Nutrition and Wellness Information, Resources and Education

Archive for the ‘hydration’ Category

Take a look at this great article. I often read through articles that i provide a link for and have my own twist on it’s contents. But this says it all pay close attention, especially moms with kids on popular medications.

 Htttp://www.examiner.com/x-3871-Healthy-Food-Examiner~y2009m8d12-What-not-to-drink

It’s really hot out there. But what else is new for summer time. Here down in South Florida it’s not only the heat, but the humidity making it difficult to stand outside for more than 5 minutes without starting to sweat. Unless you’re in a shaded breeze, then maybe 10 minutes:)

In any case hydration is extremely important. Unfortunately hydrating is difficult for those who don’t like to drink water, which is for the most part the BEST hydration. Notice I said, “for the most part”? Research done at University of Aberdeen Medical School http://www.impactlab.com/2009/07/19/some-fruit-and-vegetables-can-hydrate-you-more-than-a-glass-of-water/ shows that some fruits and vegetables contain the ultimate mix of minerals, salts sugar and amino acids to more effectively hydrate than just water or even sports drinks. The key is fruits and vegetables are from nature, sports drinks are not.

As for water it is often said that say 8 of 8 oz glasses of water each day is what you need. The problem with that is you need a certain amount depending on your body size. So the rule of thumb is take your body weight and divide it by 2.  That is the number of ounces of “water” you should consume everyday. I specify water because no other beverage should be considered for strictly hydration. I’ve had some ask me about milk. Absolutely not. In fact even though you drink milk like a beverage, chemically it’s a food and should not be thought of as hydration. Of course coffee can not since that will actually dehydrate you, as will sodas.

Something that a lot of people also do not realize with regard to hydration is certain health issues being caused or at least related to insufficient daily hydration. Since our body is mostly water, lack of sufficient hydration can cause a multitude of health issues. So with more adequate hydration, you may be able to greatly reduce some health issues you’re dealing with and not just some obvious ones like constipation.

Would love to hear your comments.