is about promoting health through following natural food plans
that are rich in whole, unprocessed foods. It encourages
detoxification, exercise, adequate rest and sleep, using natural
healthcare, avoiding environmental hazards, and developing
spiritually. Natural Nutrition is based on long the established
principles within wholistic healing, a system using the power of
nature.
It is considered an art, science, and philosophy.
Good health depends on balance in our autonomic nervous
system, between what is governed by the sympathetic
system, and what is governed by the parasympathetic system.
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Water is the most important nutrient after oxygen, and as the saying
goes, you can live without water for just a few days. After three
days your body's physiology will be in serious trouble.
To maintain ahigh
level of healthand
efficiency even in ideal environments, a minimum of two quarts of clean
water per day per person is the generally accepted rule of thumb. In
very hot or cold or very dry environments, or if you are physically
active, two quarts of water a day may not be enough to sustain life over
a period of days or weeks.
Water lost through sweating and normal respiration must be replaced
in order to stay healthy and function at top efficiency. Water is also
needed to process the food you eat, especially if it is salty or you eat
heavy foods.
More on water and survival...
Staying Healthy with
Water
Proper hydration with water is essential.
Most of us need at least six to eight 8-ounce glasses of good,
clean drinking water daily. Coffee, alcohol, and sodas
or other sugary beverages do not count toward our daily two
quarts of liquids as they do not hydrate our tissues and often
have the opposite effect, causing dehydration. Water is the
best choice for proper hydration. However,
herbal teas
and fresh juices do count because of their
high water
content; furthermore,
fresh fruits and
vegetables in the diet do add to our
water intake. Water is second in importance to air,
which we need by the minute. We can survive about a week
without water, whereas most of us can live as long as six
weeks without food. Water supports our immune system and
flushes toxins from the
lymph system
and body. Our bodies are about 70% water - 10 to 12 gallons!
In fact, brain and muscle are about 75% water and blood is 85%
water content. Except for bone and fat tissue, most of
our body is water.
Finding the right
water balance for each of us is also important.
This is based on our body size, level of physical activity,
exercise and sweating, the local climate, and our diet. A diet
that is dry and high in proteins and fats creates a need for
even more water to flush these foods healthfully through our
system. The average American drinks only 4.6 servings/cups of
water a day, or 36 ounces. That�s a bit shy, especially when
most of us do not consume our share of fresh fruits and
veggies. Water drinking should be a habit, something we do
without having to think about it. Only one third of Americans
claim they drink eight glasses of water a day; 28% have three
or fewer servings, and nearly 10% say they don't
drink water at all. The most frequent reason given by
Americans for not drinking water is lack of time, as reported
by 21% in a recent survey. Like anything, preparation saves
time and allows us to engage in these healthier habits.
Prioritize water hydration. And during hot weather, drink 2 to
3 glasses more than usual. When we have a cold, or for many
illnesses and symptoms, like headaches and allergies, it is
helpful to hydrate the body fully with water and herbal teas.
We can know this by our urinary output, generally every couple
hours during the day.
Exercise! I will always tell you to move your body!
Create a consistent and sometimes challenging program. It's so
important to your health. And remember that when you exercise
regularly and sweat, you need more
fluid replacement. Drink before (2 cups 1-2 hours
before) and after your workout (1-2 cups), and during exercise
if it�s appropriate. Drink cool temperature water, and
don�t depend on thirst to tell you; drink anyway! Take your
walks, go on hikes, ride a bike, and work out with weights at
home or at a gym. Even try something new, like a yoga class.
Stretch out your body and stay flexible and youthful. Before
and during exercise, drink fluids and particularly water, to
reduce body temperature, moderate cardiovascular stress and
improve performance. After a strenuous workout, it's important
to replace the fluids you've lost.
As Jack LaLanne
said in his Share Guide (May/June 2002) interview, "Exercise
is king, Nutrition is queen. Put them together and you have a
healthy kingdom."
Good, clean water is not a given. Most city waters,
and even wells, are suspect for contamination with microbes
and chemicals. I believe it is wise to invest in an
appropriate
filtration system since water is such an important
component of our body. The best is a Reverse Osmosis unit or a
Solid Carbon block type filter; what is most effective for
your home use depends on what your water concerns are and how
much water you need. Many people also buy bottled water from
natural springs, or water bottled after filtration. If you use
a consistent brand, check it out by calling the company and
asking for a report. You may also want to look into an
alkaline water
unit. There is interesting research on drinking water
that is more alkaline or that contains added bicarbonates (and
may include calcium and magnesium salts), and on this water's
balancing, healing effects.
Dehydration is a very common problem that nearly
every one of us experiences at some time. Every cell in our
body requires water to function to bring in nourishment and
carry away toxins. When these functions aren't performed fully
due to dehydration, a range of symptoms can occur. At even 1%
dehydration, most people get thirsty, which is the body's
warning sign. Dehydration can cause dry mouth, flushed skin,
fatigue, lightheadedness, headache, or impaired physical
performance, as well as lapses in concentration. Headache may
be a sign of increased toxicity. Other problems from more
chronic dehydration include constipation and poor digestive
function, dry and
itchy skin,
a reduction in urine output, and even an increased incidence
of painful
kidney stones. Remember my favorite slogan, "Dilution
is the solution to pollution." So, drink your water!
Add some nutrients to your water and it may make it
healthier and more palatable for you. Some folks do not like
to drink plain water; they just have distaste for it. If so,
try various
bottled waters to see if there is one you like. Add
some lemon, lime, or a tea bag to give it some flavoring.
Water can also be flavored with some orange or apple juice, or
some nutrient powders or YODA's herbal sportZtea. My family
starts each day with nutrient-rich water and juice. Warming
drinks include herbal and
green teas,
lemon water, chai, and vegetable broth. Starting the day with
a cup of hot water can awaken you and your digestion. Hot
water sipped through the day is a popular therapy for illness
in Asia.
The best time to drink water is first thing in the
morning & ideally two or three glasses. I also encourage
people to drink between meals rather than too much while
eating, as increased fluids dilute the strength of our
digestive juices and lower the efficiency of digestion and
assimilation. For those working to lose weight, drinking a
couple glasses of H2O about 30 minutes before meals will
hydrate the tissues, calm the appetite and likely lower the
amount of food consumed. Water is also so important to healthy
skin and good circulation, to staying young and healthy. To
summarize, the ideal times to drink water are:
First thing in the morning, when you wake up, Mid-morning &
Mid-afternoon, and/or about 30-60 minutes before meals
Water and weight loss is an important topic, so
here's a bit more. Focus mainly on vegetables and other
wholesome foods and away from processed and sweetened
high-calorie foods and snacks. Definitely switch from the
caloric, sugary sodas and other drinks to pure Water. And
drink several glasses when arising and 30 minutes before
planned meals. Make this a priority, and make it fun and
tasty. Review Tips number 6 and 7 above for further ideas,
plus number 3 for your exercise motivation. Carry water with
you so you have it available. Have a couple fruits daily, plus
make and consume homemade
vegetable soups.
Kids need water too. Children don't handle heat and
dehydration as well as adults, and the younger they are, the
greater the concern. Diarrhea and subsequent dehydration and
malnourishment may be the number one cause of death in kids
throughout the world. Elders need water too. They are also
sensitive to dehydration and the effects of hot weather.
Heating and cooling of the body can be accomplished with warm
or cool foods and beverages. This is a natural inclination,
yet it may need to be developed in this world where kids (and
all of us) are exposed to relentless advertising. Drinking
warm/hot water and teas is a
good habit for those living in the colder climates.
Adding splashes of juice is helpful in getting kids to drink
water instead of sugary beverages. Also, adding a nutrient
powder, many of which are nicely flavored, provides a good
start to a child's day, or as replenishment after a busy or
active time. For children who are overweight or who are
fixated on sodas and sugary drinks, it will be a great
lifetime health benefit to switch them to water and lighter
drinks, such as juice and
carbonated water combinations. Be a good example by
drinking your water too!
(Courtesy fff)
NATURAL WATER: Only 3% of the earth's water is fresh, non-saline water. Of that non-saline water, 31% is accessible as fresh water. For every gallon of fresh surface water, there are 30 gallons that lie underground. The primary source of water for municipalities is ground water.
Water is held in underground reservoirs known as aquifers. To collect in the aquifers, water passes through the atmosphere where it dissolves and collects atmospheric gases such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. When it falls to the surface as rain, it's mildly acidic with a pH just below 7.
It then passes through layers of surface soil, clay, sand, gravel and other porous materials. As it passes through those layers, it is filtered, preventing it from dragging most surface impurities with it underground. However, it does carry minute quantities of bacterial spores.
At the same time, because the water is acidic, it dissolves minerals and brings them into the aquifers. As the water remains in the aquifer, it continues to dissolve minerals until an equilibrium between the dissolved content of minerals and the pH is achieved. These minerals may be of a toxic including heavy metals.
Like microscopic seeds, the tiny spores open to become live bacteria. The minerals in the water act as nutrients for different types of bacteria and allow the populations to multiply. There are multiple genera types of these bacteria that may include Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium and Acinetobacter.
MUNICIPAL WATER: As noted above, humans extract some of this water from the ground and consume it as drinking water. If the water is consumed without treatment, the bacteria pass into the body as pathogens. For the majority of people, antibodies rally to resist and destroy the bacteria. But for a small, yet noticeable segment of the population, these pathogens present a health risk.
To protect these people, municipalities use chemical agents such as chlorine or chlorine-based products to kill bacteria. In addition, where unsafe levels of toxic minerals exist, they are removed by bonding them into larger molecular particles and filtering them out. These treatment processes reduce the risk of disease and consumption of toxic minerals, making the water safer to drink.
When municipalities run tests on their treatment facilities, the rate of compliance exceeds 90%. So the vast majority of municipal water consumed out of the taps of developed countries (e.g. the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand) is safe. Only on rare occasions does water that is not compliant with standards reach the public.
CORPORATIZED WATER:
For a price, this water
can be improved. Further
filtration can remove
lingering traces of
bacteria and spores.
Reverse osmosis can
remove greater
percentages of mineral
impurities. To stabilize
the water and prevent it
from reacquiring
minerals, food-quality
minerals can be added.
The resulting water is
extremely safe, mildly
flavored and highly
consumable. It can then
be packaged into sterile
plastic bottles and
distributed to the
public.
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