Top 10 Past Article

Do You Drink Enough Water?

The human body can only exist for 5-7 days without water, thus dehydration must be taken seriously. Just exactly what does dehydration mean?  Medically, dehydration is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition in which the body contains an insufficient volume of water for normal functioning. To operate efficiently, most people say the body requires about eight large glasses of water per day, based on an estimate of fluid loss during a normal day. Even more water is needed during hot weather, periods of illness and when exercising. Many people simply do not take in this amount of water, preferring instead to get their intake of liquids through coffee, tea, sodas, beer or wine.

The problem is that most of these drinks have a diuretic effect which forces the body to eliminate more water than it is actually taking in – causing dehydration. In fact, some believe there is an epidemic of chronic dehydration in the US due to our caffeine and alcohol consumption.

Some symptoms of dehydration include:

Feeling dizzy and lightheaded • producing less urine and darker urine • anger, impatience • tiredness • flushed face • irritability • anxiety • depression • snoring • insomnia • short attention spans • cravings for coffee, tea, and alcohol (all diuretics).

The two most common signs of dehydration, a dry/sticky mouth or feeling thirsty – are not actually the first signs. When these 2 symptoms occur you are already dehydrated. In chronic dehydration a person may suffer from problems such as gastritis, heartburn, arthritis, headaches, depression, weight problems and even premature aging.

Dieting can also sap your water reserves. Beware of diets or supplements, including laxatives and diuretics, that emphasize shedding “water weight” as a quick way to lose weight. Losing water weight is not the same thing as losing actual fat. Remember, drinking water does NOT add calories to your diet and is great for your overall wellbeing.

So what can we do to keep healthy and hydrated? Well, the good news is that these conditions may be alleviated or cured simply by drinking more water. People with normal heart and kidney functions should slowly increase their water intake by drinking two glasses of water one-half hour BEFORE each meal. Then two more glasses of water one to two hours AFTER each meal. Drinking water with a meal dilutes your ability to digest your food.

However, don’t overdo your water intake, which can also be dangerous. Rehydration needs to occur over time, not by overloading your system. The essential thing to remember is “little and often.” A small glass every hour throughout the day is far more beneficial enabling you to utilize the fluid appropriately instead of rejecting it through overload.

Possible health problems associated with dehydration include: Asthma, Allergies, Heartburn, Migraines, Constipation, Obesity, Fibromyalgia; High Blood Pressure, Lower Back Pain, Type II Diabetes.

If you lose enough water to be seriously dehydrated, you also become deficient in electrolytes – the mineral compounds, like salt, needed to maintain a healthy fluid balance and regulate body temperature.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the following dietary response to serious dehydration caused, for example, by diarrhea or emergency. It is designed as a fast replenishment of fluid and electrolyte levels:

Anti-Dehydration Treatment Method: Take two glasses. Into the first put 8 ozs of orange juice, a pinch of salt and half a teaspoon of Honey. Into the second put 8 ozs of bottled or distilled water and one-quarter teaspoon of baking soda. Sip from each glass in turn until they are empty. Remember: there is no quick fix solution and you will still need to drink plenty of water every day to keep hydrated.

How to Stay Hydrated: Plan to start and end your day with water. Even when sleeping, your body loses water. Drinking a glass of water when you first wake up and last thing before you go to bed can help balance what you lose while sleeping. Also, your body loses water during the day when you perspire, urinate and breathe. If you are more active or are working/exercising in a hot or humid environment, you will need to replenish lost fluids: don’t underestimate the amount of fluids you lose from perspiration. In one hour of exercise your body can lose more than a quart of water, dependent upon exercise intensity and air temperature. Therefore, you should drink before, during and after exercising. For most workouts, water is the best fluid replacement.

And remember: don’t go overboard with water. If you have too much water and too little sodium you can enter into a state known as hyponatremia – which can cause brain cells to become swollen with water, leading to confusion, seizures, coma or death. This can happen to people participating in long distance events who drink large amounts of water but don’t replenish electrolytes (including sodium). So, if you’re participating in an endurance activity, be sure you also consume a sports drink or other energy food that you body can easily digest to provide you with the electrolytes you need!

An easy way to determine whether you are hydrated is simply by the color of your urine. This should be very pale yellow (some medications or supplements may affect this). A dark color indicates that your kidneys are working too hard to concentrate the urine and a greater likelihood that you need more water.

In conclusion, water is vital for good health and there is no substitute for it. Years of chronic dehydration cannot be reversed overnight by simply drinking a couple glasses of water. Rather, water intake should be gradually and consistently increased.

THE QUIZ: Are you drinking enough liquids for your health?

1. How many cups of non-caffeinated, nonalcoholic fluids, other than water, do you drink everyday?

a) 0     b) 1-3     c) 4-6     d) 7-9     e) 10-12     f) 13 or more

2. How many 8-oz glasses of water do you drink every day?

a) 0     b) 1     c) 2     d) 3     e) 4     f) 5 or more

3. How many cups of caffeinated beverages do you drink every day?

a) 0-3     b) 4-5     c) 6     d) 7 or more

4. How many alcoholic beverages do you drink a day?

a) 0     b) 1-2     c)3     d) 4     e)5

5. How many cups of soup do you eat every day?

a) 0     b) 1     c) 2     d) 3 or more

6. How many servings of fruit (1 piece fresh/raw or  1/2 cup cooked/canned) do you eat every day?

a) 0-1     b) 2-4     c) 5 or more

7. How many servings of non-starchy vegetables (1 cup raw or 1/2 cup cooked) do you eat every day?

a) 0-2     b) 3-5     c) 6 or more

Dehydration QUIZ Answers:

1. a = 0, b = 2, c = 5, d = 8, e = 11, f = 13 (add points)

2. a = 0, b = 1, c = 2, d = 3, e = 4, f = 10 (add points)

3. a = 0, b = 2, c = 3, d = 5 (*subtract points)

4. a = 0, b = 1, c = 3, d = 4, e = 5 (*subtract points)

5. a = 0, b = 1, c = 2, d = 3 (add points)

6. a = 0, b = 1, c = 2 (add points)

7. a = 0, b = 1, c = 2 (add points)

Your Hydration Score:

-10 to -1:  You are a Human Raisin.

You are so dry it will take you days to rehydrate. Start by drinking a sports drink to return your fluid and electrolyte levels to normal. Decrease or eliminate caffeine and eat at least 5 servings daily of fruits and vegetables. Then start a fluid plan.

0 to 5:  You are Parched

Your body still thinks it’s in the Sahara Desert, but it senses relief in sight. Decrease your caffeine intake and drink more water.

6 – 9:  You are down a quart

You’re so close, just a little extra effort is needed. Drink a few more glasses of water each day and stick to your fluid plan.

10 – 12:  Hydrated

You’re body is balanced. You are drinking just enough fluid, but make sure you maintain your fluid plan.

13 plus:  Congratulations! You’re totally fluid!

You’ve left the dried fruit and desert behind you and are swimming home. You look great and feel fabulous! You’re able to perform at peak levels, so keep up the good work!

References:

1. www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v57/n2s/full/1601897a.html

2. www.coastalcoolers.com/quiz.pdf.

Written by Morgan Tiar |

Flushing the toilet, washing your hands, cleaning dishes, laundry, quenching your thirst – these all take water, and lots of it. Eighty-five percent of Reno’s water comes from the Truckee River, which is supplied from snow and rain fall throughout the year. So far this year we are a bit dry with our snowpack at about 60 percent of normal. It is time to think about water conservation.

You can do simple and inexpensive things in your home to help conserve water. Get a low flow toilet – 1.6 gallons per flush. If you don’t have one, simply put a rock-filled jar in your toilet’s tank to take up space and cut down on water usage. Toilets are about 20 percent of a household’s usage. Low flow showerheads are readily available, easy to install and can save up to 20,000 gallons yearly. For your sinks, install faucet aerators. These are inexpensive and can reduce the flow to 1.5 gallons per minute compared to three to five gallons that standard faucet use.

Other simple tips:
• Turn water off when brushing your teeth, washing your face, etc.
• If you like cold drinking water, keep a pitcher in the fridge instead of running your water to get cold.
• Run full loads in your dishwasher and washing machine. Use efficient machines if possible.
• Water your lawns and gardens at night or early in the morning. Less water will evaporate.
• Use the water you cooked your pasta, veggies, or other foods to water your plants.

References:
1. National Geographic Green Guide www.thegreenguide.com

2. Truckee Meadows Water Authority www.TMWA.com

3. www.wateruseitwisely.com

For more info, contact EcoReno, LLC at (775) 324-6326.

Do You Drink Enough Water?

Take The Quiz

The human body can only exist for 5-7 days without water, thus dehydration must be taken seriously. Just exactly what does dehydration mean?  Medically, dehydration is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition in which the body contains an insufficient volume of water for normal functioning. To operate efficiently, most people say the body requires about eight large glasses of water per day, based on an estimate of fluid loss during a normal day. Even more water is needed during hot weather, periods of illness and when exercising. Many people simply do not take in this amount of water, preferring instead to get their intake of liquids through coffee, tea, sodas, beer or wine.

The problem is that most of these drinks have a diuretic effect which forces the body to eliminate more water than it is actually taking in – causing dehydration. In fact, some believe there is an epidemic of chronic dehydration in the US due to our caffeine and alcohol consumption.

Some symptoms of dehydration include:

Feeling dizzy and lightheaded • producing less urine and darker urine • anger, impatience • tiredness • flushed face • irritability • anxiety • depression • snoring • insomnia • short attention spans • cravings for coffee, tea, and alcohol (all diuretics).

The two most common signs of dehydration, a dry/sticky mouth or feeling thirsty – are not actually the first signs. When these 2 symptoms occur you are already dehydrated. In chronic dehydration a person may suffer from problems such as gastritis, heartburn, arthritis, headaches, depression, weight problems and even premature aging.

Dieting can also sap your water reserves. Beware of diets or supplements, including laxatives and diuretics, that emphasize shedding “water weight” as a quick way to lose weight. Losing water weight is not the same thing as losing actual fat. Remember, drinking water does NOT add calories to your diet and is great for your overall wellbeing.

So what can we do to keep healthy and hydrated? Well, the good news is that these conditions may be alleviated or cured simply by drinking more water. People with normal heart and kidney functions should slowly increase their water intake by drinking two glasses of water one-half hour BEFORE each meal. Then two more glasses of water one to two hours AFTER each meal. Drinking water with a meal dilutes your ability to digest your food.

However, don’t overdo your water intake, which can also be dangerous. Rehydration needs to occur over time, not by overloading your system. The essential thing to remember is “little and often.” A small glass every hour throughout the day is far more beneficial enabling you to utilize the fluid appropriately instead of rejecting it through overload.

Possible health problems associated with dehydration include: Asthma, Allergies, Heartburn, Migraines, Constipation, Obesity, Fibromyalgia; High Blood Pressure, Lower Back Pain, Type II Diabetes.

If you lose enough water to be seriously dehydrated, you also become deficient in electrolytes – the mineral compounds, like salt, needed to maintain a healthy fluid balance and regulate body temperature.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the following dietary response to serious dehydration caused, for example, by diarrhea or emergency. It is designed as a fast replenishment of fluid and electrolyte levels:

Anti-Dehydration Treatment Method: Take two glasses. Into the first put 8 ozs of orange juice, a pinch of salt and half a teaspoon of Honey. Into the second put 8 ozs of bottled or distilled water and one-quarter teaspoon of baking soda. Sip from each glass in turn until they are empty. Remember: there is no quick fix solution and you will still need to drink plenty of water every day to keep hydrated.

How to Stay Hydrated: Plan to start and end your day with water. Even when sleeping, your body loses water. Drinking a glass of water when you first wake up and last thing before you go to bed can help balance what you lose while sleeping. Also, your body loses water during the day when you perspire, urinate and breathe. If you are more active or are working/exercising in a hot or humid environment, you will need to replenish lost fluids: don’t underestimate the amount of fluids you lose from perspiration. In one hour of exercise your body can lose more than a quart of water, dependent upon exercise intensity and air temperature. Therefore, you should drink before, during and after exercising. For most workouts, water is the best fluid replacement.

And remember: don’t go overboard with water. If you have too much water and too little sodium you can enter into a state known as hyponatremia – which can cause brain cells to become swollen with water, leading to confusion, seizures, coma or death. This can happen to people participating in long distance events who drink large amounts of water but don’t replenish electrolytes (including sodium). So, if you’re participating in an endurance activity, be sure you also consume a sports drink or other energy food that you body can easily digest to provide you with the electrolytes you need!

An easy way to determine whether you are hydrated is simply by the color of your urine. This should be very pale yellow (some medications or supplements may affect this). A dark color indicates that your kidneys are working too hard to concentrate the urine and a greater likelihood that you need more water.

In conclusion, water is vital for good health and there is no substitute for it. Years of chronic dehydration cannot be reversed overnight by simply drinking a couple glasses of water. Rather, water intake should be gradually and consistently increased.

THE QUIZ: Are you drinking enough liquids for your health?

1. How many cups of non-caffeinated, nonalcoholic fluids, other than water, do you drink everyday?

a) 0     b) 1-3     c) 4-6     d) 7-9     e) 10-12     f) 13 or more

2. How many 8-oz glasses of water do you drink every day?

a) 0     b) 1     c) 2     d) 3     e) 4     f) 5 or more

3. How many cups of caffeinated beverages do you drink every day?

a) 0-3     b) 4-5     c) 6     d) 7 or more

4. How many alcoholic beverages do you drink a day?

a) 0     b) 1-2     c)3     d) 4     e)5

5. How many cups of soup do you eat every day?

a) 0     b) 1     c) 2     d) 3 or more

6. How many servings of fruit (1 piece fresh/raw or  1/2 cup cooked/canned) do you eat every day?

a) 0-1     b) 2-4     c) 5 or more

7. How many servings of non-starchy vegetables (1 cup raw or 1/2 cup cooked) do you eat every day?

a) 0-2     b) 3-5     c) 6 or more

Dehydration QUIZ Answers:

1. a = 0, b = 2, c = 5, d = 8, e = 11, f = 13 (add points)

2. a = 0, b = 1, c = 2, d = 3, e = 4, f = 10 (add points)

3. a = 0, b = 2, c = 3, d = 5 (*subtract points)

4. a = 0, b = 1, c = 3, d = 4, e = 5 (*subtract points)

5. a = 0, b = 1, c = 2, d = 3 (add points)

6. a = 0, b = 1, c = 2 (add points)

7. a = 0, b = 1, c = 2 (add points)

Your Hydration Score:

-10 to -1:  You are a Human Raisin.

You are so dry it will take you days to rehydrate. Start by drinking a sports drink to return your fluid and electrolyte levels to normal. Decrease or eliminate caffeine and eat at least 5 servings daily of fruits and vegetables. Then start a fluid plan.

0 to 5:  You are Parched

Your body still thinks it’s in the Sahara Desert, but it senses relief in sight. Decrease your caffeine intake and drink more water.

6 – 9:  You are down a quart

You’re so close, just a little extra effort is needed. Drink a few more glasses of water each day and stick to your fluid plan.

10 – 12:  Hydrated

You’re body is balanced. You are drinking just enough fluid, but make sure you maintain your fluid plan.

13 plus:  Congratulations! You’re totally fluid!

You’ve left the dried fruit and desert behind you and are swimming home. You look great and feel fabulous! You’re able to perform at peak levels, so keep up the good work!

References:

1. www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v57/n2s/full/1601897a.html

2. www.coastalcoolers.com/quiz.pdf.

Brought To You By MillerWater |

Clean, fresh water should be part of any solid nutrition program. Water is the most essential nutrient in our diet, yet it is the one that is the most overlooked by doctors and nutritionists.

Water is the building block of life. It is the most fundamental nutrient in our body and it plays a vital role in every bodily function, including: circulation, breathing, digestion, brain activity and growth. Water is crucial for controlling body temperature, lubrication and purifying toxins from each cell in your body.

Our bodies are composed of approximately 70% water. Blood is 83% water, our lungs are 75% water, and even bones are 22% water. The body constantly maintains this remarkable balance so well that even a 2% drop in the percentage of water in the body can cause fatigue, and a 10% drop in the percentage can result in death.

The quality of water that we put into our bodies is vitally important. If over 70% of our body is water and we continually replace the water that makes up our body, then we should make sure that it’s the highest quality water that we can get. Today the cleanest type of water we can get is steam-distilled water.

The body does not need the stray chemicals that are generally found in tap water. That is one of the reasons why drinking steam-distilled water, which is free of virtually all contaminants, is so important. Stray chemicals can cause side reactions which can be harmful or even fatal. Therefore both the quantity and the quality of the water that we drink determine the quality of our tissues and organs and their performance, as well as their resistance to disease.

What is distillation?

Webster’s Dictionary defines distillation as “the process of heating a mixture and condensing the resulting vapor to produce a more nearly pure substance”.

Distilled water is water that has been heated to the boiling point so that the water becomes steam and is separated from the impurities. The steam is then condensed back into pure high quality water. The impurities remain as residue in the boiling chamber to be flushed.

The distillation process removes virtually all biological, organic, inorganic and radioactive contaminants. Distilled water contains virtually no solids, minerals or trace elements. Distilled water is 99.99% pure; it is clean, natural and healthy. Steam distilled water is the standard by which all other types of water are measured.

Why use distilled water?

Distillation is the single most effective method of water purification and can be used throughout the world on all types of incoming water. Unlike other treatment methods, such as carbon filters and reverse osmosis, distillation is effective on virtually all contaminants and is not dependent on water pressure, water temperature, pH, or chlorine and it can even be used on water containing bacteria and parasites and still produce safe, 99.99% pure water.

Pure distilled water can be used for all consumable needs, or anything that goes into your body. Whether we consume ice cubes, soup, coffee, tea, pasta, rice, baby formula, juices, Kool-Aid®, or just drinking water, the cleanest water should be used. The contaminants present in all water find their way into our bodies, causing many potential problems. Distillation removes the water from these contaminants, which makes it healthy and safe to use as an overall source of water.

Distilled water is used for more than just drinking water. Laboratories use it for analytical research and utensil washing. The medical community uses it for sterilization, medical procedures, health treatment solutions and in food preparation. The pharmaceutical community uses it for process water, laboratory experiments and as a base component for certain medicines.

What about the minerals in water?

Various minerals are essential for the proper functioning of the heart and the rest of your body. A very important point to remember is that the minerals must be in a form that the body can readily assimilate and use. The minerals that are found in tap water are in an inorganic form, which are poorly assimilated by the body. They are a result of the water dissolving the minerals from the rocks and soil that it comes in contact with on its way to our homes.

Minerals in water are often intermingled with contaminants that are not beneficial to us. For example: lead, mercury, arsenic, solvents, pesticides, pharmaceutical drugs, herbicides, and other chemicals or biological contaminants can be harmful, and in many cases become fatal to the human body.

What makes the best water to use?

• Distillation is the single-most effective water treatment method. A well-designed distiller will remove 99.99% of the contaminants present in our water.

• Distillation is the only method that collects the pure steam. The steam rises from the boiling water, leaving virtually all contaminants behind. The steam is then cooled and condensed into pure water.

• Distillation offers absolute peace of mind. The distillation process is not limited by the quality of the source water. It will consistently produce high quality water, regardless of the contaminants present in the source water, something that no other water treatment process can honestly claim.

• Distillation is recommended by many top doctors and nutritionists and it is endorsed in books such as “Fit for Life; Fit for Life 2; Optimum Sports Nutrition’ Nutrition for Endurance; Prescription for Nutritional Healing; Pure Water Now: It’s time for action,” and many other health and nutrition books.

• Distillation duplicates Mother Nature’s hydrologic cycle, nature’s primary method of providing pure water on our planet.

References:

1. Distillation: Process and Technology, 2004 Athol E. Meder.

2. Eldon Muehling, Ask Dr. Water Newsletters, 2005.

3. Water Technology, http://www.watertechonline.com .

For more info, contact Nikki Lee Shelton, Mgr at 775-673-2152 or email info@millerwater.com

Brought To You By MillerWater |

Water is essential to all life. Without it, the living breathing biosphere that exists on the surface of the earth wouldn’t be possible. Nicknamed the “water” planet, earth is covered by one of our most precious resources. However 97% of it is locked in the oceans, and is toxic to humans and many plants and animals. So how do we obtain fresh water resources?

To understand, we need to turn to the Hydrologic Cycle. The Hydrologic Cycle is Mother Nature’s process for moving water around the globe. It is the Earth’s way of purifying and cleaning our planetary water through distillation.

The cycle begins as the sun heats the water in our rivers, lakes and oceans. In the heating process, small amounts of water vapor leave the surface of the water and rise into the atmosphere, leaving behind impurities (Evaporation). When the water vapor cools, it forms clouds (Condensation). As the air temperature in the upper atmosphere drops, the water vapor cools and converts back to a liquid/solid in the form of rain or ice depending upon the surrounding air temperature (Precipitation).

When the rain or snow droplet reaches the surface of the Earth, it is ready to become part of the process again. It is this process that cleans the Earth’s water.

Simple as 1,2,3:

1. Evaporation

+

2. Condensation

+

3. Precipitation

=

99.99+% Pure Water

Water is Not Created or Destroyed

Water continually changes location and form. The water we drink today may have been lapped up by dinosaurs millions of years ago, or helped to fill Julius Caesar’s bathing pool. The water we use now is the same supply that the planet started with in the beginning. Its quality is renewed again and again by the natural Hydrologic Cycle.

Our air is frequently polluted by modern and industrial activities and as raindrops pick up these contaminants on their way back to earth. The water becomes even more polluted as it flows in our streams, lakes, rivers, oceans or moves underground. Some of this contamination is from “natural” sources, but much of it is due to manmade pollution. Because of this, we need to treat the water so that it can be used for the wide array of purposes that humans use water.

Steam-distillation Follows The Hydrological Cycle To Clean Water

Steam distillation is sometimes referred to as Nature’s Distiller. The same three steps Nature uses to clean our water are the steps used in the steam-distillation process.

1. Water in the boiling tank comes to a boil and creates steam.

2. The steam, being lighter than air, rises and leaves behind the impurities that may have been present in the boiled water.

3. The pure steam then enters a cooling section where it is cooled and converted into pure steam-distilled water.

References:

1. Athol E. Meder, Distillation: Process and Technology, 2004 Feb, pg. 1-2.

2. Eldon Muehling, “How does steam-distillation work?” Ask Dr. Water Newsletters, 2005.

3. Water Technology, www.watertechonline.com

For more info, call Nikki Lee Shelton at 775-673-2152.

By Matt Vandevert |

Homeowners often spend thousands of dollars to upgrade their bathrooms so they can bathe in luxury. Hours of preparation go into choosing tile, stone, glass, fixtures and wall colors with surprisingly little thought of the most essential facet of any bathroom: water. It lies inside pipes just outside your home. Turn on a shower and it rushes through your plumbing to greet your skin. Along with it come chlorine, heavy metals and hundreds of disinfection byproducts, many of them toxic and many unregulated by the EPA. Just the thought of being engulfed in these chemicals can spoil what would otherwise be a relaxing, luxurious shower. You can buy a Brita pitcher to reduce toxins in your drinking water, but a pitcher is useless in the bath or shower.

You may be surprised to learn that, in terms of your health, sink and pitcher filters accomplish little. In fact, if you drink unfiltered tap water, your exposure to toxins is quite small—plus you have kidneys to help filter out those toxins. But when you bathe or shower in hot water, the chemicals vaporize, and you breathe them right into your lungs with only nasal hair to protect you. You also absorb chemicals through your pores, which open wide up in 120º shower water. Other activities expose you to tap water’s toxins as well: enjoying a steam room or sauna, cooking with boiling water, doing dishes with hot water, opening a steaming dishwasher, turning on a humidifier.

So it’s smart to filter the water that supplies all your taps. To do this you need a whole house filter. Don’t mistake a whole house filter with a water softener or reverse osmosis (RO) unit. A water softener does not protect you from chemicals in your water. And while a whole house RO does remove toxins from water, it often costs upwards of $10,000. So what should you look for in a whole home filter? Well, filters come in different shapes and sizes, but it’s mostly what’s inside them that matters. And the principal component of any good whole house purifier is carbon. It’s in Brita and Pur pitchers, it’s in under-the-sink RO filters and there’s carbon in any good whole house filter.

Carbon removes chlorine, disinfection by-products, some chloramine and improves taste and odor. In filtering tap water, nothing protects your health more than carbon. It comes in granular (sand-like) form and in cartridge-style block form. Granular carbon tends to channel: water often carves a path through the carbon and thereby avoids contact with it, defeating the filtration process. Granular carbon is also untidy and hazardous to remove from its container: when it comes time to replace the toxin-saturated carbon, it’s difficult to avoid contact with it during disposal. If carbon is formed into blocks, this problem no longer occurs.  So while both granular carbon and carbon blocks work to varying degrees, carbon blocks have some important advantages.

Aside from what form it comes in, it’s crucial to know what kind of carbon is employed. Many companies, whether their filters sell for $500 or $8000, use bituminous, coal-based carbon, which is the cheapest, most quickly spent carbon. A good alternative is coconut shell activated carbon. It’s the highest grade carbon for removing the cancer-causing disinfection byproducts created by chlorine. Catalytic carbon is the only carbon that arguably works better at removing chlorine itself. Unfortunately catalytic carbon only comes in granular form.

KDF is another type of media that deserves special mention: it’s a mixture of copper and zinc flakes that work to remove free chlorine, heavy metals and bacteria. In combination with carbon it can greatly improve the purity of water and help the carbon last longer. Everyone wants their filters to last a long time, and KDF can help if used properly. Be aware that even the best carbon only lasts one to two years before it becomes saturated with toxins and starts leaching them back into your home’s water. Don’t believe companies that say their carbon filters last for years. Even with backwashing devices to wash toxins off the carbon, you’re not protected for years. Carbon not only gets worn out, it also can be a breeding ground for bacteria, which is why forward-thinking manufacturers combine UV disinfection with their carbon filters.

This information will help you select a quality whole-home water purifier that will enhance and protect your life as well as the lives of your children, pets, and plants. Once installed, there’s a wonderful difference that you can feel, taste, and smell. You can step into a steamy shower, slip into a bubble bath, wash your face with a warm cloth, soak your dishes in scalding water, pour yourself a cup of tea or let a kettle whistle for an extra minute, and you’ll be assured that you are enjoying the ultimate luxury—and the ultimate necessity: good water.

References:

1. University of Nebraska Guide to Carbon Filtration: http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/live/g1489/build/g1489.pdf

2. Minnesota Department of Health: List of Water Contaminents & Their Health Effects: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/water/com/fs/voc_soc.html

The human body loses water in many ways during the winter. For example, although it may not seem as pronounced, exercising in cold weather still causes the body to lose substantial amounts of water through sweating. Cold, winter air cannot hold as much moisture as warm air, therefore drier air draws more moisture from the lungs as we breathe.

In addition, interior environments are usually very dry in the winter due to drying heating methods. The decreased interior humidity also increases water loss from the lungs and skin. When the body becomes chilled, blood is drawn away from the periphery limbs (i.e. arms, legs, skin) toward the interior organs to preserve vital body heat for these life-sustaining tissues. The directing of blood to the interior increases its flow to the kidneys, automatically increasing the kidney filtration rate and urine output. This effect is called cold diuresis. Cold weather increases the (bodies) metabolism and (the) associated water needs required to maintain healthy body temperature.

The colder it gets outside, the harder your body has to work to maintain its 98.6 degree Fahrenheit temperature. This extra energy requires that you drink even more water than usual. Drinking 64 ounces (8 cups) of water a day will actually help you stay warm.

Beware of alcohol intake too. Alcoholic beverages increase risk of dehydration because the body requires additional water to metabolize alcohol.

Signs of dehydration include increased thirst, dry mouth, and sticky or reduced saliva. Monitor the color of your urine. If it is dark yellow or brown, you are dehydrated.

Your skin tends to get dry in the winter, extra hand cream, lip balm and lotion won’t do the trick in fighting cold weather flakiness. According to Dr. Susan M. Kleiner, your best bet is to hydrate from within by drinking extra water every day.

Respiratory illnesses associated with winter, such as the common cold and influenza, cause the body to generate large amounts of mucous in an effort to rid itself of the offending microbes. The water in these discharges must be replaced. Intestinal influenza, leading to diarrhea and vomiting, requires additional water and, perhaps, electrolyte replacement. We recommend four to eight additional cups of water daily.

References:

1) Water, The foundation of Youth, Health, and Beauty by William D Holloway Jr. and Herb Joiner-Bey, ND.

2) Dehydration in the Winter: Elderly At Risk, by Melinda Hemmelgarn, M.S., R.D.

3) www.corp.att.com/ehs/safety/dehydration.html

Opponents of bottled water garnered lots of media attention this year in their effort to reduce plastic waste. Perhaps the most notable critics were the mayors of Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Chicago who demanded boycotts, bans, and taxes on bottled water. As a result many of us are now taking a second look at tap water. Though less glamorous than buying a bottle of Evian, drinking from the sink eliminates both plastic waste and the need for fuel-burning diesel trucks that travel back and forth between springs, bottling plants and stores. If you drank tap water this year, you did well by the planet and probably saved a few dollars.

If you are still buying bottled water, it may be because you realize that there’s more to the debate: besides the sometimes bad taste of city water, just Google “chlorinated water” and you’ll find plenty of other reasons to keep buying bottled water. At the top of that list is the fact that many experts believe the disinfectants that kill micro-organisms in our water supply contribute greatly to our risk of cancer and heart disease. In fact, our primary exposure to these toxins occurs not through drinking tap water but through inhalation and absorption in showers and hot tubs. As people realize that drinking bottled water barely helps reduce the risks of chlorine exposure, they often consider buying a whole-house filter to purify their water at its point of entry into their homes so that all their taps offer pure water.

But treating tap water requires wading through a lot of propaganda. A phone call to the local water filter company doesn’t always help. In fact, it often ends in the sale of something entirely unrelated to the removal of toxins: a water softener. What many people don’t realize is that the sole purpose of a softener is to remove calcium and magnesium, two of water’s healthiest ingredients. Softeners exchange these beneficial minerals for salt (making a low-sodium diet difficult). After capturing the healthy minerals, a softener flushes them into your home’s drain through a process called backwashing. Besides wasting gallons of precious water, backwash draws salt into the drain and thereby contributes to the death of plant life and to the inability of sewage treatment plants to meet federal standards. Many of us have naively stripped our water of minerals and thrown water away all for the sake of silky water or because the water salesman said we needed a softener.

Nevertheless, many good reasons to address hard water exist:  hardness cakes a water heater with scale. This buildup will cause the water heater to waste energy as it must heat through an increasing thick layer of insulating deposits. A water heater that works harder overheats and wears out faster. Similarly, hard water shortens the life of dishwashers and washing machines. Hardness may also require up to twice as much soap and detergent to match the cleaning power of treated water, which reacts wonderfully with small amounts of mild, earth-friendly cleaners. Thus, failure to treat hardness often results in energy waste, in premature replacement of appliances, and in the need for large amounts of harsh cleaners.

Technologies do exist to improve taste, reduce toxins and address hardness without wasting water, using salt or losing mineral content. But make sure to shop around and find a quality product. Buying low-cost, throw-away units is unfortunately a waste of plastic and demands more fuel as you drive to and from the store for a replacement. Also be aware of reverse osmosis. This popular method of filtration sends water through a membrane so fine that not much can get through it. The healthy minerals get filtered out—even water itself has a hard time passing through. Water that doesn’t make it through literally goes down the drain: you’ll waste one to 5 gallons for every gallon you drink. If you are on a well and need special equipment, look at the material safety data sheet for the recommended filtration media. Some families get stuck using a water treatment more toxic than the source water that they want to improve. Your purchase should:

• Reduce toxins in the water

• Address water hardness

• Waste no water through backwash

• Include no salts or chemicals

• Be made of quality components

• Have a warranty

As you take steps to improve your water, consider the Three Rs of conservation: “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” They appear in order of importance. First, reduce what you use—less bottles, less fuel, less chemicals and soaps, and fewer appliances over the course of your life—then focus on reusing and recycling the few things that you decided to buy. Properly done, water purification helps you conserve all these items while simultaneously improving your health and quality of life. Few purchases accomplish as many things at once.

References:

Las Vegas Valley Water District’s Water Filter Overview: http://www.lvvwd.com/html/wq_home_treatment.html

Environmental Working Group’s National Tap Water Database: http://www.ewg.org/tapwater/index.php

For more info, contact Aqua Vantage at 777-345-1000.

The average human body contains approximately 12 gallons of water. Think of 12 one-gallon jugs of water stacked on top of each other and then fitting those 12 gallons of water inside the skin. (It is absolutely amazing we don’t slosh when we walk!). Seventy percent of the human body is water. Ninety percent of that water is in the blood.

The average person requires from 1.5 to 3.0 liters of water daily. Most people think that that means they should consume about 64 ounces of fluids a day. No! Soft drinks, milk, processed juices (as opposed to freshly squeezed fruit juices), and coffee may be fluids, but they are NOT water. And if you think it is the same, try using those things in your goldfish bowl. Very little of the “water” in these sources is absorbed by the body. The requirement of 1.5 to 3.0 liters of water truly means WATER: clean, unpolluted water. Without this, our bodies slowly become dehydrated. A dehydrated body leaves itself wide open for disease and degenerative conditions.

Clear water often does not equal clean water. In fact, public water that looks “sparkling” clean may look that way because it has had aluminum which, added to it, along with creating sparkling water, can create health problems such as Alzheimer’s disease. It is true that tap water is usually free of bacteria and parasites that will make you sick immediately, but the purification procedures for municipal water don’t necessarily remove the toxins that have long-term health effects.

Dr. Allen E. Banik, author of The Choice is Clear, asks: “Can it be that arthritis, kidney stones, gall stones, arteriosclerosis, enlarged hearts, emphysema, obesity, constipation, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes, all stem from one common cause – contaminated water?! Unbelievable! But very true!”

Dr. Peter Gott, M.D., nationally syndicated medical columnist states that “many authorities believe that more than 75 percent of all stomach ulcers (and two types of gastric cancer) are caused by specific bacterial and chemical contamination of public water supplies, including private wells.”

Water that comes from our public systems or private wells contains salts, carbonates, sulfates, nitrates, chlorides, viruses, bacteria, chemicals, and harmful inorganic minerals. Your drinking water could contain some poisonous toxins that you’ve never heard of and possibly one or more common parasites.

Most of our municipal drinking water is considered safe because it contains acceptable levels of contaminants. We are assured these “acceptable levels of contaminants and toxins” are not dangerous. But, whereas 10 ppm of nitrates does not cause a great deal of harm to a healthy adult, 10 ppm of nitrates to a six-month-old baby is lethal. For those of you with animals, what are these levels of contaminants, or their accumulation, doing to a 25-pound dog or a 2-ounce parakeet?

“Acceptable Levels” of contaminants are based on each individual contaminant. Consideration for the total contaminant levels or their interaction is not in the equation. Also, the number of contaminated wells in a system has been known to alter the accepted level concept. If it adversely affects the availability of water for customers or reduces profits, simply change the accepted levels of contaminants to suit the situation.

So, which water should you take into your body?  Biologically speaking, distilled water is superior to all other forms. Reverse osmosis water runs a close second to distilled water…IF you keep your holding tank clean and free of contaminant build up. Let me explain some basic things about water.

The elements HYDROGEN and OXYGEN make up water molecules. However, these molecules combine together in several different ways. In any glass of water you will find free hydrogen (H+) and free oxygen (O-) atoms floating around. You will also find water molecules (H2O) combined together into three-dimensional 6-sided, 5 sided, and other molecular forms. The 5-sided form is often referred to as “non-biological water.”  This is because the 5-sided configuration places the negatively charged oxygen atom on the outside giving the molecule a “negative” charge. This negative charge inhibits the water’s ability to carry nutrients to and wastes from the cells in the body. It is possible for you to have a sufficient percentage of water in the tissues, but if it has a high proportion of 5-sided molecules you can be technically dehydrated. Conversely, 6-sided water molecules, which is often called “biological water”, have the positively charged hydrogen atoms on the outside making the entire water molecule “positive”. These positively charged water molecules make it easy for vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and other nutrients to attach to the molecules and then be transported into the cells of the body. This 6-sided water form is considered to be “wetter water”. The body wants and needs as many as of these biological water molecules as possible so that it doesn’t have to waste energy in the conversion process. Distilled water contains more of these biological water molecules than any other form of water.

While a “positive” molecule is great for carrying nutrients and the “negative” molecule is not, this positive/negative relationship is reversed when we speak of the body’s pH (acid/alkaline level). The creation of 6-sided molecules often results in the release of free hydrogen and oxygen molecules. In water, the hydrogen and oxygen molecules combine to form an H-O or hydroxyl bond which has a negative charge. The negative hydroxyl bonds increase the pH of the water making it more alkaline thus increasing the alkalinity of the body. Our body functions best when its pH is slightly alkaline. Some companies are artificially raising the alkaline level of their bottled water, thereby giving the body a helping hand in its constant fight against acidity.

When you drink water that is not distilled, or processed to a very pure state, you are taking inorganic minerals and toxic chemicals into your system that cannot be assimilated. The body must do something with these non-biocompatible substances. It often ends up storing them in the joints creating arthritis, in the intestinal walls creating constipation, and along the arteries causing them to harden. When these inorganic minerals are added to existing kidney and liver toxins, cholesterol, phosphates, and organic mineral deposits they create kidney and gall stones. Inorganic minerals can be deposited in the heart chambers and valves clogging the chambers and inhibiting the action of the valves, or they can be deposited in the inner ear often causing loss of hearing and deafness.

To sum up, inorganic minerals and toxic chemicals can, and usually do, contaminate water. But, through the process of distilling, the water is separated from virtually everything it is carrying and is now pure water. As it enters the body it can carry necessary nutrients and pick up inorganic mineral deposits that may have accumulated in the joints, artery walls, tissues, or wherever deposits occur and carry them out of these areas so they may be eliminated from the body. A body cannot operate smoothly, nor can we reach our optimum health level and begin the “reverse aging” process until the joints, arteries, cells, and nerve tracts are free of inorganic mineral deposits. We must replace these inorganic mineral deposits with organic (ionic) minerals.

Unless we take an organic (ionic) mineral supplement, such as coral calcium, the minerals we need to generate the metabolic functions of our body come from the plants and animals we eat, NOT from the inorganic minerals in water we drink.

Essentially, water can cure you, or kill you. It can provide the basis for optimal health, or chronic sickness. If you are going to create a healthy body, you must start with pure, clean, water.

Written by Kurt Grange, Ph.D., N.D., Nutritional Biophysiologist;  kdgrange@aol.com