are, the climate you live in, your health status, and if you’re pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Exercise. If you exercise or engage in any activity that makes you sweat, you need to drink extra water to compensate for the fluid loss. An extra 400 to 600 milliliters (about 1.5 to 2.5 cups) of water should suffice for short bouts of exercise, but intense exercise lasting more than an hour (for example, running a marathon) requires more fluid intake. How much additional fluid you need depends on how much you sweat during exercise, the duration of your exercise and the type of activity you’re engaged in.
During long bouts of intense exercise, it’s best to use a sports drink that contains sodium, as this will help replace sodium lost in sweat and reduce the chances of developing hyponatremia, which can be life-threatening. Also, continue to replace fluids after you’re finished exercising.
• Environment. Hot or humid weather can make you sweat and requires additional intake of fluid. Heated indoor air also can cause your skin to lose moisture during wintertime. Further, altitudes greater than 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) may trigger increased urination and more rapid breathing, which use up more of your fluid reserves.
• Illnesses or health conditions. Signs of illnesses, such as fever, vomiting and diarrhea, cause your body to lose additional fluids. In these cases you should drink more water and may even need oral rehydration solutions, such as Gatorade, Powerade or CeraLyte. Also, you may need increased fluid intake if you develop certain conditions, including bladder infections or urinary tract stones. On the other hand, some conditions such as heart failure and some types of kidney, liver and adrenal diseases may impair excretion of water and even require that you limit your fluid intake.
• Pregnancy or breast-feeding. Women who are expecting or breast-feeding need additional fluids to stay hydrated. Large amounts of fluid are used especially when nursing. The Institute of Medicine recommends that pregnant women drink 2.3 liters (about 10 cups) of fluids daily and women who breast-feed consume 3.1 liters (about 13 cups) of fluids a day.
Beyond the tap: Other sources of water
Although it’s a great idea to keep water within reach at all times, you don’t need to rely only on what you drink to satisfy your fluid needs. What you eat also provides a significant portion of your fluid needs. On average, food provides about 20 percent of total water intake, while the remaining 80 percent comes from water and beverages of all kinds.
For example, many fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon and tomatoes, are 90 percent to 100 percent water by weight. Beverages such as milk and juice also are composed mostly of water. Even beer, wine and caffeinated beverages — such as coffee, tea or soda — can contribute, but these should not be a major portion of your daily total fluid intake. Water is one of your best bets because it’s calorie-free, inexpensive and readily available.
Staying safely hydrated
It’s generally not a good idea to use thirst alone as a guide for when to drink. By the time you become thirsty, it’s possible to already be slightly dehydrated. Further, be aware that as you get older your body is less able to sense dehydration and send your brain signals of thirst. Excessive thirst and increased urination can be signs of a more serious medical condition.
Talk to your doctor if you experience either.
To ward off dehydration and make sure your body has the fluids it needs, make water your beverage of choice. Nearly every healthy adult can consider the following:
• Drink a glass of water with each meal and between each meal.
• Hydrate before, during and after exercise.
• Substitute sparkling water for alcoholic drinks at social gatherings.
If you drink water from a bottle, thoroughly clean or replace the bottle often.
Though uncommon, it is possible to drink too much water. When your kidneys are unable to excrete the excess water, the electrolyte (mineral) content of the blood is diluted, resulting in low sodium levels in the blood, a condition called hyponatremia. Endurance athletes, such as marathon runners, who drink large amounts of water are at higher risk of hyponatremia. In general, though, drinking too much water is rare in healthy adults who consume an average American diet.
If you’re concerned about your fluid intake, check with your doctor or a registered dietitian. He or she can help you determine the amount of water that’s best for you.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283