Pure Bottled Water and Your Body

The benefits of good health cannot be overemphasized for those who wish to lead a happy lifestyle. While good health does not guarantee happiness it is certainly a key building block for a future of well being, contentment and serenity.

Pure Bottled Water is a good starting point at building a healthy lifestyle.

What are the basics of good health?

Like most events in nature, development and maintenance of good health and a healthy lifestyle are simple in concept but take some work and dedication to achieve.

* Healthy diet
* Exercise
* Minimize stress on a daily basis

Almost all of the common diseases that threaten us today can be avoided to a great degree by eating right, adopting a program of regular exercise, and stress reduction through techniques like meditation.

The Role Of Pure Water as part of a Healthy Diet.

Daily consumption of pure water is essential to a proper diet. Basically, the human body can survive for extended periods without food but can only last for a few days without water. Water is the essential element of your body: water cools the body and is essential for the proper functioning of all the major body processes.

Is Our Drinking Water Pure?

In the whole world only 3% of all the water is drinkable and of that 3%, pollution is taking its toll. Much of the potentially drinkable water is now so polluted that it is undrinkable. Municipalities in the western word attempt to supply drinking water but only do so with contaminants and bacteria that is covered up by significant amounts of chlorine.

Scholars Have Noticed

There have many studies of contaminated water and its effects on the human body. Many scholars recommend the use of purified distilled water as a healthy substitute for contaminated water. Many experts have published opinions on the subject (see: Water Purification: http://mizar5.com/distill/BestPurification.html)

Other experts such as Dr. Andrew Weil (http://www.aquaprix.com/archive/drw_cda.html) explore the benefits of distilled water and explode many of the myths surrounding this form of purified water.

The basic question many scholars as is “Why do people harm their health with adulterated drinking water when pure water is available?”

How Much Pure Water Do You Need?

To stay hydrated, you need to drink at least half your body weight in ounces of pure water (spread out over the day). Therefore, if you weigh 150 pounds, you need at least 75 ounces of pure water a day. Remember, you cannot drink too much pure water-the more the better.

How Do You Know If You Are Hydrated?

Your urine should be almost clear once every 24 hours. Remember: Thirst is not a good guide-by the time you experience thirst, you are already 2-3% dehydrated, which means your energy is depleted by 20-30%.

What Counts Towards Your Pure Water Intake?

The following sources of pure water can count towards your daily quota

Distilled/Oxygenated water is the best choice. Distilled water is purified and It is rated purest and cleanest by National Science Foundation, containing the least parts-per-million contaminants. Some water suppliers add oxygen in a process that enhances the pure water taste.

Spring water is water bottled from a natural spring source. The majority of bottled water is spring water. Be careful of your sources because spring water is subject to the same natural and man made contamination as other unpurified water such as well and tap water.

Tap or Well Water

It is best to avoid tap and well water, because most North American water supplies contain a myriad of toxins including: anti-biotics, hormones, chlorine, heavy metals, and pesticides. Test all well water for contaminants because the water table that supports well water is often polluted. A high quality filtration or distillation system is recommended for all tap/well water.

There are Many Forms and Qualities of Bottled Water

Although bottled water is perceived as a healthier, safer choice over tap water in consumer surveys, that is not necessarily always true. Most tap water is bad for your body but many bottled waters are not purified and therefore not much better than tap water.

Twenty-five percent of all bottled water is actually repackaged tap water The more a consumer knows about the realities of bottled and tap water, the better they can be about selecting water based on purity and taste.

Is Bottled Best?

In a recent Gallop survey, most consumers indicated they drink bottled water based on their perception it is safer and purer than tap water. Taste was the second leading reason, while bottled water's convenience was also a factor.

Bottled water is considered a food, and thus regulated by Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Tap water is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Both varieties are subject to testing for contaminants, and some bottled and most tap water contains contaminates such as bacteria, arsenic, lead or pesticides. Independent tests by groups such as the National Resources Defense Council have found: Distilled/oxygenated water however, does not contain contaminants.

Other Facts:

-- Sixty to 70 percent of all bottled water in the United States is packaged and sold within the same state, which exempts it from FDA regulation. One in five states does not regulate that bottled water.

-- While most cities meet the standards for tap water, some tap water in 19 U.S. cities tested was found to contain arsenic, lead, and pesticides.

-- In 1,000 bottles of 103 different brands of bottled water, 22 percent contained synthetic chemicals, bacteria and arsenic.

Most healthy adults can tolerate trace amounts of contaminates if exposed, but some people are more vulnerable and should be more aware of their water source. These people include cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, patients who are HIV+ positive or recovering from a transplant or major surgery, and pregnant women, children, and elderly adults.

Bottled water that is purified by a distillation/oxygenation process eliminates even the most minute traces of contaminants. It is best however to buy purified water from a supplier that is approved under FDA regulations.

Why take a chance on your health because of the water you drink?

Author: Jon M. Stout is Chairman of the Board of Element H2O. For more information about bottled water, private label bottled water and bottled water delivery go to http://www.elementh2o.com

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Hoodia Gum Really Effective Appetite Suppressant

Hoodia gum is one in a line of specialty hoodia products that have hit the market in the past couple years. Other products that have hit the market include hoodia chews and hoodia pops. What all of these specialty products have in common is that they all claim to have the ability to be highly effective and almost instant appetite suppressants. The idea behind these products is that if you can control your appetite, you'll eat less and you'll lose weight.

While that sounds fantastic, I doubt these products have any affect on appetite and do very little for weight loss. For starters, I doubt that any of the hoodia gum products contain authentic hoodia gordonii. The hoodia gordonii plant is found only in South Africa and contains a molecule called P57. This molecule is the active ingredient in the hoodia plant that tricks the brain into thinking you are full. There are several varieties of hoodia, but only the hoodia gordonii variety has the ability to suppress appetite.

Hoodia gordonii is very scarce right now and there simply isn't enough to meet demand. As a result, it is very expensive. Hoodia supplements and products have been very popular the past few years so many companies have jumped on the bandwagon. You have everything from hoodia gum to hoodia tea available today. Unfortunately, many companies have tried to cut corners to reap the profits of this high demand herb by either diluting their products so there is very little hoodia gordonii in them, or simply not using any at all – but still claiming their product contains it.

The reason these companies have been able to get away with this is because hoodia supplements are not regulated. It is up to the consumer to get educated on the facts about hoodia products such as hoodia gum to make sure they don't get scammed. The majority of the hoodia supplements and products on the market today are fake - meaning they contain very little, if any, hoodia gordonii. One expert says that the percentage of fake hoodia supplements could be as high as 80%!

There are several things you can look for when buying hoodia gum and other hoodia products to ensure that what you are buying is real, but the two most important are CITES certificates and independent lab test results. You'll find these documents on websites that sell and market hoodia gums and other hoodia supplements. If you can't find them, then it is very likely the product doesn't contain authentic hoodia gordonii.

You will be hard pressed to find these documents on any hoodia gum website. I have researched many hoodia gum websites and have yet to find both of them clearly displayed. This is the primary reason why I doubt that any hoodia gum product can be a "powerful and fast-acting appetite suppressant" as many claim to be. If you can't find these documents, then the product probably doesn't contain authentic hoodia gordonii and as a result, has virtually no ability to effectively suppress appetite.

However, let's assume that these hoodia gum products contain authentic hoodia gordonii. I still believe they would be highly ineffective when it comes to suppressing appetite because they contain very little hoodia gordonii. Hoodia gum products typically claim to have anywhere from 20-150mg of it per stick of gum. That isn't going to be nearly enough to effectively suppress appetite.

Some experts and doctors say that it can take as much as 3,000mg of hoodia gordonii per day to effectively suppress appetite. At a minimum, most people need anywhere between 800-1,500mg per day to suppress appetite. Assuming you're able to get by with 800mg per day to suppress your appetite, you'd still need to chew several sticks of gum with each stick only containing 20-150mg of hoodia gordonii!

Finally, the other concern I have about hoodia gum products is that most claim to be made using hoodia concentrates, or extracts. These supposed concentrates contain only the active molecule in hoodia gordonii, P57. The problem is, the process to do this hasn't been perfected yet and only one company has the legal authority to do so and that company is Phytopharm.

Phytopharm is a British pharmaceutical company that was given the patent to extract P57 for use in weight loss products. They have spent several years and millions of dollars trying to figure out how to extract P57 to use in weight loss products on a mass scale. Despite the time and money spent, they still haven't been able to do it. How then can a hoodia gum product claim to use a hoodia extract?

The bottom line is I doubt that any of these hoodia gum products contain authentic hoodia gordonii, which is necessary to effectively suppress appetite. Furthermore, even if they do, they contain so little of it that it would probably do very little to suppress your appetite. If you are serious about trying hoodia supplements to suppress appetite, I strongly suggest you stick with traditional hoodia diet pills.

Author: Convinced hoodia gum probably isn't the best option to suppress appetite? Find out what are the best rated hoodia supplements to effectively suppress appetite at http://hoodiaandweightloss.com

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APPLE CIDER VINEGAR AND GETTING RID OF HEARTBURN

Apple cider vinegar and getting rid of heartburn? The two don't seem to go together. In fact, the thought of drinking even the smallest amount of vinegar when acid is backwashing into your throat and esophagus sounds counterproductive. Vinegar has a high acid content. You want to curb the acid. Why would you expect apple cider vinegar to do the job?

Apple cider vinegar is a folk remedy for getting rid of heartburn. In fact, it is the TOP folk remedy for heartburn and acid reflux.

Recipe for Relief

Taking apple cider vinegar for heartburn relief is quite simple. Simply stir 2 Tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into 1/2 cup of water or apple juice. Drink this immediately after each meal. If your problem is acid reflux, and you have just had a heavy meal, increase the amount of apple cider vinegar and decrease the amount of water or juice.

Another option is to mix a "cocktail" of the following:

* 1 quart apple juice
* 1 pint purple grape juice
* 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

Drink 1/2 cup after every meal for heartburn relief.

Recipes that use apple cider vinegar for getting rid of heartburn vary greatly. This is because individual bodies also vary greatly. Try different amounts of apple cider vinegar until you find what works for you.

Some people have found that one brand or another works better for them. Again, the difference is due to the variations in physical makeup.

How Apple Cider Vinegar Remedies Heartburn

Little research has been done on the effectiveness of apple cider vinegar for heartburn relief. Consequently, it is difficult to say how apple cider vinegar remedies heartburn. It appears that the acid content in vinegar somehow tells the stomach to stop producing more acid. Perhaps, in that way, apple cider vinegar is like the prescription medications that "shut down" the stomach's acid pumps to stop heartburn.

"Nexium," for example, is said to relieve heartburn symptoms "by inhibiting the secretion of acid produced in the stomach." (from the Ask Doc Web)

It is possible that apple cider vinegar relieves heartburn symptoms in the same way.

Apples May Help as Much as Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar does not taste good to most people. Because of that, some have tried eating a few slices of apple after a meal, and have gotten rid of heartburn that way. Not every apple works for heartburn, though. Some stick to green apples such as Granny Smith. Others recommend Jonagold apples for heartburn relief. Some recommend eating a few slices of Jonagold apple with a coupe of dill pickle spears. It's apple cider vinegar for heartburn without resorting to basic vinegar.

Helpful Tip: If you can get over the taste of apple cider vinegar, you will find it one of the most important natural remedies in healing the body.

Caution: The author is not a medical profession. The information in this article is for educational purposes only. If you have persistent heartburn, please see a physician for advice.

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YOU NEED FOOD HIGH IN FIBER FOR CONSTIPATION RELIEF

Food high in fiber is found in fruits, vegetables and grains. It is the complex fiber structure that gives produce and grains their shape and keeps them from falling apart. Fiber is a subclass of carbohydrates. It consists mostly of cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose and pectin.

In the stomach fiber bonds are broken apart so nutrients and fiber particles and strands can do their magic in your stomach, small intestine, colon, and anus. Once food high in fiber is completely digested in the small intestine, fiber moves into the colon to complete its cycle in your body. If you have eaten enough fiber during a meal, your stools will have a certain shape, size, color and consistency and chances are you will not have constipation.

If you have not been eating food high in fiber, especially for many years, then mostly likely you will be struggling with having regular bowel movements.

Eating the right amount of fiber is not only necessary for keeping free of constipation but it is tied to your overall health. In the past, no one knew much about fiber. It was thought that it had no value as it entered and exited the body. But now, we know that if you don't eat food high in fiber you will live a short and painful death. Here are some of diseases that are related to not eating enough fiber.

Heart disease
Diabetes
Appendicitis
Breast cancer
Colitis
Prostate cancer
Gastrointestinal disorders
Hemorrhoids
Hiatus hernia
Ulcers
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
All types of colon diseases

These are only a few diseases that you could develop. Do you see any of the diseases in this list that people come down with as they age? Did they eat enough fiber today? Will you eat enough fiber in the future? I hope so.

How should you eat fiber?

A general rule is to eat fruits and vegetables every day. Eat fruits in the morning to assist in purging out fecal matter that has accumulated in your colon and removing urine that your kidney has created by cleansing your blood during the night.

By eating fruits for breakfast you help remove toxins out of your colon by promoting a bowel movement. The fiber in fruits helps to clean your colon walls of tacky matter that accumulates there. This tacky matter is created when you don't eat enough fiber and your stools are mushy and sticky.

When you eat lunch or dinner, always eat vegetables with these meals. Vegetables are needed when you eat meat which does not have fiber. Vegetables are needed when you eat processed food that has no fiber. Always eat vegetables when eating bread since processed bread has no fiber. When bread is eaten without vegetables, fecal matter, chime, in the colon is hard to move and is sticky. It is this sticky matter that clings to your colon walls, which prevents your colon from being strong, flexible, healthy, and non-toxic.

Always chose to eat food high in fiber everyday. This is a necessity. You were built to thrive on fruits and vegetables. Without them you commit yourself to a life of pain and disease. And it all starts in the colon with constipation.

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EATING MORE FISH IS HEALTHY REGARDLESS RISK OF TOXINS

Eating more fish is definitely a heart-healthy benefit. You might be a little weary, however, of the risk of toxins, like mercury found in some kinds of fish. The safety of farm-raised fish, wild fish and fish you catch is also a concern for many people. Use this article as a resource to help you learn how you can eat fish safely.

Some of the health benefits associated with eating fish includes:

• Generally low in calories
• Generally low in saturated fat
• Generally low in cholesterol
• It is a good substitute for poultry and meat because it is generally low in calories, saturated fat and cholesterol
• Cold-water fish like salmon, mackerel and herring are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which appear to decrease risk of coronary artery disease, may protect against irregular heartbeats, and help to lower blood pressure.

There are potential drawbacks to eating fish even though it is good for your health. Some types of fish may contain contaminants like mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins or other chemical pollutants. Fish get these toxins from pollutants in lakes, rivers and oceans. Other disease-causing organisms, bacteria, viruses and parasites also infect fish just the same way that poultry and meat can be infected.

Although the Food and Drug Administration regulates seafood to reduce potential hazards, you still need to safely store, prepare, cook and serve fish to help reduce your risk of contracting food-borne illnesses.

One of the major contaminants found in fish is mercury. Large, predatory fish like tilefish, swordfish and king mackerel tend to have higher levels of mercury. The Environmental Protection Agency report that for most people the amount of mercury they consume by eating fish is not a health concern.

There are two locations from which our fish purchased in the grocery store come from. They are:

• Fish caught in the wild such as an ocean, river or freshwater lake
• Fish raised on a fish farm

Farm-raised fish may have more total fat, calories and higher levels of contaminants due to toxins present in the feed given to fish. Farm-raised fish is more readily available and often cost less. State or federal governments set harvest limits on commercially harvested fish that make them more expensive. The United States requires labels on consumer fish products that states either “farm-raised” or “wild.” Wild fish may also be harvested for personal consumption by sport anglers.

Fish caught by sport angling are not held to the same standards as fight caught commercially. The FDA regulates commercial fish to help ensure safety. Advisories in each state is responsible for protecting residents from the health risk of eating wild fish, for example, which types and much fish is safe to eat. If you are unable to find local advice, the FDA and EPA recommend you limit consumption of fish from local waters to about 6 ounces a week.

Most people do not eat enough fish and have no need to worry of eating too much to cause a health concern. The American Heart Association recommends at least two, 3-ounce servings of fish – preferably omega-3-rich fish – each week. For most consumers, especially those at risk for heart disease, the omega-3 benefits of eating fish regularly outweighs the potential risks.

For women who might become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers and children younger than age 5, the FDA and EPA recommend the following:

• Avoid eating shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish due to the high levels of toxins
• Eat up to 12 ounces per week of fish and shellfish that contain low levels of mercury. Sources include: shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, Pollock, catfish. Limit intake of albacore tuna to 6 ounces per week.

You don’t have to avoid seafood altogether if you are in any of the above groups. In fact, some studies suggest that not enough seafood during pregnancy may contribute to poor verbal skills, behavioral problems and other developmental issues during childhood.

In addition to the many governmental safety precautions in place, you still need to safely store, prepare, cook and serve fish. Review the following tips:

• Never consume raw seafood, particularly raw shellfish
• Wrap fresh fish in a plastic bag securely and store in your refrigerator
• Eat fresh fish within two days, most preferably the day of purchase
• Store frozen seafood no more than six months
• Do not refreeze fish.
• Defrost frozen seafood in the refrigerator just before cooking or for quicker thawing, place frozen fish in a sealed bag and immerse in cold water.
• Wash hands, cutting boards and utensils with soap and water after coming in contact with fish
• Allow 10 minutes cooking time for every inch of thickness for medium-cooked fish.
• Use a fork or the tip of a knife to cut into the fish to see if it is done. When done the fish should separate into flakes and appear opaque throughout.

Source: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (2007)

Disclaimer: *This article is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any kind of a health problem. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Always consult with your health care provider about any kind of a health problem and especially before beginning any kind of an exercise routine.

Author: Connie Limon, Trilogy Field Representative. Visit nutritionandhealthhub.com and sign up for a weekly nutrition and health tip. The article collection is available as FREE reprints for your newsletters, websites or blog. Visit www.healthylife27.com to purchase an array of superior quality, safe and effective products inspired by nature, informed by science and created to improve the health of people, pets and the planet.

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