“A wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings, and learn how by his own thought to derive benefit from his illnesses." ”
—Hippocrates
Thank you to all of those voted in our first ever poll to determine the topic of this month's article. The topic you all wanted to hear about the most, with 47% of the votes, is "how much water do our bodies really need". For those of you that voted for the other topics, those will all be featured at some point in one of our upcoming issues as well so stay tuned.
We love hearing from our readers as it helps ensure that we are writing about topics you want to hear about so keep the feedback coming. If there is something you want to learn about, we will write about it.
Best in Health!
~Amy~
How much water do our bodies really need?
Most of us know the importance of keeping our bodies hydrated by drinking water throughout the day, but many don't know why we need water and how much we need. Did you know that the majority of the human body is made of water (60-70%) and our cells consist of 65-90% water by weight? This is the key reason why it is so important to ensure we drink enough water every day. In addition to keeping us hydrated, water is also needed to perform important functions such as carrying nutrients to the cells in our body, helping with kidney functions, and flushing out toxins.
So how much water should we all be drinking? Many factors can come into play when determining how many glasses or ounces you should drink. Some questions to ask yourself are:
- Have you exercised and for how long? (If you exercised on a given day, your body will need more water to re-hydrate and make up for the fluids that were lost by sweating.)
- Do you live in a dry climate? (The body typically needs more water in dryer climates.)
- How many alcoholic beverages have you drank or do you plan to drink?
- For women: Are you pregnant or breast feeding?
The Institute of Medicine advises that men should consume roughly 3 liters, which is equivalent to 12-13 glasses of total beverages a day and women consume 2.2 liters, which is just about 9-10 glasses a day.
Note that there is no study that outlines exactly how much water we should be consuming and based on our body make up, where we live and how active we are can all influence how much more water our bodies need. We do all need water each and every day so keep a glass on your desk or nearby you and refill it often.
Recipe of the Month: Quick Homemade Applesauce
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 2 cups
Ingredients:
- 4 McIntosh apples (or apple of choice), peeled and chopped
- 1½ tablespoons brown sugar, add a bit more if preferred
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
Directions
- Place chopped apple pieces in a pot and heat on the stove for about 4-5 minutes until softened
- Transfer to a food processor, add brown sugar and cinnamon and puree until smooth or desired consistency is reached
In the News
From food to drink there are many reasons why our waistlines start expanding and then of course there is the age old joke of having a "beer belly". A study led by Martin Bobak at University College London showcases that it isn't just about how much you drink but how much you drink in one sitting. To read more click binge belly.
Giving Back
It's September and we all know what that means - Back to School!!! I can still remember the nerves I felt each year when the first day of school started creeping up. I can only imagine what it would have felt like if, in addition to my nerves, I also had no supplies to take to school or a backpack to bring home reading materials and homework. Through the Give A Kid a Backpack Foundation this nonprofit organization has been working towards enriching the lives of impoverished children around the world by providing them with backpacks filled with school supplies. The education of our children around the world is so important. To learn how you can help please visit: www.giveakidabackpack.org/
Action Items
- Keep a glass of water by your desk or carry a reusable thermos with you to keep your body hydrated
- Check out the DietsinReview.com blog for my latest weekly article
- The Biggest Loser is Back, follow along with DietsinReview and be inspired by this season's 16 contestants Biggest Loser on DIR
Weekly Blog Articles
Forward to a Friend
It’s such a pleasure to help those closest to us become happier and healthier. Please forward this newsletter to friends, family members or colleagues who might be interested and inspired by it.
Also, if there is something you are interested in learning more about or would like me to feature in an upcoming newsletter please contact me.
Eat, Live Laugh newsletters are intended for overall general wellness. If you have condition specific concerns please feel free to contact me.
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