This is the everything-you-need-to-know-to-be-as-healthy-as-possible newsletter, brought to you by Kristy Russ, pharmacist and health consultant. I have close to 20 years experience in helping people improve their health. I specialize in nutritional medicine, which is the secret of "true" preventative medicine. Yes, if I'm successful in getting people to follow my advice, I will put myself out of a job.

For even more information go to www.antioxidants-make-you-healthy.com

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Why Drinking Lots is so Important
and
How Much You REALLY Need...

Anyway, a few weeks ago the e-zine topic was about how bottled water really isn't that great. I thought it might be a good idea to expand on the whole water and hydration thing, since it still seems to be such an issue for most people.

Everybody knows they're supposed to drink lots of fluids, yet still MOST people are going through life chronically dehydrated- an estimated 75%!!!

Know this: Your body functions best when it's fully hydrated. Even mild dehydration will slow down your metabolism, speed up aging, reduce muscle recovery after exercise and reduce resistance to disease. Dehydration is also a major cause of headaches, daytime fatigue, muscle cramping, mid-day munchies (thirst is often mistaken for hunger), and problems with concentration and memory.

Do I need to go on? Your body IS mostly water- this should not be a surprise for anyone.

Also know this: If you're feeling thirsty, you're already dehydrated.

That's why you want to just keep drinking throughout the day so you never really get thirsty. When your glass is empty, fill it up. Simple.

The only caveat I would add is to go easy on the fluids during meal times. Too much fluid can interfere with and dilute your digestive fluids, which can lead to poor digestion and absorption of nutrients. I know for many of you, this is the time when you drink the most- try to cut back but make sure you make it up elsewhere during the day.

How much do you really need?

• The 8 glasses a day rule is actually a little low, but you usually get a glass or two of fluid from foods or juices also. To figure out what you need, take your weight in pounds and divide it in half. That's how many ounces you need every day. Most glasses are 8 ounces, so if you divide that number by 8, that's how many glasses you need. For example: 150lbs. divide by 2= 75 ounces per day divide by 8= just over 9 glasses per day.

  Don't do it all at once or you'll be running to the bathroom constantly and you'll quit. Increase by a glass or two every week.

And don't even get me started on carbonated drinks... Most people drink waaaaaay too many of these. If you're having more than 1 per week (and I'm being generous), it's too much in my opinion. Definitely daily is insane. There is NOTHING good about these things (and lots of bad things). Added to the HUGE list of problems that they cause (perhaps a topic for another day), they are also dehydrating (even if it's not caffeinated).

Okay, so go get a glass of water already!

Because Laughter Really IS Good Medicine...

The doctor examined the man, left the room, and came back with three different bottles of pills.

The doctor said, "Take the green pill with a big glass of water when you wake up. Take the blue pill with a big glass of water after you eat lunch. Then just before going to bed, take the red pill with another big glass of water."

The patient previous to this had not taken vitamins, did not use any prescription medications and hated going to the doctor period.

Startled to be put on so much medicine, the man stammered, "Jeez Doc, exactly what is my problem?"

The doctor replied, "You're not drinking enough water."

What's New at
Antioxidants-Make-You-Healthy.com

Not only is eating a low glycemic diet the healthiest way to eat, it is truly the most effective AND, more importantly, permanent weight loss diet you could ever do.

Check out my new web page

Antioxidant Discussion Forums

Create your very own webpage on my site! (Don't worry- you don't need to know anything about how to do it. If you can type, done!) If you have an interesting story to share or have a comment or question about a topic on the site, you can post it right onto the website. Read about how others have been affected by antioxidants, make a comment on someone else's submission or post your own.

It's fun. It's free. And you don't have to register for anything.

Click here to post your own story, comment or question.

Nutrition News

Life Expectancy Of Women In Their 70s Extended By Exercise And A Healthy Diet Of Fruits And Vegetables

Curry Ingredient Curcumin May Increase Protein Levels In Immune System

Age-Related Vision Loss Prevented By Fish Oil

Vitamin D Supplementation May Prevent Age-Related Disability

Treatment Failure In Kids With Serious Infections Is Lowered By Zinc Supplementation

See you next month...

Good Health to You,

Kristy Russ, BScPharm Pharmacist and Health Consultant

P.S. Give your body the best nutrition possible. You'll not only feel better now, but you'll also have that quality of life in the future that you've always imagined for yourself. Click here to find out more.