Healthy Habits

Friday, March 2, 2012

Thursday, February 23, 2012

This week's winner is....

ME! Go figure. Wow, I won't spend it all in one place.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Why drink 50 oz. of water daily?

There are many varying recommendations about how much water we should drink. Two common ones are to drink 8 eight-ounce glasses a day, or to divide your body weight in half and drink that many ounces. Because we actually get about 20-50% of our water from food (depending on the kinds of food we eat), we may not need to drink as much. The goal is to have clear urine, not to be running to the bathroom 10 times a day. 50 ounces is an achievable goal to keep our bodies hydrated without going crazy. Here are some benefits of staying hydrated:

1. Drinking Water Helps Maintain the Balance of Body Fluids. Your body is composed of about 60% water. The functions of these bodily fluids include digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature.

2. Water Can Help Control Calories. For years, dieters have been drinking lots of water as a weight loss strategy. While water doesn't have any magical effect on weight loss, substituting it for higher calorie beverages can certainly help. Water-rich foods include fruits, vegetables, broth-based soups, oatmeal, and beans.

3. Water Helps Energize Muscles. Cells that don't maintain their balance of fluids and electrolytes shrivel, which can result in muscle fatigue. During exercise, they recommend that people start drinking fluids early, and drink them at regular intervals to replace fluids lost by sweating.

4. Water Helps Keep Skin Looking Good. Your skin contains plenty of water, and functions as a protective barrier to prevent excess fluid loss. You can also help "lock" moisture into your skin by using moisturizer, which creates a physical barrier to keep moisture in.

5. Water Helps Your Kidneys. Body fluids transport waste products in and out of cells. When you're getting enough fluids, urine flows freely, is light in color and free of odor. When your body is not getting enough fluids, urine concentration, color, and odor increases because the kidneys trap extra fluid for bodily functions.

6. Water Helps Maintain Normal Bowel Function. Adequate hydration keeps things flowing along your gastrointestinal tract and prevents constipation. When you don't get enough fluid, the colon pulls water from stools to maintain hydration -- and the result is constipation.

5 Tips to Help You Drink More

If you think you need to be drinking more, here are some tips to increase your fluid intake and reap the benefits of water:

Have a beverage with every snack and meal.
Choose beverages you enjoy; you're likely to drink more liquids if you like the way they taste.
Eat more fruits and vegetables. Their high water content will add to your hydration. About 20% of our fluid intake comes from foods.
Keep a bottle of water with you in your car, at your desk, or in your bag.
Choose beverages that meet your individual needs. If you're watching calories, go for non-caloric beverages or water.

Excerpts taken from http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/6-reasons-to-drink-water

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Congratulations to.....

Mike Harmer!!! Your fabulous prize will be coming in the mail soon!

Monday, January 30, 2012

Why 4 fruits/veggies a day?

The CDC has a cool little tool that can help you know how many fruits and vegetables you should be eating, based on a few factors. It told me I should eat 2 cups of fruit and 2.5 cups of veggies, which is pretty darn close to our goal of 4 combined servings per day. Try it here:

http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/form.html

Why eat MORE fruits and veggies? Top 10 Reasons to Eat MORE Fruits & Vegetables: Fruits & Veggies More Matters.org

Color & Texture. Fruits and veggies add color, texture … and appeal … to your plate.

Convenience. Fruits and veggies are nutritious in any form – fresh, frozen, canned, dried and 100% juice, so they’re ready when you are!

Fiber. Fruits and veggies provide fiber that helps fill you up and keeps your digestive
system happy.

Low in Calories. Fruits and veggies are naturally low in calories.

May Reduce Disease Risk. Eating plenty of fruits and veggies may help reduce the risk of many diseases, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and some cancers.