Category Archives: water

Getting Enough Fluids – NIA

LIttle things mean a lot. We need to exercise every day, get a good night’s sleep and drink plenty of fluids. Sounds simple, but sometimes not so easy. Here is some fluid advice from the National Institute on Aging (NIA).

It’s important for your body to have plenty of fluids each day. Water helps you digest your food, absorb nutrients from food, and then get rid of the unused waste. Water is found in foods—both solids and liquids, as well as in its natural state.

With age, you might lose some of your sense of thirst. To further complicate matters, some medicines might make it even more important to have plenty of fluids.

Remember, water is a good way to add fluids to your daily routine without adding calories.

Try these tips for getting enough fluids:

  • Don’t wait until you feel thirsty to drink water or other fluids.
  • Take sips of water, milk, or juice between bites during meals.
  • Add liquids throughout the day.
  • Have a cup of low-fat soup as an afternoon snack.
  • Drink a full glass of water when you take a pill.
  • Have a glass of water before you exercise.
  • Drink fat-free or low-fat milk, or other drinks without added sugars.
  • If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so sensibly and in moderation. That means up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks for men.
  • Don’t stop drinking liquids if you have a urinary control problem. Talk with your doctor about treatment.

Learn how to shift to healthier beverage choices.

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Two more cool water bottles …

Having just written about The coolest water bottle ever, in fairness to my other cool water bottles, I thought I should mention them, too. They are really neat, too and make my bike rides as enjoyable as possible. For the mathematically keen, yes, that comes to a total of three water bottles. And, yes, my bike only has two cages for water bottles. Stay tuned, there is an explanation.

The first is my bottle from the Eddie Bauer store for outdoor activities.IMG_8232.jpeg

This is my bottle for riding in summer heat. As you can see, besides the drinking spout  there is a nozzle at the top and also a ‘trigger-like’ mechanism that, in fact, functions as a trigger. This allows me to spray my face with a cool mist during summer rides. The bottle boasts a wide mouth so, I have no trouble putting in ice cubes to keep the water temp down. Also, it is well-constructed with an ‘inner bottle’ which means the ice cubes stay solid a long time. Continue reading

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Filed under biking, Exercise, exercise benefits, hydration, water, water bottle

The coolest water bottle ever …

This post will not help you to exercise more, lose weight or live longer.  However, it may pique your interest. I just found this great water bottle for my bike ( or any other travels ) and I wanted to share the details with you.

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As you can read I got it at Starbucks in Las Vegas. I was staying at Caesars Palace. Just got back and may get around to posting the trip details later. For now, what happened in Las Vegas stays there.

Right now – the water bottle. As  you can see it has cheery free form designs that may be construed as suggestive of gambling in the form of spades, clubs and hearts … or not. I do think they look delightful. The material is some kind of composite, very light weight and also insulated. Ice cubes stay firm and the drink cool for the longest ride.

But, besides its lovely visual appeal, I considered its construction to be ingenious. Check out the next picture. IMG_8118.jpeg

The top unscrews to reveal a wide mouth suitable for loading in ice cubes. For me that is a sine qua non for water bottles. As you can see the top also converts to a charming little cup with a finger hole if you feel like drinking that way. Personally, I just tilt it back and drink out of the bottle like it was a big glass – yet another cool option. But wait, there is more ….

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Next, if you are so inclined, you can unscrew the top and just drink out of it like a regular water bottle. Tell me that is not cool!

Last, but not least, is the handy orange acrylic ring that doubles as a carry ring if you don’t happen to be using it on your bike which has a bottle holder.

If you find yourself falling in love with it, you might find one at your Starbucks.

Tony

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Filed under Exercise, hydration, Las Vegas, Uncategorized, water, water bottle

9 Tips on staying hydrated – Tufts

Adequate fluid intake is essential to your good health. These tips from the Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter will help keep you on track.

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Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

-Drink mostly water. Unsweetened coffee, tea, and milk are also good choices.

-Limit sweet drinks. Sugar-sweetened beverages are bad for your health, increasing weight gain and diabetes risk.

-Track your fluids. If you find you don’t normally feel thirsty, especially in the summer, fill a quart container in the morning and finish before the end of the day.

-Keep it visible. Carry a water bottle when you go out, keep a quart container visible, and place a cup of water by your bed.

-Give it bubbles or flavor. If plain water doesn’t appeal, try adding carbonation, orange slices or other fruit, cucumber, or mint leaves.

-Eat water-dense foods. Fruits (like melons, grapes, and citrus) and raw vegetables (like cucumbers, celery, tomatoes, and peppers) contribute to hydration, as do soups and stews.

-Create habits. Make it a routine to take a drink of water before a meal, before you get out of bed in the morning, or whenever you start a new activity.

-Replenish. Go into physical activity well hydrated and be sure to drink water after activity (or during longer active periods).

-Stay cool. Be sure to drink plenty of water on hot days.

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A glass of water …

I just ran across this and thought you might enjoy it as much as I did. Sometimes simple things can be very beneficial to our health.

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Tony

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Filed under digestion, heart attack, hydration, stroke, water

How much water should you drink? – Harvard

The key to staying hydrated is drinking fluids throughout the day

I have been writing about water and hydration since the early days of the blog. I will list at the end some links to previous posts.

Here is what Harvard has to say on the subject, “You probably know that it’s important to drink plenty of fluids when the temperatures soar outside. But staying hydrated is a daily necessity, no matter what the thermometer says. Unfortunately, many of us aren’t getting enough to drink, especially older adults. “Older people don’t sense thirst as much as they did when they were younger. And that could be a problem if they’re on a medication that may cause fluid loss, such as a diuretic,” says Dr. Julian Seifter, a kidney specialist and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Image: Female athlete drinking water

How we use water
Water keeps every system in the body functioning properly. The Harvard Special Health Report 6-Week Plan for Health Eating notes that water has many important jobs, such as: Continue reading

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You Need to Drink Enough Water

Statistics show that 25 percent of U.S. children to not drink enough water on a daily basis. Boys were more than 75 percent more likely to be inadequately hydrated than girls.

It’s important for your body to have plenty of fluids each day. Water helps you digest your food, absorb nutrients, and then get rid of the unused waste.

drinking-water.jpg

 

Your body is made up of more than half water which it needs for blood circulation, metabolism, temperature regulation, waste removal and detoxification.

With age, some people may lose their sense of thirst. To further complicate matters, some medicines might make it even more important to have plenty of fluids.BWGiUoi7gW1q9Jw4Ird0ZoBwEAoZeD-umk5caBAg1JSYg3Q5j75gW8F6CLMuAv5ZUsGiiBaMIRI_Om0VUVbvBy51CRKzHC0YrA_XkXpB1N0jmBLguKJebqVFoQ=w506-h529

Drinking enough fluids every day also is essential if you exercise regularly. Check with your doctor, however, if you’ve been told to limit how much you drink.

The National Institute on Health has the following hydration tips:

    •    Try to add liquids throughout the day.
    •    Take sips from a glass of water, milk, or juice between bites during meals.
    •    Have a cup of low-fat soup as an afternoon snack.
    •    Drink a full glass of water if you need to take a pill.
    •    Have a glass of water before you exercise or go outside to garden or walk, especially on a hot day.
    •    Remember, water is a good way to add fluids to your daily routine without adding calories.
    •    Drink fat-free or low-fat milk, or other drinks without added sugars.
    •    If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so sensibly and in moderation. That means up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks for men.
    •    Don’t stop drinking liquids if you have a urinary control problem. Talk with your doctor about treatment.

 

Tony

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A Dozen Super Hydrating Fruits and Veggies – Infographic

Everyone knows about drinking eight glasses of water a day, but they forget that we get a lot of water from fruits and veggies. This is another good reason for integrating fresh fruits and veggies into our daily diet.

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I often eat fresh watermelon after a bike ride. Besides tasting wonderful, I have found it to be a super re-hydrator and energizer. To read more check out:

How Healthy is Watermelon?
Vita Mix – Drinking a Watermelon
Vita-Mix – Watermelon Sorbet Recipe
Watermelon Cooler – Guest Post Kelli Jennings

Tony

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How Water Benefits Our Body – Infographic

I thought this was a good summary and reminder of how much our body needs water.

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To read further details on the benefits of water check out my post: Are You Drinking Enough Water?

Tony

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5 Things Healthy People Do Every Morning – Guest Post

This is a guest post by Daisy Rachel
A Passionate blogger. Daisy works on behalf of Ehic the European Health Insurance Card. Daisy is an avid reader and blogger, she shares her experience through articles on Health, Education, Technology, Yoga to name a few.

Daisy doing yoga

Daisy doing yoga

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Habits can be defined as the things that we do every day. They can be positive or negative. Habits can easily be formed but sometimes not very easily broken. That is why it is advisable to form good habits to lead healthy productive lives. Healthy people have particular habits that they carry out each day. In this post, I enumerate five positive things that healthy people do every morning.
They drink water as soon as they wake up
· Drinking water is important because it re-hydrates your body, revvs it up, and keeps your body processes moving.
· Water also makes your skin smooth and aids digestion. Remember, that your body is 65% water and by the time you are feeling thirsty, you will have lost about 1 percent of water.
· To remain healthy, drink water immediately after coming out of bed.

They start their day positively

· If you set the tone of your morning by forgetting all your worries and thinking positively, you are likely to lead the rest of the day well.
· You can recite a positive verse or just sit somewhere still for 15 minutes as you meditate about your blessings.
· If you visualize a good day ahead then chances are that your day will be good.

They move their bodies

· It does not necessarily mean serious exercise but moving your body after waking up will awaken your systems. You can stretch, run, or do some yoga inside your house. These will produce amazing results.
· If you move your body the first thing in the morning, you will be relieving it of stress and clearing your mind for the day ahead. Thus, you will feel energized.
· Small exercises every morning will also fight off diseases such as blood pressure, obesity and cardiovascular diseases.
. Many healthy people will do yoga and meditation to control their body and mind.

They eat breakfast

· You should consume breakfast within one hour of waking up and ensure that it has it has 3 micro nutrients, carbohydrates, vitamins and fats
· According to nutritionists, eating breakfast is one of the healthiest decisions that you can make. If you eat breakfast in the morning, you consume a lot of minerals and essential vitamins.
· Eating breakfast in the morning also makes you feel happier and healthier. This contributes positively to your overall health. Prefer to take organic food as the breakfast.

They plan their day ahead

· Setting some time each morning to plan you day is very productive. Make sure that you list all the tasks in the order of priority. Remember that when a task is planned it becomes less stressful. Planning will also make your task more manageable.
· Planning will remove anxiety from your work so that you perform them in relaxed mood. When planning, ensure that you set some time for any other activity that might come up.
In brief, for you to start your day in a healthy manner you should eat breakfast, drink water, exercise, start the day positively, and plan your day. Nevertheless, sickness can rob you of energy in the morning. If that happens, it is important that you visit your medical care giver.

Above all, stay positive to lead a long healthy life.

Daisy Rachel

Clearly Daisy’s ideas fit with the eat less; move more mantra of this blog. Check out the infographic Why Drink Water First Thing in the Morning for more details.

Tony

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A Complete Guide to Drinking Water – Infographic

Water is probably the Cinderella of the nutrition world. Totally unappreciated. Most people don’t think twice about it. No calories, no fat, no problem, right? Wrong.

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To read further, here are a couple of posts on the subject: Why Drink Water First Thing in the Morning? Dehydration Nation? How Much Water Do We Really Need? Oleda Baker – Drink Enough Water – Guest Post Remember, water is the main element in Watermelon: How Healthy is Watermelon? Vita Mix – Drinking a Watermelon, Dr Oz on Eating Watermelon More Good Reasons to Eat Watermelon – Infographic, Watermelon Cooler – Guest Post Kelli Jennings.

Tony

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Why Drink Water First Thing in the Morning? – Infographic

Regular readers know that I am in my third week of recovering from skin cancer surgery, face and back. I was visiting with a friend of mine and mentioned that since the operations, I had no energy and had actually been napping one to two hours a day. He said that he had heard on CNN a good way to increase your energy was to start the day drinking a glass of Water because a full night’s sleep is a dehydrating experience. That sounded interesting to me and I have been reading about it. This infographic is the beginning of that reading.

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To read further posts on drinking water check out Oleda Baker – Drink Enough Water, and Some Cool Water Facts.

Tony

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Rules for Healthy Living

a9b5fd52e4655cfccb31125705ac6d43 I ran across these on Pinterest and thought you might enjoy them. The only one I would like to add is: Less Driving, More Biking.

 

Tony

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March 14, 2014 · 7:17 am

Tips from the National Kidney Foundation for March – National Kidney Month

Following are four tips from the  National Kidney Foundation to help us to protect ourselves in this National Kidney Month:

kidney-stone-symptoms
•    Drink fluids! Ideally, 2-3 liters daily.
•    Water is best. Water is the best fluid to drink. Another option is sugar-free fresh lemon or lime juice mixed with water.
•    Eat fruits and veggies. In general, eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables, moderate in low fat dairy and low in salt and animal protein might prevent kidney stone formation. Most Americans eat more than the recommended amounts of animal protein and salt.
•    Stick to a treatment plan. After a kidney stone, work with a doctor to create an individual treatment plan that considers fluid intake, diet and sometimes medication.

Tony

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Filed under health, kidney, kidneys, National Kidney Foundation, water, Weight

Women More Vulnerable Than Men to Holiday Drinking

I started writing blog posts about healthy eating for the holidays on October 28. This will be the second one that dealt with the drinking side of the equation. Of course, the principles involved here apply year ’round, not just to the holidays, but since we are in the holiday season, it seemed an appropriate subject.

The holiday spirit includes the imbibing of alcoholic spirits. As it turns out, women with their smaller frames tend to be more vulnerable to the damaging effects of alcohol than men. But, smaller frames doesn’t tell the whole story.

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According to the site Alcohol problems and solutions “Women are affected by alcohol more rapidly because they tend to have a higher proportion of body fat than men. As fat cannot absorb alcohol, it is concentrated at higher levels in the blood. Women also have less of a gastric or stomach enzyme (dehydrogenase) that metabolizes or breaks down alcohol before it enters the bloodstream. Because of this, women absorb up to nearly 30 per cent more alcohol into their bloodstream than men of the same height and weight who drink the same amount of alcohol. Women are also usually shorter and lighter than men, further concentrating alcohol in their blood. Therefore, when women of average size consume one drink, it will have almost the same effect as two drinks do for the average size man. If women eat little or skip food entirely, that compounds the effects of drinking alcohol.”

WebMD has an interesting quiz on alcohol consumption that explains, “Women are more vulnerable to alcohol for a variety of reasons. First, women tend to weigh less than men, so a drink delivers proportionately more alcohol. But even in the case of men and women who weigh the same, alcohol hits women harder because they metabolize it differently. Alcohol is diluted by the body’s water content, and women tend to have a lower water content. This means that alcohol is not as diluted in their bodies, and their organs are exposed to more alcohol.

Women are at higher risk for negative health consequences of drinking, including liver, brain, and heart damage.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control,The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, moderate alcohol consumption is defined as having up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. This definition is referring to the amount consumed on any single day and is not intended as an average over several days. The Dietary Guidelines also state that it is not recommended that anyone begin drinking or drink more frequently on the basis of potential health benefits because moderate alcohol intake also is associated with increased risk of breast cancer, violence, drowning, and injuries from falls and motor vehicle crashes.”

Limiting your alcohol consumption is good for your health and you will likely enjoy the holidays more if you do.

Tony

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Why Do You Feel Tired? – Oleda Baker – Guest Post

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As you can see from her photos, Senior Supermodel Oleda Baker is aging magnificently. I interviewed Oleda last December. She is a treasure trove of information on everything this blog stands for, namely weight control, healthy living and healthy aging, so I asked her if she would share some of her ideas with us. She has written 10 books on beauty and health. Her latest, written at the age of 75, Breaking the Age Barrier – Great Looks and Health at Every Age – was released in November 2010 and is available from Amazon or from her website www.oleda.com where she also sells her own line of health and beauty aids.

Being tired not only zaps your brain cells and energy level at the moment – it can also be a sign that your body needs some serious and immediate attention. Unlike the illness known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which can be manifested by headache, tender lymph nodes, weakness, muscle and joint aches and an inability to concentrate, the feeling I’m referring to here is just plain old tiredness. It is a symptom that affects both body and mind. It slows reflexes and reduces function in your day-to-day life.

Staying tired, washed out or exhausted too long can lead to other problems, some serious, so let’s nip it in the bud right now.

American families are so much busier than they used to be. Often both parents are working and there is too much to do in every 24 hours. There is not enough time for sleep and not much time to cook balanced meals. No wonder they feel tired so often.

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I see my daughter-in-law with three children, a husband, a job. She takes care of the house, attends school functions for the children when needed and cooks for the family. My son helps out but he also has a job, helps with the children, takes care of the yard and is on the go with errands. This is typical of households today.

Then there are also those who are not overworked or stressed out but they still feel tired all the time. It’s hard for them to get up in the morning. Some can’t sleep at night so they wake up tired and remain tired all day.

General Reasons For Tiredness:

You may not be able to change your life style this very moment, so here are some things you can do to compensate until then. Listed are ways to fight that never ending tired feeling.

Not enough sleep: There are two parts to “not enough sleep.” They are not enough hours to sleep and insomnia.

Not Enough Sleep: If you feel you can’t find enough hours to sleep… better rethink it. Find some way to get that extra hour or two. In general the body needs about eight hours each night to repair itself for the next day and more so for a long range healthy, longer life. If you wake up feeling groggy instead of refreshed, you’re not getting enough sleep. If you feel sleepy during the day or yawn (off and on) all day you are not getting enough sleep. Don’t minimize the importance of enough sleep, as it will affect your body… anywhere from feeling tired all day to dark circles under the eyes to a breakdown in the immune system which can lead to illnesses.

Insomnia: Insomnia is not only difficulty in falling asleep but also difficulty in staying asleep or sleeping soundly. There can be many causes, and if you cannot solve it on your own check with your doctor and find out why. Without enough sleep other problems could arise. A lack of calcium and magnesium can cause you to wake up after a few hours and not be able to return to sleep. Continue reading

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Filed under body fat, energy, Exercise, fat, healthy eating, healthy living, obesity, Oleda Baker, overweight, sleep, sleep deprivation, water, Weight