FitSugar

Quick Tip: Up Your Water Intake This Winter

Leta Shy — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:44:59 PST

As Winter nears, the cold weather may be annoying for many reasons, not the least of which is its dehydrating effect. When temps drop and winds increase, the air becomes drier, meaning our bodies aren't getting as much moisture as in warmer months. If you're feeling the effects of the drier air, here's a reminder to increase your water consumption.

We've long been told that the eight glasses of water a day that we need to drink is a myth (the actual number you need depends on a lot of different factors - read more on calculating your recommended daily water intake here), but what is true is that drinking more than that amount - within reason - isn't a bad thing. In fact, if you do drink eight glasses a day, your kidneys will thank you. Studies have found that drinking 64 ounces of water reduces the risk of developing kidney disease.

Two good reasons to up your water intake, so drink up! If a tall glass of icy water doesn't sound appealing during those cold days, warm up with these recipes for herbal tea.

How to Know If Your Tap Water Needs Filtering

Heather Dale — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:21:31 PDT

In an effort to keep my carbon footprint in check, I keep reusable bottles and fill 'em up with tap water. Since tap water is more regulated than bottled water, I tend to not worry about contaminants. Although lately, my tap water has tasted and smelled a bit off, making me wonder: should I start using my Brita again, or is it time to invest in a more sophisticated filter? I am a fan of easy hydration, so I decided it was time to learn a bit more about the water coming out of my kitchen faucet.

Here's how to know if it's time to start filtering your tap water.

Reasons to Drink Water: It's More Than Just Hydration

Leta Shy — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 01:21:27 PDT

Given this Summer heat, it's likely you don't need anyone telling you to drink more water. But here's a quick reminder of all the benefits of H2O.

Proper hydration is always important, but this is especially true before you exercise. Studies have shown that dehydrated people do fewer reps and tire more quickly. Sounds obvious, but the reason why it happens is interesting: dehydration lowers the hormone levels necessary for building muscles. So make sure you drink enough - find out just how much water you should be drinking here.

Another reason why you should keep that water bottle handy: people who drink enough water end up eating fewer calories than those who don't. If you're looking to quench your thirst, opting for water is better than drinking high-calorie (and high fructose corn syrup laden) sodas. Think diet soda is a good water substitute? Think again - studies have found that people who drink diet sodas actually weigh more - and have waistlines that are 70 percent larger - than those who don't. So reach for the water, and drink up!

No Access to a Lake or Pool? No Problem Thanks to These Toys

Heather Dale — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 11:12:26 PDT

Living in a landlocked city when the temps are through the roof isn't the most appealing way to spend your Summer. Add kids to the mix and you'll find yourself on a first-name basis with the staff at the local pool! But what happens if you don't have access to a public pool, or lake, or ocean, or anything else that can instantly cool you (I mean, your kids) off? If you have a plot of grass and a garden hose, the following water-friendly devices will turn up the fun factor in any backyard on a hot Summer's day.

Source: Flickr User st501351

Don't Dehydrate: How Much Water You Should Be Drinking

Leta Shy — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 08:50:42 PDT

Maybe the hard and fast rule that you should be drinking eight glasses a day is a myth, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't regularly be raising a glass. Keeping hydrated, especially in the hot Summer months, is important for staying healthy and energized.

Water is found in every part of our body, so downing enough H2O every day ensures our cells keep functioning properly and our bodies are free of toxins. And there's much to be said about water's other effects, from healthy-looking skin to appetite-suppressing properties.

How much water is enough?
If we don't have a magic formula to find exactly how much we should be drinking, then how do we find what works for us? How much water we need depends on how much we lose in a day. Your minimum amount that you need, for example, will be different on a hot day, after you hit the gym, and whether or not you are sitting at a desk all day. Other circumstances play a part in how much we should be drinking, like where you live, whether or not you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have an illness.

Read on for to find out just how much water you should be drinking.

How to Know If Your Baby Is Dehydrated

Heather Dale — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 07:37:10 PDT

One would assume that with all the milk babies drink that they don't need any more fluids. But because babies have relatively small fluid reserves and high metabolic rates, they can easily lose electrolytes and water, which are crucial for their little bodies to function. And if your baby is having a bad bout of diarrhea, she'll also be susceptible to becoming dehydrated more quickly than usual.

Dehydration is reversible, but it's important to take action as soon as possible. If a baby's fluids aren't replenished over a long period of time then it even be fatal. Here are some important signs to watch for to know if your baby is dehydrated.

Prevention Tips For Common Summer Health Risks

Heather Dale — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 04:07:00 PDT

Now that Summer is here, you probably want to throw caution to the wind and lap up the pleasures this season has to offer - not so fast. Before you go on your Summer joyride, keep in mind that you need to keep yourself protected from the elements. The last thing you want to be doing is spending your vacation days cooped up in a hotel room due to heat exhaustion. Here are five common health problems that tend to creep up on us during the Summer months and how to prevent and combat them!

Ditch Soda and Make Your Own Carbonated Beverage

Heather Dale — Mon, 09 May 2011 01:09:30 PDT

Now that we're in the trust tree, let me be completely honest with you about something - soda is downright dangerous to drink. Aside from the health risks including bone loss, hypertension, and dental decay, soda drinks like Coke are full of sugar, caramel coloring, high-fructose corn syrup and often leave you thirstier - not exactly the crème de la crème of beverages.

Contrary to popular belief, not all carbonated drinks are bad for you - sparking water is sugar free and can keep calcium locked in your bones (no studies have backed up the preconceived notion that sparkling water actually leaches calcium out of your bones).

For those of you that like that thirst-quenching appeal that carbonated beverages provide, you may be able to slowly wean yourself off soda once-and-for-all with one of these delicious and easy carbonated drink alternatives.

Fizzy Lemonade: Squeeze about three to four large lemons in a large pitcher. Pour in six cups of soda water and stir until all of the lemon is mixed in the water. Add four to five tablespoons of agave nectar for sweetness. Refrigerate for about an hour and then add in 2-3 cups of ice cubes. Garnish with some lemon slices.

Here are some more DIY carbonated drink options.

How You Can Help Donate 30 Million Gallons of Water

Miriam Lacey — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:02:42 PDT

Want to help disadvantaged people get the fresh drinking water they need? Luxury skin care brand SK-II (along with its spokeswoman, Cate Blanchett) just launched a major potable water charity initiative, Clear for Life, and Internet denizens can participate.

When you hit "click to donate" on the SK-II web portal, the company will promise a liter of clean water to people in need. It's already promised to donate 30 million gallons, so while clicking isn't strictly necessary, it's a great way to show that you support this kind of charity initiative.

The technology behind its clean water program is pretty amazing; SK-II will be shipping out PUR packets, which can quickly make up to 10 liters of dirty water drinkable. It's a life-changing technology for people in areas with contaminated water, and a cause well worth a couple of mouse clicks.

10 Easy Ways to Save Water in Your Home Every Day

Elka Karl — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 11:40:15 PDT

Today is World Water Day, which is an international observance of the importance of this limited and precious resource in our lives. You can check out this link to see if there is a World Water Day event in your city. However you're observing the day, there are plenty of ways you can save water each and every day. Here are some easy ways to save water in your home.

Check for hidden water leaks at your house. Just recently, I realized that the piping for my home's deck spigot was leaky. I cut off the water supply to the deck spigot, moved more of my deck plants down to the patio, and now water the plants by hand. To get an accurate check of your water use, read the house water use before and after two hours, when no water is being used. If the meter does not show the same reading, there is a leak.
Your toilet may have a leak, too. To check, drop some food coloring into the back of your toilet (the toilet tank). If the color begins to appear in the bowl within half an hour, and you have not flushed then there's a leak. No worries though - in most cases this is a cheap and easy repair.
Transform your toilet into an economical, no-installation, low-flow toilet by placing plastic bottles in your tank. Take one or two individual-sized plastic bottles, put some sand in them to weigh them down, fill the bottles with water, and then put them in your toilet tank. You can save over 10 gallons of water a day with this simple method.

Want to know the rest? Then

Take shorter showers. Try to limit your showers to five minutes or less. A shower timer might help.
When you brush your teeth, turn the water off, don't let it run down the drain! This seems obvious, but I know plenty of people who practice this bad habit (including one I'm marrying, though he's been cured of that habit by now).
When washing dishes by hand, don't leave the water running for rinsing. If your sink has a double basin, fill one basin with dish soap and water, and the other with rinse water. Then dip your dishes in the rinse water instead of using the faucet.
Use the proper amount of water for the job. If you're boiling water for pasta, only use the amount needed; don't fill the pot all the way up with water, which can be a waste of water and energy.
Conserve water left over from boiling and steaming vegetables and pasta. You can use this water, once it cools, to water your houseplants and garden plants. In fact, the extra nutrients will actually improve your plants' health.
Only run your dishwasher on full loads. In almost all cases, modern dishwashers do not require dishes to be prerinsed.
Only run your washing machine on full loads.

Have more suggestions? Leave them in the comments!