How Dry I Am

Out of the four basic nutrients which our bodies require for survival (water, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) WATER is the most important of all! Why? A human being is able to remain alive without food for approximately thirty days, however life would cease in about three if the body were deprived of this precious nutrient! The human body is two-thirds water, which plays a major role in every function from digestion and absorption, to circulation and excretion. Water improves oxygen delivery to every cell, transports nutrients, enables easier breathing, cushions and absorbs shocks to joints, regulates body temperature, flushes toxins, removes wastes, improves cell communication, and helps us look and feel great. We lose approximately 2-3 quarts through perspiration and one pint through exhalation every day! Dehydrated and nutrient deficient cells will encourage health problems not to mention give us that dried-up wrinkly look, something so easily avoided by taking in a few sips of water here and there!

So, are we really drinking enough? Many people will admit that they are notand this is the reason why there are so many people with symptoms of dehydration. In a healthy body, even a slight dip in blood volume triggers the hypothalamus to send out a message that we are thirsty, making our mouths feel dry. Due to poor habits and aging, our trigger mechanisms become impaired and slow down, giving the false impression of adequate hydration, and this is more of a reason to drink water even if you arent thirsty. The old rule of thumb is that eight servings (8oz per serving) of good quality water per day is sufficient for normal body function, however, there is another more precise way to calculate the amount you need. Take your body weight in pounds and divide by two; this number in ounces is closest to what your body requires each day for optimal health. Ex. Michelle weighs 150 pounds; divide 150 by two, which equals 75. Michelle needs to consume approximately 75 ounces of water per day in order to meet the hydration needs of her body. Seventy-five ounces divided by 8 ounces equals approximately nine 8oz glasses instead of the recommended eight. (You may need more or less depending upon the time of year and your exercise habits; exercise is wonderful for us however we need to replenish what water is lost through perspiration). Another important thing to remember is that ice cold temperatures will shock the digestive system thus slowing down enzyme capability, so preferably drink your water at room temperature.

Why be concerned about dehydration? Some annoying signs of this from early onset to later stages may appear as headaches, cramping, fatigue, anxiety, depression, heart burn, joint pain, back pain, fibromyalgia, migraines, constipation, angina, allergies, asthma, adult onset of diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune disease, psoriasis and more. The worst part is that many people think they are getting enough quality water out of the many other types of drinks they consume throughout the day. With a society consuming so much coffee, beer, wine, and carbonated soda containing chemicals, sugar and caffeine, I am afraid not! What most people do not realize is that these type drinks cancel out the little bit of pure water that they do consume! Caffeine and alcoholic drinks are diuretics, which mean they contribute to a debit of hydration by increasing urine flow, not to mention other ill health effects due to some of their ingredients. Carbonated drinks usually contain high amounts of refined sugar or worse, artificial sweeteners. Your best bet is to cut back on products containing these ingredients or better yet stop using them altogether and reach only for the pure, good quality water!

Am I able to substitute some of my water intake with any other kind of beverage? YES!!! Fresh juices extracted through a juicer from organic fruits and vegetables (not bottled due to chemicals, high sugar and lack of enzymes, raw vegetables or a piece or two of fruit are the best. Decaffeinated herbal tea is also a fine choice.

So what are you waiting for? Go get a glass! Not sure when is the best time to quench your thirst and your body? Usually about 20 minutes before a meal or at least one half hour afterwards best so as not to disturb the digestive process. Too much water after a meal may interfere with enzyme function. And dont chug your daily requirement in one or 2 sittings. The body can only effectively metabolize around 5 ounces of water at a time. Drink too much, and it will go straight to the bladder, so sip your water throughout the day.

What do you mean when you say quality water? All water is the same, is it not? Not so! Many health problems ranging from parasites to cancer can result from drinking contaminated water. There are over 75 thousand chemical compounds lurking in our water today. These pollutants come from industrial waste, agriculture, municipal sewage and consumers. Most people assume their taps provide clean, safe, quality water yet unfortunately this is not the case. These contaminants do seep into much of our water supply. Who is responsible for setting the standards for public water systems? The Safe Drinking water act gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) control over this ongoing challenge with our drinking water (private wells are not regulated by the EPA). In fact more than one third of the water supply from community water systems have been reported as failing to meet the EPA standards for safety and treatment techniques. Some of the harmful pollutants one may find in their drinking water include heavy metals, radon, fluoride, arsenic, fertilizers, asbestos, cyanides, pesticides, herbicides, industry chemicals, viruses, bacteria and parasites. And then of course, the following are added to public water supplies in order to kill bacteria, balance pH, control cloudiness, etc.; chlorine, carbon, lime, phosphates, soda ash and aluminum sulfate. chlorine also has its undesirable effects especially if combined with carbon based pollutants which form deadly tri-halo-methanes (THMs). Another contaminant of concern is Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) which is an immune system depressant and most likely a carcinogen. MTBE is added to gasoline in order to increase its oxygen content however it is seeping into our drinking water at a fast rate.

Unfortunately many of the impurities found in our drinking water supply are carcinogens; others contribute to general malaise or various types of illness. What to do? Clean up your tap water with one of the many filters on the market or choose a quality bottling company for your hydration needs. Although boiling water will kill bacteria and parasites it falls short at removing contaminants, so it wont improve the quality of water enough to make it suitable for drinking. Some of the available home water treatment and/or filtration methods you might want to look into include: charcoal, micro straining, and ceramic filters, KDF filtration, distillation, reverse osmosis, water softeners, bactericides, ultraviolet light and ozone. Although reverse osmosis and distillated are considered the best, no system can remove every single contaminant. Before choosing a unit it is suggested that you contact NSF International (www.nsf.com ) or the Water quality Association (www.wqa.org). These organizations will let you know if a manufacturer is holding their claims. See Holistic Healers Academy website for description of filtration methods: http://www.holistichealersacademy.com/water.htm

This article offers an introduction to alternative methods to plain tap water to encourage consumers into further investigation on which water would be best for them to use for drinking or cooking. It is my hope that you will contact some of the companies /agencies listed in order to get a closer look at how important it is to drink good quality water!

References: Dr. Batmanghelidj' M.D. ,"Your Body's Many Cries for Water" www.watercure.com Paul Bragg N.D., PhD, Water, The Shocking Truth That Can Save Your Life Steve Meyerowitz Water The Ultimate Cure

Please read the following: by Masaru Emoto, Messages From Water see site www.hado.net on how our thoughts effect water

Bob Worthington CNC, Naturopath (instructor for Holistic Healers Academy) see his own site http://www.spiritcentral.net

Kristen Lauter BS, HHP holds a Bachelor of Science degree in natural Health from Clayton College of natural Health and has received board certification as a Holistic Health Practitioner from the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. She is currently a candidate for the Certified Nutritional Consultant (CNC) through the American Association of Nutritional Consultants. Kristen fell ill with mercury and copper toxicity which led her on a nine year holistic journey resulting in the birth of Holistic Healers Academy.

Holistic Healers Academy (HHA), offers various programs leading to board certification as a Holistic Health Practitioner (HHP) through the American Association for Drugless Practitioners. through affordable home study courses, HHA offers holistic, metaphysical, energy and spiritual programs. With over thirty five courses to choose from, our HHP program is self-paced and enjoyable with one on one mentoring via email! For additional information visit our website at http://holistichealersacademy.com

Certified Holistic Health Practitioner #76892201 Holistic Healers Academy received accreditation and certification from AADP in 2002 Certificate No. 37182206 and again in 2004 Certificate No. 31472411

Germany Mat Yoga

10 Tips to De-stress, Part 1

Have you ever had times when everything feels like a drag and you hate to get up in the morning, get dressed, go to work, do whatever you have to, run your errands, take care of children, do housekeeping, and so on and so forth? It doesnt help if it is a lovely sunny day, you feel gray and cloudy. You feel so bad that you dont even want to feel better. You may also be so stressed you cant even think straight. Your mind spins; you are not in control.

Though this is a very common position to be in, turn it around you must. As you know, no one is all right, if you are not all right, so there is no time to lose. You are a lighthouse. You owe it to yourself and everyone you encounter today, to spread light. Turn it around. What you want to do is find ways to have fun doing what you must; everything, really. So here are some solutions for you:

1. You play games. You may think that games and fun are for children and you are way past that stage and it is really silly to be acting silly. Well, let me disagree. Once you get in the playing mode, there is no stop. Make up little things to begin with until you feel more comfortable stretching yourself. Start with walking. Even if you are not in the mood to take a walk, some walk you need to do: from your car to the store, from your office to you car, from your house to your mailbox, etc. Take this opportunity to step on everything that makes a noise, or a click, or a splash. Begin by stepping on dry leavesnow is the best time of the year for this. Then, if you are really walking for the pleasure of it, find a little stone and kick it so it is always ahead of you; you will have a goal to pursue as well as putting your mind into something a fun.

2. Listen to some calming music. This is especially good when you are stuck in traffic. It can be classical, if you like it, or any type of meditation music, you know, the ones which play some cymbals, water running, gongs, bells, birds singing, etc. You know what I mean. Just pay attention not to fall sleep, especially while driving.

3. Go for a walk, or run or exercise, or do Yoga and tai-chi, or dance, or whatever is your favorite form of movement. It neednt be one whole hour. Twenty minutes is plenty to refresh your body and soul. Avoid pumping your adrenals before you go to bed, or you will not sleep when you need to.

4. Light a candle and/or incense. Nothing needs to be elaborated, really, and you can do so while attending to other things as well, if you must. A candle is good for any occasion, from cooking to reading. You can also spend a minute staring at the flame. This is a great de-stressor. I always have one on while I am working at the computer. Of course, you need to pay attention that you will not burn down the house. Though lightning candles may seem more of a female kind of activity, men will profit greatly from it. Just give it a try.

5. Take a minute every hour of the day to stop whatever you are doing, close your eyes, and take a deep breath. Though it is only a minute per hour, this is easier said than done, but make a point and stick to it. One minute may seem a lot especially when we are so hurried, but I promise you it is not. You can also take a good sip of water after your deep breath. This is especially good for those who arent too fond of drinking water or those who forget to do so.

So here you have it, at least the first part of my tips. The most important thing here is to remember to avoid excitement or any boost of adrenaline in whatever form, even if it is just a piece of chocolate or a nice cup of coffee. I know it sounds harsh, but you will notice the difference. Next time you feel stressed or burnt out or just plain blas, try any or all of these suggestions. You will feel much better within 20 minutes. Guaranteed.

To be continued

Maria Moratto 2006
Want to have more abundance, health, time, love, fun, and blessings? Visit Prescription For bliss at www.rx4bliss.com, sign up for the newsletter and receive a fr*ee ebook called "Happy People Are More Abundant!"
Dr. Maria Moratto is the author of "The Inspired healing For Your body, Mind, and Soul," "The Inspired healing journal: Mending Your Broken Heart," and "Attract Money journal." Visit her site to get fr*ee affirmation cards.
You may reprint this article in its entirety as long as you add this resource box.

Online Free Yoga Lessons

Wireless Headsets Providing Convenience to Customers

Imagine this scenario your baby is teething and demands to be held all day, you are trying to fix a dinner so your family can eat together, and you are trying to workout a discrepancy on your phone bill and the operator has put you on hold. What could help ease the stress of this situation? A wireless headset will bring you the ability to do three things at once with its convenient wireless and hands free technology.

With a wireless headset it is possible to hold your baby, talk to the phone company and fix dinner all at one time. In this day and age we are being pulled in a thousand different directions so this kind of convenience can be crucial.

It will work with your home phone and mobile phone at the same time. The wireless link can be plugged into both at the same time and can distinguish between which phone is receiving a call. This technology makes wireless headset a perfect home office solution. Using a wireless head set provides you with ergonomic correctness so gone are the days of neck aches and back aches due to hours of multi-tasking at your computer with your phone on your ear.

wireless headset allows you to take and make calls from any location. Imagine the freedom of taking a walk around the park while still taking business calls from your office line. The wireless headset technology has completely revolutionized the way we can do business in our professional and personal life. It gives a whole new meaning to the term multi-tasking.

If you are interested in adding this great solution to your home or office then first check out all of the different wireless headset products and see which is one is right for you and your needs. Whether or not you are thinking of getting a wireless headset for your home or office might make a difference in which product line is right for you, especially in terms the range of the headset and its compatibility with your machine and the power supply that available for this headset.

If you use a phone regularly, then wireless headset is a good way to provide convenience to your life at your price range. Whether you are looking for a wireless headset for your office staff or just need one to help in the daily running of your household, market now has choice that will suit your needs.

Yoga Studios New York City