Healthy beverages for healthy living.

All this week so far these Posts have concentrated on healthy eating, nutritional value, superfoods and such like. What about drinks - which have been covered before in this Blog, but here is another to close out the week. This also comes from 'ezinearticles' (http://EzineArticles.com/8773481) and is written by Adrian I .Paval (http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adrian_I_Paval) and is worth a read for some inspiration while keeping it good for you, and an insight to the benefits. You might be surprised.

It is important to drink healthy beverages for your overall health. Drinks like sodas are not good for you because they are filled with sugar and empty calories. There are a number of beverages that you can have that will satisfy your thirst so you won't have to drink the ones that aren't good for you.

Water is the most important drink for you. It cleanses your body of all toxins. Water also hydrates your body because most of us don't get enough water and are dehydrated. It is important to drink water every two hours to keep from dehydrating. Water is beneficial for your skin and kidneys. Water gives you clear skin and prevents wrinkles. It also flushes out your kidneys. Water also keeps you from developing blood clots that cause heart attacks.

If you don't want plain water, you can get flavoured water. This isn't the flavoured water that contains sugar. This water contains fruit. You can add lemon and lime to the water to give it flavor without the extra sugar or calories. It is also good for you. It has the same benefits as water except that you can drink water with a little flavor to it.

Another type of water you can get is coconut water. Coconut has a lot of health benefits. Coconut water lowers your blood pressure. In addition to lowering your blood pressure, it helps you lose weight. It also raises your metabolism. It aids in diabetes prevention. It helps prevent flu symptoms as well as other viruses. Coconut water has a lot of benefits for you so you can feel free to drink it.

Water isn't the only healthy drink you can have. If you have a taste for something else, you may have other healthy drinks. Coffee is a drink that is good for your overall health. It is good for lowering the risk of diseases. Coffee decreases your risk of developing Type II diabetes. Coffee's also a good way to lose fat. Ingredients for coffee help you lose weight so if you're a coffee drinker, continue to get your fix. To be on the safe side, drink black coffee. Don't add too many creams and sugars or it will not be good for you.

Smoothies are great drinks to have. With smoothies, you can have as many fruits and vegetables as you want. Smoothies are a great way to get the fruits and vegetables you need in your diet. If you don't like eating raw fruits and vegetables, you can turn them into smoothies. It has the same nutritional value as eating the fruits and vegetables. It has great health benefits and they are tasty.

Believe it or not, hot chocolate is good for you. Hot chocolate has the same health benefits as dark chocolate. The cocoa in hot chocolate has a lot of antioxidants in it. Cocoa helps lower your risk of high blood pressure as well as cardiovascular disease.

If you like to drink alcohol, you can actually have a glass of wine. Red wine is low in calories so you won't be getting too many calories by drinking a glass. Red wine lowers the risk of death as well as lowers your risk of getting some cancers. Needless to say, you need to drink it in moderation because it is alcohol.

Green tea has a lot of benefits. Green tea helps prevent diseases. It also reduces your risk of having a heart attack. Green tea is also powerful enough to prevent cancer and osteoporosis. Green tea is a diuretic so it can reduce swelling. It's also beneficial to your cholesterol. It can lower your cholesterol. It's also a great component for weight loss. Many people drink green tea to lose weight. It may also help with gas problems that you may have. Green tea is the best one to drink, but you can also drink other flavors of herbal tea because they have health benefits too.

Fruit and vegetable juices are great choices as long as they are made with 100% juice. They also need to be sugar free. Juice is a good way to get the fruits and vegetables that you need for the day. Make sure the juice you get doesn't contain a lot of calories. You need to consume these juices in moderation because even 100% juice can be high in calories.

Low fat milk is a great source of vitamin D and calcium. It's also beneficial for your teeth and bones. Since milk is high in protein, it's great for your muscles. Since milk has a lot of potassium, it can help lower your blood pressure. Drinking at least two cups a day is good to help you with weight loss.

If you don't like milk from a cow, you can drink soy milk. It's a great source of vitamins A, B, D, and E. It also doesn't have cholesterol. It's a great source of iron, zinc, and omega - 3 fatty acids that you need to survive. It's a great way to fight ageing. Soy milk aids in lowering cholesterol. It also helps with arthritis. It reduces your risk of heart disease. It also reduces your risk of getting breast and prostate cancer. There are a lot of health benefits to drinking soy milk.

WhyWeight, don't hesitate, participate, before it's too late!

-Steve, at WhyWeight-

Drink more water to lose weight!

Wrapping up this little series on water, here is another that I found that talks specifically about how drinking water can be used as part of your weight loss programme. many of us, me included, struggle with drinking our required daily intake, but, it is so important, and hopefully the last few Posts will actively demonstrate this and get you on the road to a healthier, fitter, leaner and cleansed new you. This article too came from 'ezinearticles' (http://EzineArticles.com/8885630) and was written by Karina Popa (http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karina_Popa), and worthy also of your quick viewing.



Who hasn't heard the idea that drinking water can contribute to you diminishing your weight? Much more than usual! But is this affirmation true? The answer is yes! When you drink more water, you boost your metabolism, suppress that wild appetite, and clean your organism of waste. At the same time, you stop the body from retaining water and thus lose some extra pounds. How can you make sure you drink the right amount of water (8-10 glasses every day), maintaining yourself hydrated and losing weight? Here are a couple of great tips that will help you out!

Drink before eating
Water suppresses the appetite, so it is an excellent idea to drink it before you eat. As a result, you will feel full faster and eat less. Specialists say that drinking water before eating can reduce the calories intake with 75 calories/meal. Thus if you do this each meal daily for one year, you would cut the calories ingestion by 27,000. According to my math, you would be losing 8 pounds/year only by drinking water.

Drink water instead of calorie drinks
Forget all about sodas or juices, and drink water instead. Add a bit of lemon if you think this is too boring for you. You know for sure that a glass of water with a bit of lemon in it can really contribute to you losing weight and cut your food cravings. Don't believe it? Why don't you just start drinking water and convince yourself of the result?

Drink it cold
When you drink cold water, you boost your metabolism by forcing your body to work more in order to warm the water. This will also burn down calories and help you lose weight. Not to mention that cold water tastes better than normal temperature water.

Go to the gym
When you drink water, you prevent the muscles from cramping and you maintain your joints lubricated. This means that you can work out for a longer period of time. The key is to remain hydrated and those extra pounds will disappear quickly.

Get enough
The best trick when it comes to drinking water is to follow a rule called "8x8". Most nutritionists recommend it. You have to drink 8 glasses of 8 ounces with water daily. This will help you lose weight and keep your ideal figure. Keep in mind that you if exercise more, you will sweat more. This requires more water intake, or the same amount of water but completed with other type of drinks, like herbal teas.

What's the best way to know if you receive sufficient water? A good, but somehow weird rule, is to verify the toilet before going to the bathroom. When you are properly hydrated your urine gets light yellow and clear in color. If case your urine is dark, then you will know that you need to drink more water. Remember: drink water if you want to remain healthy and lose weight!

WhyWeight - don't hesitate, participate, before it's too late!

-Steve, at WhyWeight-

Water - do you drink enough?

Water - the elixir of life - so important and so often overlooked. There are so many benefits besides quenching a thirst, so these few Blog Posts continue to look at the value, importance and benefits of water to your daily life and your daily health & fitness regime. Sourced at 'ezinearticles' (http://EzineArticles.com/7219756) and written by Philip S. Anderson (http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Philip_S_Anderson) this will help provide some guidance and make you think about your daily H2O intake.


I ask this question to a lot of my patients and the general answer I get is "I don't drink that much, I should probably drink more."

Our bodies are made up 70% of water. For everything to work properly we need it in our system. For our bodies to work efficiently and to heal well, we NEED water!

The more health conscious person out there probably knows the benefit of water and will drink 2 litres a day. But most of us haven't got the time nor the patience to measure out 2 litres of water.

Then we all have our own different needs for water. Some of us will need more than 2 litres and others less depending on the activities we do, foods we eat and place we live etc.

"How much water do I need?"
What colour is your urine when you go to the toilet? This might seem like a crude question but it needs to be asked. Normal coloured urine is clear when enough water is being consumed but am sure the next time most of you go to the toilet, your urine is yellow. The darker the yellow, the more you need water!

For those of you that take vitamin supplements, this test will not be accurate because within the first few hours of taking your supplements, your urine may be almost fluorescent yellow but don't worry, this is normal! As the day goes on, the supplements will get used or be flushed out so the normal colour of your urine will return.

Our body is very smart. Any time you feel hungry, be aware that this could just mean you are thirsty. Have a glass of water and see if you still feel hungry after five minutes. Also when ever you feel thirsty, drink water as soon as possible. It's your body telling you it has a need for fluids.

It's also important to hydrate during sport. During intense activity it's advisable to take a mouthful at a time because you will end up being sick if you take more.

It's important after you're finished to drink a lot of water to re-hydrate the body. Also eat something as well to refuel the body. You may have lost a lot of sweat and important nutrients like sodium which your body needs.

Drink water, it's important!

WhyWeight - don't hesitate, participate, before it's too late!

-Steve, at WhyWeight-

How much water to drink a day?

Water water everywhere, but not a drop to drink! Not quite true unless you're stuck mid-Atlantic in a dinghy, so why then don't we drink enough of the stuff! Generally, in the westernised world it is in abundance - from the tap at home, from water fountains in the office, from water bubblers in streets and parks and beaches to bottled water in your supermarket, petrol station, post office and newsagent. With water still in mind for this little series, here is another found at 'ezinearticles' (http://EzineArticles.com/1863232) and written by Ruth Tan (http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ruth_Tan)



Water for Life!

How much water should you drink a day?

Water is absolutely critical to our body which comprises about 75% water; the brain has 85%, blood 90%, lungs 90%, muscles 75%, kidney 82% and even bones has 22%. Basically, we are made of water!

Water dissolves many valuable nutrients, minerals, and chemicals in the biological processes and transports them to different parts of our body. The carbohydrates and proteins that our bodies use as food are metabolised and transported by water in the bloodstream. Water is just as important in the transport of waste and toxins out of our bodies. Without the replenishment of fresh water, our body will fail to function, start to waste away, and finally collapse. An adult loses about 2.5 litres water every day through perspiration, breathing, and elimination (urine and faeces), and when the body loses 5% of its total water volume, symptoms of dehydration such as thirst, unexplained tiredness, irritation, dark urine, will begin to show up.

The consequence of consuming insufficient water can be devastating to our body. The cells will start to draw water from the bloodstream instead, causing the heart to work harder. At the same time, when the kidneys fail to cleanse the blood effectively due to inadequate water, the liver and other organs will have to work harder, putting them under extra stress. Continuous water loss over time will speed up aging but increase risks of diseases and health issues such as constipation, dry and itchy skin, acne, nosebleeds, urinary tract infection, coughs, sneezing, sinus pressure, and headaches.

So, how much water should you drink a day? How much water is enough for you? The minimum amount of water you need depends on our body weight. As a general guide, for two pounds of body weight, an ounce of water is required. So, if you are 60kg, you should drink about 2 litres of water every day.

The secret to overcoming many health issues like pain, inflammation, lethargy, mental fatigue, anxiety, depression, obesity, in fact can be found in water - the most common healing medicine. Drink enough of water, there is healing power in it. Don't indulge in drinking soft drinks, thinking they can quench your thirst. Carbonated high fructose corn syrup drinks are diuretics; the caffeine in it squeezes liquids out of the body and depletes our water reserves. They are wrong substitutes of water.

Hydrate yourself adequately daily. Ask yourself how much water should you drink a day and target to make it happen. Many of you might have heard of this water therapy for good health maintenance - On a daily basis, first thing early in the morning, head straight for the kitchen and drink 5 glasses of water (about 1 litre) even before you brush your teeth or wash your face. Wait for at least half an hour before you take your breakfast.

WhyWeight - don't hesitate, participate, before it's too late!

-Steve, at WhyWeight-

Why we need water?

Continuing with the water based theme and how it can aid your weight loss programme, and the all important necessities and essentials of everyday living, the below articles outlines why we all need water and why it is so good for us. Sourced again from 'ezinearticles' (http://EzineArticles.com/5538330) and written by Heather Dunne (http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Heather_Dunne), it is worth a few minutes of your reading time.




Everyone knows that we need water, but how many really know why? While it wouldn't be pleasant, the body can last far longer without food than without water. Why does dehydration cause the body to completely shut down? Keep reading to find out.

The first thing water does is aid in the digestion of food. Water helps to dissolve nutrients, which is necessary in order for such nutrients to pass into the bloodstream. It also helps to carry the food through the intestines, enabling the overall process of digestion. Without water you would not get the nutrients you need. Water also provides the area in which the digestive process (along with many other processes) occurs. A large percentage of the body consists of water for just this reason.

The next thing water does is help to eliminate waste from the body. Just as water moves food through the intestines, pushing nutrients through the intestinal wall, water also pushes the leftover waste onward in the digestive process, so that waste doesn't remain sitting around in the body, blocking new food from distributing necessary nutrients. Without water, waste would quickly build up in the body, with no way of getting out.

Water is also responsible for the communication between cells. Cells send messages to each other by way of electricity, and this is done through the medium of water. This sort of communication is why you can move your muscles, your brain can process what your eyes see, and even why you can think at all. Without communication between brain cells, which requires water, your whole brain would shut down.

While the water between cells is important for communication, it's also important for lubrication. Give your muscles too much fiction and your body wouldn't be able to move properly. Water, however, prevents this problem from happening, allowing you to move freely.

Water also keeps your body temperature in check. It's common to sweat on a hot day, because this is the body's way of cooling down. The sweat reaches the skin and then evaporates, taking heat with it. No water means no sweat, which in turn means dangerously high body temperature. This is another reason why dehydration is so common and so dangerous during hot summers.

There are plenty of other reasons why water is important to the body, but these are the main ones. Hopefully, that convinced you to drink your eight glasses a day!

WhyWeight - don't hesitate, participate, before it's too late!

-Steve, at WhyWeight-

Myths and wrong beliefs about working out!

A few more myths debunked here to set your mind at ease and keep you focused away from the mis-information out there and more in tune with what is best for you. You can always seek expert advice and guidance from your local gym, heath coach or Personal Trainer so don't be afraid to speak up and satisfy yourself that you know right from wrong. I found this too at 'ezinearticles' (http://EzineArticles.com/4290486) and this one is written by Peter E. Thompson (http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_E_Thompson)


Living a basically active lifestyle requires one to be utmost considerate of the fitness and form of his physique, not so much as to the aesthetic significance but primarily because of the need to keep up with it. Many people involve themselves in different diet or fitness program in the hope of achieving what is required of them however not all of them venture into the right one. This leaves all attempts futile. Perhaps there is a greater need to be knowledgeable of the facts to consider so you won't fall victim to wrong choices.

Be aware of the several myths or wrong beliefs about working out. Here are some of them for you to ponder upon:
• Another person's fitness program that has proven effective for him/her would yield the same successful result for you - WRONG!
Every person has a different physiological make up. Yours could not be the same as someone else's. For this reason, your body will need a different program as your response will never be the same as another's. For that guaranteed efficacy, know your body and work around what is best for it.

• More protein on your diet means more muscles for you - WRONG!
Your body only needs a certain amount of protein every day. Protein is being broken down with some of it excreted while others are stored in the form of body fat or may be used as energy. The amount needed to ensure that your body has enough building blocks to create new muscles is around 1.2 to 1.5 grams per kilogramme of your body weight. Instead of taking on more protein than needed, you ought to take a good amount of carbohydrates for a good source of energy for the creation of muscle tissues from the protein you have ingested.

• Sweating is the perfect sign that you are losing weight - WRONG!
Most people work their butts off for a workout that makes them sweat incredibly. With every drop of sweat they are elated by the thought that it is their weight that is lost. Unfortunately for those who mistake this myth to be a fact as they have greater chances at not losing weight but at getting dehydrated. Sweat is our body's mere reaction to hyperventilation aiming to cool down the body therefore the weight we lose with sweat is only retained water weight and not fat.

• Drinking water during workout is not advisable - WRONG!
It is in fact recommended to drink water before and during your workout. After exercising you may notice having some cramps. This is a sign that your body is dehydrated. For its prevention, drink a large amount of water. Remember that drinking pure water is important to recover the fluids lost through sweating.

All these and more are myths that could take you not to a healthier and fit form but to the destruction of yourself so be cautious.

WhyWeight - don't hesitate, participate, before it's too late!

-Steve, at WhyWeight-