Water: the health benefits of drinking water

   

Water can help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, according to new research.

Almost 1 in 5 women who drank 1.5 litres of water per day saw a reduction in wrinkles after 6 weeks - without making any other changes to their diet.

Water is also said to give us sparkly eyes, clear our skin of spots and make us look glowing and healthy. But water has lots of benefits for your health too.

Almost two thirds of our body is made up of water, so it's no wonder that when we don't drink enough we start to suffer.

Government guidelines reckon we should try and drink at least eight glasses a day and some nutritionists claim that a staggering 80% of us are walking around dehydrated! This lack of fluid could affect your health, your weight and even your job - here we've rounded up 9 more benefits of water.

1. Water helps with weight loss

Great news for anyone trying to lose a few pounds - water naturally reduces your appetite. 

A lot of people confuse feeling thirsty with feeling hungry so they eat when their body wants them to drink something. When you're dehydrated, fat cells become harder to break down and so anyone actually trying to diet will find it a lot harder if they don't drink very much. 

2. Water stops headaches and dizziness

Don't reach for the pills straight away, your headache could be a symptom of being dehydrated so drinking water should make it go away. 

Even tension headaches and dizziness, which can be brought on by fatigue can be cured or helped by drinking water - this is because fatigue is also a sign of dehydration. 

3. Water clears your skin

Most people know that drinking more water can be good for clear skin and it can also help the symptoms of acne. 

If you've got dry skin, drinking water will give it more moisture but that's not all. Water flushes toxins out of your body and anything else that shouldn't be there so it clears your skin of any dirt and bacteria. 

Want younger looking skin? Try our anti-ageing tips 

4. It fights infections

Drinking water can help fight infections all over your body, not only
because it flushes out toxins but because when you're dehydrated you're
more likely to catch a bug.

It's especially good for getting rid of and preventing urine infections and kidney stones.

Being well hydrated is also great for allergies and colds because it clears the airways. Even cold sores can be reduced by drinking more water because they tend to pop up in places where your skin is particularly dry.

5. It keeps you regular

If you suffer from constipation or piles 
you might have been told to increase how much fibre you eat. This is 
definitely one way of getting rid of the problem but you'll need to 
drink more water for the fibre to work properly. Otherwise it could have 
the opposite effect and make you worse.

- Find out how to get more fibre into your diet and how to beat the bloat

6. It makes you exercise better

It's common sense to replace the fluids you lose when you sweat with 
water, but what might not be obvious is that your body works better and 
harder during your workout if you drink water.

7. It improves concentration

Because your brain is made of around 85% water if you get dehydrated it can affect your concentration and even your short-term memory. 

It has a particularly strong effect on your maths skills and it's all because lack of water causes your brain's energy levels to decrease.

8. It boosts your energy

In the same way that not drinking enough water makes your brain slow down it has the same effect on your body. 

For example, your muscles are around 75% water, your bones are about 22% and your blood is around 83%. 

If you're dehydrated, all these body parts don't work as well as they should meaning you lack energy and feel tired or lazy. 

9. It supports your heart

The hardest working muscle of all needs a lot of water to keep it going at full speed. 

When you get dehydrated your blood gets thicker so the heart has to work even harder. And if your heart is weak it can lead to more serious heart problems later in life. 

A study by Eden found that drinking more than five glasses of water a day could cut your chances of having a heart attack by 41%, compared with people who drank less than two glasses a day.

How much water should I be drinking?

Although government guidelines say that we should all drink 8 glasses of water a day, your height, weight and the size of the glass can all make a difference.

Most people wee, on average, 1.5 litres a day and you will also lose a litre of liquid through breathing and sweating. 

You get about 20% of your water every day through food so a general rule is todrink 2 litres of water a day.This is the equivalent to a large bottle of fizzy drink or three-and-a-half pints.

If you're feeling thirsty you're already dehydrated so don't wait until you need a drink, sip small amounts throughout the day to keep yourself hydrated.

Factors such as exercise, the weather, illness and if you're pregnant or breastfeeding will all make a difference to how much you need too. So you'll need to up your water intake again. The best way is to listen to your body.

You can get a certain amount of water from tea, coffee and fizzy drinks but they're all what's called diuretics - in other words they make you wee a lot more as well as increase the amount of water your body uses. They also don't quench your thirst like water does.

That doesn't mean you can't drink them, tea has other health benefits,
but it just means that you'll have to drink more water as well.

If you're worried you're not drinking enough:

- Measure how much you're drinking for a few days to see if it's
anywhere near the minimum amount
- Check your wee. If it's pale and clear then you're drinking a healthy
amount. If it's dark yellow and cloudy you might be dehydrated or not
drinking enough.

If after all this you're still getting thirsty a lot but going to the
loo more, there might be an underlying problem, like diabetes, so speak to your doctor.

How do I get more water in my diet?

These five simple rules will help you get more water into your diet. And you don't even have to buy expensive bottled water so it's great for your wallet as well as your health.

1. Drink a glass of water first thing in the morning. This will wake you up and help your body replace any fluid lost when you were sleeping. It'll also give you a headstart on your 2 litres. 

2. Carry a small bottle of water around with you. This will not
only remind you to drink more but it's also an easy way of keeping track of how much you're drinking. If you fill it up from the tap you can reuse it as well - brilliant for the environment!

3. Add some flavour. If you really can't stand the taste of water on its own try adding a small amount of fruit juice, sugar-free squash or a squeeze of lemon or lime. The lemon can even help with weight
loss.

This is because its sour taste helps your liver get rid of toxins. Your liver plays a really important role in helping you lose weight and if it's full of toxins it doesn't do its job properly.

4. Set an alarm. If you've got a watch that beeps on the hour it can be a good reminder. Every hour fill up a glass of water, or drink from your bottle, and make sure you finish the glass before the next hour. You could even set a reminder on your computer at work, or on your phone.

5. Eat water-rich foods.

This table shows you which foods have the highest level of water in them. This can also help you get your five-a-day. 

Food	% water
Lettuce	96%
Cucumber	94%
Tomatoes	93%
Broccoli	92%
Carrots	90%
Watermelon	90%
Grapefruit	88%

The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Eating Meat

Meat is defined as the muscle tissue, organs and flesh of an animal. The average American has a serving of meat, veggies and sometimes a starch on his/her plate everyday to complete a dish which is considered to be a full meal. And the National Food and Drug Administration’s Food Pyramid says the three are complete---meaning it’s a full meal. But is meat the cause of the many illnesses that swarm American? Is meat good for you or is it bad for you? Well, these questions will be answered for you in this article and you would need to make the correct determination for yourself and your family.

As a journalist and experimenter I must say that I have gone on an appropriate journey in order to find the answers to both questions and my determination would be, to find an alternative, however, I will also say “Different Strokes For Different Folks.” In this 1 year journey of eating meat, I must say that the results were horrifying. Here is the scenario: I went from eating just fish and chicken to eating full blown meats like steak, ribs, hotdogs, burgers, and any other meat source that you can think of. Some of the symptoms entail heavy breathing, stomach aches, weight gain, a build up of mucus membranes, tiredness, slow thinking etc. etc. And, I am very fortunate to have only made this an experiment simply due to the other health risk extremities that come with unhealthy eating. My symptoms could have been a lot worst but lucky for me, I am here today to give proven evidence that if you should consume meat, please consume it in moderation or it could be lethal.

Studies

There was a recent study done by a Harvard University Analysis which gave a list of diseases that come with eating to much meat. The first study was based on the amount of meat one should consume in one day. 42 grams per day of meat would be considered fine for the averaged person if they are eating good meat and not processed meat. You should also be careful about the drugs that the animals are injected with. Now, in this study, it indicates that if one is to consume 100 grams of meat per day they have a 12% chance of getting diabetes and those who eat processed meat have a 17% chance of getting diabetes and that would be based on their consumption of only 50grams of the processed meat a day. In another study done by the National Cancer Society---those who consume 40 ounces of meat per day have a 30% chance of being infected with cancer, and those who eat processed meat are at an even high risk. The International Journal of obesity found that people who eat meat consume up to 700 more calories a day than those who don’t. This article isn’t to frighten anyone, but it is clearly to help you understand the importance of your health, and the risk that we all take everyday by way of our food intake.

Here is a list of advantages and disadvantages of eating meat and why you should take precaution when eating anything that would be considered a health risk into you body.

Advantages

1. Provides Vitamin B1, 2, 6, and 12, Vitamin K, E, D and Folate
Example: A 100g portion of sirloin steak contains 6.93 mg of niacin, 0.514 mg of pantothenic acid, 0.126 mg of riboflavin, 1.53 micrograms of vitamin B-12, 0.126 mg of thiamin, 0.545 mg of vitamin B-6, and 8 micrograms of folate.

2. Provides Protein
Example: chuck beef, braised (6 ounces) contains 49.2 grams of protein and 1 gram of protein equals 4 calories

3. Provides Minerals Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium, Zinc, Selenium, Copper, Iron, Manganese and Phosphorus
Example: An 8 ounces serving of sirloin steak has 12mg of zinc, 75mcg of selenium , and 525mg of phosphorus.

4. Contains amino acids that the body needs
Example: The human body only contains 10 amino acids which are aspartic acid, alanine, asparagine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, proline, cysteine, tyrosine and serine. The amino acids that our bodies don’t produce are isoleucine, leucine, lysine, histidine, phenylalanine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine, these essential amino acids are found in meat.

Disadvantages

1. The Health Risk
2. Cardiovascular Disease
3. Diabetes
4. High In Sodium
5. High In Saturated Fat And Cholesterol
6. To Much Processed Meat Causes Bowel Cancer
7. Very Hard To Digest Due To The Drugs Injected Into The Animals
8. Mad Cow Diseases
9. Alzheimer’s Disease
10. Causes Constipation
11. One Of Leading Cause Of Obesity
12. Causes Lethargy
Etc. Etc.

With all that has been presented before you, it could be hard to decide what is needed to have a healthy and balanced diet. However, studies make it plan and simple----why put something in your body that would put your health at risk, whether it has something that you need in it or not---there are alternatives. In a study done by the medical experts of Mayoclinic.com it was proven that those who eat less meat live longer. Which one do you choose life by consumption of the right foods or death by consumption of the wrong foods.

Health Benefits of Honey

Three key health benefits of honey: 1. Honey is nature's energy booster

2. Honey is a great immunity system builder

3. Honey is a natural remedy for many ailments

Read below for details.

Nature's Energy Booster

The benefits of honey go beyond its great taste. A great natural source of carbohydrates which provide strength and energy to our bodies, honey is known for its effectiveness in instantly boosting the performance, endurance and reduce muscle fatigue of athletes. Its natural sugars play an important role in preventing fatigue during exercise. The glucose in honey is absorbed by the body quickly and gives an immediate energy boost, while the fructose is absorbed more slowly providing sustained energy. It is known that honey has also been found to keep levels of blood sugar fairly constant compared to other types of sugar. So, to experience these health benefits of honey, here are a few tips for you:

1. Next time before you go for a workout, take a spoon of honey to enable you to go for the extra mile.

2. If you are feeling low and lethargic in the morning, instead of reaching out for a can of carbonated energy drink , try honey. Spread it on hot toast or replace the sugar in your tea with it for a refreshing surge of energy.

3. If your kids are finding hard to cope with the physical strain from the buzzing activities at school, prepare them some sandwiches with honey, butter and ham to make sure they have enough energy to sustain through the day. My kids are delighted when they see me prepare warm honey water in their bottles. They couldn't care a bit about the health benefits of honey, but simply love the taste of it!

Immunity System Builder

Amongst the many health benefits of honey, what is most impressive to me is that honey can be a powerful immune system booster. It's antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties can help improve digestive system and help you stay healthy and fight disease. Start every brand new day with thiscleansing tonic if you want to see this health benefit of honey: before breakfast, mix a spoonful ofhoney and lemon juice from half a lemon into a cup of warm water and drink it. 

Honey is Anti-Cancer!

Honey does not cure cancer but what many people don't think enough of or have overlooked is - honey possesses carcinogen-preventing and anti-tumour properties! Read: Honey is Anti-Cancer! 

Honey Remedy for Ailments

FOR CUTS AND BURNS:

For thousands of years, honey has been recognized as one of the most natural home remedies to treat a wide range of ailments and complaints including yeast infection, athlete foot, and arthritis pain. Its antiseptic properties inhibits the growth of certain bacteria and helps keep external wounds clean and free from infection. Honey has been used as a natural cure in first aid treatment for wounds, burns and cuts as it is able to absorb moisture from the air and promote healing. Its antibacterial properties prevent infection and functions as an anti-inflammatory agent, reducing both swelling and pain, and even scarring. It is widely believed that UMF Manuka is the preferred honey for wound dressing due to its strong antibacterial property.

FOR HANGOVERS:

When you get a hangover from drinking too much alcohol, combat its effects by applying honey remedy. Honey is gentle on the stomach and contains a mix of natural sugars such fructose which is known to speed up the oxidation of alcohol by the liver, acting as a 'sobering' agent. Follow this recipe: 15ml of liquid honey with 80ml of orange juice and 70ml of natural yogurt. Blend them together until smooth.

FOR SORE THROATS:

One of the better known health benefits of honey is that it is able to help treat sore throats. Thanks to its antimicrobial properties, honey not only soothes throats but can also kill certain bacteria that causes the infection. Professional singers commonly use honey to soothe their throats before performances. The Chinese believe that excess "heatiness" in the body causes sore throat and taking honey drink can be helpful. Direction: Take a spoonful of honey to soothe the inflammation or gargle with a mixture of two tablespoons of honey, four tablespoons of lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Personally, whenever I have a sore throat or cough, I especially like to take warm water mixed with Manuka UMF honey which is well-known for its anti-bacterial healing properties.

For SLEEPLESSNESS:

Unable to sleep? Use the famous Milk and Honey Remedy. Take a glass of hot milk with a teaspoon of honey to calm the soul and induce sleep. Or, add 1 or 2 teaspoons of honey to a cup of chamomile tea and sip. 

Further Resource on Home Remedies Using Honey

 Frank K. Wood has written a book entitled "The Folk Remedy Encyclopedia: Olive Oil, Vinegar, Honey and 1,001 Other Home Remedies". Many common aches and pains we experience can be treated by simple foods such as honey which we commonly find in our home kitchen cabinets, however such precious knowledge does not seem to be common amongst people. These folk remedies might be old fashioned, but many of their cures have been proven effective by modern medical research. To check it out, click on the book.

Health Benefits:

1. Prevent cancer and heart disease:
Honey contains flavonoids, antioxidants which help reduce the risk of some cancers and heart disease.

2. Reduce ulcers and other gastrointestinal disorders.
Recent research shows that honey treatment may help disorders such as ulcers and bacterial gastroenteritis. This may be related to the 3rd benefit…

3. Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-fungal:
“All honey is antibacterial, because the bees add an enzyme that makes hydrogen peroxide,” said Peter Molan, director of the Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato in New Zealand.

4. Increase athletic performance.
Ancient Olympic athletes would eat honey and dried figs to enhance their performance. This has now been verified with modern studies, showing that it is superior in maintaining glycogen levels and improving recovery time than other sweeteners.

6. Balance the 5 elements: 
Honey has been used in ayurvedic medicine in India for at least 4000 years and is considered to affect all three of the body’s primitive material imbalances positively. It is also said to be useful useful in improving eyesight, weight loss, curing impotence and premature ejaculation, urinary tract disorders, bronchial asthma, diarrhea, and nausea.

Honey is referred as “Yogavahi” since it has a quality of penetrating the deepest tissues of the body. When honey is used with other herbal preparations, it enhances the medicinal qualities of those preparations and also helps them to reach the deeper tissues.

7. Blood sugar regulation:
Even though honey contains simple sugars, it is NOT the same as white sugar or artificial sweeteners. Its exact combination of fructose and glucose actually helps the body regulate blood sugar levels. Some honeys have a low hypoglycemic index, so they don’t jolt your blood sugar. (Watch this video Sweetener Comparison where I compare stevia, brown rice syrup, honey, molasses and agave, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each.)

8. Heal wounds and burns:
External application of honey has been shown to be as effective as conventional treatment with silver sulfadiazene. It is speculated that the drying effect of the simple sugars and honey’s anti-bacterial nature combine to create this effect.

9. Probiotic:
Some varieties of honey possess large amounts of friendly bacteria. This includes up to 6 species of lactobacilli and 4 species of bifidobacteria. This may explain many of the “mysterious therapeutic properties of honey.”

10. Beautiful skin:
Its anti-bacterial qualities are particularly useful for the skin, and, when used with the other ingredients, can also be moisturizing and nourishing! For a powerful home beauty treatment for which you probably have all the ingredients in your kitchen already, read Carrot Face Mask.