Its Water Time...naa naa naa naaaa

Recent research has given a rise to the benefits of the life sustaining substance known as "water". As I delve more into those life events and practices that help us to live a longer and better quality of life, drinking water seems to be the number one factor. You may have heard somewhere that the human body is composed of 60-70 percent water. You can get more facts about the facts of pure water at this link. A few indicators that you are dehydrated include lower back pain, headaches and constipation and/or a strong odor to your urine combined with a yellow or amber color. There are other symptoms as well but perhaps these few will help.

So how much water should a person drink at a time? "Water intoxication" or "hyponatremia", water poisoning results when too much water is ingested. This is most often the case when most of the electrolytes are flushed out of the body in a short period of time. The NYTimes has an story about water intoxication you might find interesting. Drowning is another example of too much water. Having learned this fact first hand I can verify the results as, ummm...less than desirable.

The International Bottled Water Association has a hydration calculator to help you find out how much you need. Another resource for how much to drink from ask.com suggests, "take your body weight in pounds and divide that number in half. That gives you the number of ounces of water per day that you need to drink. For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, you should drink at least 80 ounces of water per day. If you exercise you should drink another eight ounce glass of water for every 20 minutes you are active. If you drink alcohol, you should drink at least an equal amount of water. When you are traveling on an airplane, it is good to drink eight ounces of water for every hour you are on board the plane. If you live in an arid climate, you should add another two servings per day."

If you like the topics here you can find a supplement about quick and easy steps to help you get move to a more productive life called "Take Action Now".

Don't look at me in that tone of voice!

Are you tired all the time? Stressed? Conflicted? Troubled or in turmoil? Aside from physical and/or mental therapy you might find that the starting point is all about attitude. Attitude will determine your outlook on life. Your outlook on life will determine your interaction with others. The link can go on ad nauseam. As a case in study, what is the life of a "typical" teen like? Ah, now don't get offended and ask why I would pick on the teen years? Consider that these years are possibly the most conflicted ages of a persons life. Sure, there are conflicts in every age and social situation and perhaps those can be addressed in another forum.

If you ask your familiar teen about their crowd, the most common response you receive touts the idea that they are unique individuals. "I don't follow the crowd," or "I am my own person." Often these statements could be followed by something that has to do with the mall or at least shopping in order to find something to wear that will help or make them fit in. If these remarks don't immediately lead to a heated debate you might at the very least get "the glare". The ultimate outward sign of ATTITUDE. Some may call it the evil eye.

Is there anything wrong with fitting in? Not at all. Society is built on the idea of conformity and each individual has his/her sub-cultural preference. The infamous question begs to be asked then, "Why can't we all just get along?" Without debating conflict resolution lets focus on self. You know; that inward view of life and your own concepts of what it should hold.

But will a look at yourself make you feel better? The answer lies in the action (or lack of action) that follows. Self reflection and POSITIVE action yields greater rewards than any medicated life could hope to offer. This is an easy exercise. Notice I didn't say simple? Take ten minutes of self reflection and proper breathing each day. If you do this with a sincere attitude you will seem to magically feel better and have a better outlook on life in just a few short weeks. This is just the next step in this never ending quest for a better life. And don't forget the first principles of clean air and fresh water to cleans your body and boost the spirits.

News Flash on Air Pollution!

Harvard School of Public Health, "Citing evidence from studies of the health effects of air pollution, Spengler and Levy were able to estimate that current emissions contribute an annual extra risk of 300 premature deaths, 14,000 asthma attacks, and over 400,000 daily incidents of upper respiratory symptoms among the 33 million people living within 250 miles of the geographic center of the plants."

So NOW the experts agree and have spoken. With the risk of being sarcastic can we at least think "duh". Clean Air and air quality information has been out for years. What have we done about it so far? Thankfully active measures are well under way to reduce pollution in our cities. As individuals we can help our family live longer by changing the air in our homes. Would you be surprised to know that the air we breathe can cause cancer? The residents of Long Beach, CA have a first hand account. But at the BEACH? Look at the reports and judge for yourself. We can do something at home without waiting for the government to act.

Lets accomplish something

Knowledge is only as good as its application. That being said, even useless trivia has its own merits. How many individuals have tried to impress another by quoting some insignificant fact? Sometimes it works...sometimes not, but how would I know? ; )

If you have been following this blog you know (so far) the advantages of clean air and pure water in promoting your quality and duration of life.

Now is the time to act on these two first principles.

1st - Take a breathing test to make sure you are breathing correctly. There are several detailed resources available. Contact me if you would like a referral to the experts.

- Breathe in - breathe out. Good! Being alive is the first requirement.
Now take a deep breath and monitor your body. Are you maximizing your breathing?
Do you notice any changes in the way you feel? ie. headaches, soreness, tingling, etc.?
- Check your environment for pollutants or toxins. ie. dust, smoke, mold, mildew, etc.
Do whatever you can to eliminate these and other pollutants. You can start by opening windows if the weather permits.

As a side note:
There is some debate about the long term benefits of having purer living conditions. One common issue is the thought that living in a more sterile environment will reduce the bodies ability to build immunities. While this might be a theory, consider the fact that on average a person will receive enough variants in air quality throughout the day via normal everyday activities to provide for the immune system (and then some). Why not then treat your body to a fresh of breath air (pun intended).

Next: Drink a glass of water. The cleaner - the better. Flush as many toxins out of the body as you can. You will feel better almost immediately. As a side effect you will fill your stomach faster and have less of a desire to overeat, which is a topic we will address in the near future.
Other benefits of drinking water include better blood circulation, brain function, digestion and energy. The list can go on as we delve into the issue of hydration in future updates.

Sounds simple enough right? If you follow the links provided there are resources to help accomplish the two easy tasks covered today. Don't you feel better already?

Water you waiting for?

Its a new year and the gyms are packed, but not for very long. Make a commitment to stick with it for three months. That will help to establish a new habit and keep you going longer. Don't forget the water though. As I have mentioned before, water is essential. It helps rehydrate your body for a better workout.

"Green" is the current buzz word of the day. Forget the store bought plastic bottles that continue to multiply in the landfills and grab a bottle you can reuse. Have you ever thought about what you are paying for? There are several so know what you are putting into your body along with the water you spend your time and money filtering. Did you also know you can pull water from thin air?

Wikipedia defines atmospheric water generators as "a device that extracts water from humid ambient air" and provides info for an educated choice. The HSF Space Station uses this technology daily. Imagine the purest water you can drink generated from your own home. Providing your own water that is eco-friendly AND healthy for you has to make you feel better. After all...taking responsibility for yourself, SAVING MONEY and your planet helps you to feel better and feeling better about yourself in a responsible way is one of the keys to a quality life.

Leftovers that keep on giving

Now that the leftovers are about finished many are considering getting back to the gym, sparking fond memories of the everlasting cardio workout with background music of metal plates clicking together and the fresh aroma of locker room. After making the trip to the local gym of choice for a new or renewed membership (more than a few are long paid for but last used at the beginning of 2008) workouts come hard and heavy for a few weeks, then taper off to be forgotten until the next holiday season shows it's hefty rewards. Why then should you read the same info everyone else is writing about? Oh go ahead and read all the self help literature. And go work out as well. Do something good for your body. Anything you do will help you feel better. After all, a positive self image is one of the keys to living healthier and happier.

What about New Year resolutions. This year I have resolved myself to not make any resolutions. Wait...did I...? Dang that didn't last long! What about you?