Having Fun Flavorful Water - Healthy Summer Drinks!!!

What's your favorite drink? Do you have a specific drink that you enjoy in the summertime? Have you been slacking on drinking water? Since we are having some really hot days, I thought it would be great to find some drinks to keep us happy and healthy through the summer.

Go on and have some fun with your water :-)

The Heat Is On........

It is very important that as the summer approaches and the temperatures rise to the 90's and above, we ensure that our bodies are properly hydrated. As there are those who take special care to prepare their cars, motorcycles, SUV's, vans, etc. for the specific season, we must prioritize - first on the list our health.

How else can we enjoy all of the things we love to do?

Drink a lot of water even if you are not thirsty. We feel thirsty when we are actually depleted so a drink in advance will keep us in good standing. If exercising heavily in hot weather, aim for two to four glasses of water or 16 to 32 ounces every hour. Limit exercise or strenuous physical activity to the coolest part of the day which is early in the morning or late evening. Avoid alcohol, caffeine or lots of sugar as they will cause you to lose more fluid.


Wear loose fitting clothing that's comfortable allowing the material to breathe (cotton) and avoid dark colors as it attracts heat.

If you work or play when it is very hot, be sure that you find a shady area to cool down for a few minutes while you hydrate (drink some water).

Be sure to wear sunscreen at all times (SPF 30+). Use an umbrella, or wear a hat with a brim to keep the sun off the face and head.

Avoid long periods in the sun. Check on the elderly there are cooling centers in many communities. Call 311 to find the nearest center. Stay indoors and keep cool with a fan or keep the air condition on to 78. You can always watch a movie, your favorite TV show or read a book. Above all keep cool and hydrated.

FYI - Drink Lots of Water but Be Cautious!

Who would have ever thought that one can bottle water and sell it? It's like selling shells on the beach, sort of as you can pick up your own shells but somehow the shiny polished ones are more appealing. However, it makes so much sense. Nothing beats a nice cold drink of water on a hot day or after a good work out, it is so refreshing.

Bottled water is sold and consumed by billions of people all over the world. In fact, the International Bottled Water Association states that in 2009, over 8 billion gallons of bottled water was consumed worldwide. Now that's a big order and many major beverage companies are tapping into the water bottling industry.

In the United States, we have the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)who oversees the industry; setting standards and requirements to ensure that the water is safe for consumption, the manufacturers are using the proper materials to make the bottles and that the information printed on the labels are accurate.



With all that said, we have a role to play once the water is in our hands. Family size bottles where everyone pours it into a cup are generally safe. If you have opened up a bottle of water, drank some and placed it in your gym bag then in the trunk of your car - use the rest to water your plants. Avoid drinking water from the individual bottles that has already been opened and lingering around for days on end. Keep in mind that there may some contaminants in the water which may make a healthy person very sick. For those whose immune system has been compromised, exercise extra precaution as you may suffer severely or worse yet you may die.

Here are some interesting reports on plastic bottles:

Ahhhhhhhhh Water!

The great benefits of water is priceless. Not only is it the most important factor in enjoying a long, energized, healthy life but read on there's more:

*Water is great for keeping your hygiene in check - showers and baths are essential.

*Your body needs water to survive as every system in your body depends on water to function.

*It really helps to cool off in a nice pool or a good hosing when the temperatures rise.

*Your clothes cannot be cleaned effectively without it.

*Your fruits and vegetables, trees, plants, pets, animals all need water.

*Your hands - wash those hands often - keep them clean!

*It's hot outside and a drink of water can be oh so refreshing

*The car wash couldn't be in business without it

*Building a house? Mixing concrete - yes you need water there too.

The list can go on and on......... However, I will leave the rest for you to add, if you can think of anything else not listed here.

What happened here - who's responsible?

This segment on CNN really captured my attention as I would normally flip through channels, I watched the guests as they all spoke about breast cancer. Of course breast cancer is quite popular a common type of cancer in women. We have seen the pink ribbons that symbolizes awareness on pins, T-shirts, candies, perfumes, jewelry accessories, etc. In addition, there are many events and activities that are organized around breast cancer. Thousands of women gather to shout it out loud and clear that they have fought and won the fight against breast cancer.

However, this story was not about women with breast cancer, it was a case of men with breast cancer. As many of us are aware that breast cancer does affect men but far less cases have been reported than that of women. What makes this story even more unique is that these men are all connected to the same community/environment. Furthermore, other reports have included stories like Mike Patrian who has shared his story and those of at least 19 other men with breast cancer and Jerome Ensminger whose six year old daughter, born and raised at Camp Lejeune was diagnosed with Acute Lymphosytic Leukemia (A.L.L.)

Mike's Site The Few, The Proud,The Forgotten

Jerome Ensminger Testimony







Unfortunately, some of these men do not have much more time left to fight the disease. Hopefully, all of this attention will ensure that this will never happen again.

Health Priorities for Summer

It is very important that as the summer approaches we ensure that our bodies are properly hydrated. As there are those who take special care to prepare their cars, motorcycles, SUV's, vans, etc. for the specific season, we must prioritize and the most important should be our health.

How else can we enjoy all of the things we love to do?

• Drink a lot of water even if you are not thirsty. We feel thirsty when we are actually depleted so a drink in advance will keep us in good standing. If exercising heavily in hot weather, aim for two to four glasses of water or 16 to 32 ounces every hour. Limit exercise or strenuous physical activity to the coolest part of the day which is early in the morning or late evening. Avoid alcohol, caffeine or lots of sugar as they will cause you to lose more fluid.
  

• Wear loose fitting clothing that's comfortable allowing the material to breathe (cotton) and avoid dark colors as it attracts heat.
  

• If you work or play when it is very hot, be sure that you find a shady area to cool down for a few minutes while you hydrate (drink some water).

• Be sure to wear sunscreen at all times (SPF 30+). Use an umbrella, or wear a hat with a brim to keep the sun off the face and head.