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.
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)
Other experts such as Dr. Andrew Weil 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?
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