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Soul Patrol Taylor WINS American Idol

no more seeing fake Kat!!!!

The REAL DEAL has won!!!

Taylor Hicks IS the American Idol!!!

Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Taylor Rules!!!!

How to Stay Young

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age,
weight and height.


2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you
down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer,
crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle.
"An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the
devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp
for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The
only person who is with us our entire life, is
ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's
family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies,
whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If
it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you
can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to
the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to
where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at
every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away.

Taylor Hicks ROCKS!!!

ok... since American Idol will be on in about 39 minutes just wanted to give a shout out to Taylor Hicks!!!
SOUL PATROL!!!!

He rocks and deserves to be THE American Idol!!!!

More fruit could mean less asthma in adults

By Stephen Daniells
5/17/2006

http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=67753&m=2niu517&c=qdrhrvoeraoqydo

People with an antioxidant-rich diet could reduce
their risk of developing asthma in adulthood, say
Cambridge researchers - adding to a growing body of
science on the subject.

�We have found symptomatic asthma in adults to be
associated with a low intake of the dietary
antioxidants vitamin C and manganese. The low intake
of vitamin C appears to primarily associated with a
diet deficient in fruit,� wrote corresponding author
Dr. Nick Wareham.

This study appears to support a growing body of
science that has linked antioxidant intake,
particularly vitamins C and E, to the incidence of
asthma, a condition on the rise in the Western world
and the most common long-term condition in the UK
today. And, according to the charity Asthma UK, it
affects over four million adults and over a million
children.

According to the European Federation of Allergy and
Airway Diseases Patients Association (EFA), over 30m
Europeans suffer from asthma, costing Europe �17.7bn
every year. The cost due to lost productivity is
estimated to be around �9.8bn.

The new study, published in the journal Thorax (Vol.
61, pp. 388-393), used a nested case-control design to
investigate a potential relationship between fruit and
vegetable intake, and corresponding antioxidant
intake, and the incidence of both diagnosed and
symptomatic asthma for 515 cases and 515 controls with
average age 32.

The researchers used registrants in the European
Prospective Investigation of Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk
cohort and assigned them as either cases or controls
depending on results from a health and lifestyle
questionnaire (HLQ). Dietary data was obtained using
seven day food diaries.

Dr. Wareham and his colleagues found that dietary
intake of vitamin C and manganese were inversely and
independently linked to symptomatic asthma, with a 12
per cent reduction in incidence with increasing
vitamin C intake, and a 15 per cent reduction in
incidence with increasing manganese intake. The
researchers divided intakes into five groups
(quintiles) ranging from low to high intake, but no
quantification of each cut-off point is made.

For diagnosed asthma, only manganese has an effect on
the incidence of the condition. Increasing intake of
manganese, as a per quintile measure, was associated
with a 14 per cent reduction in the risk of diagnosed
asthma.

When the researchers looked at the incidence and
associated risks of both symptomatic and diagnosed
asthma in terms of fruit and vegetable consumption,
and particular types of each, it was reported that
moderate consumption (between 0.7 and 46.2 grams per
day) of citrus fruits decreased the risk of asthma by
12 per cent. High consumption (46.3 grams per day or
more) decreased the risk by 41 per cent.

Apples consumption also reported a significant effect
on the risk of asthma, both symptomatic and diagnosed,
with high consumption (48.1 grams per day or more)
associated with a 32 per cent reduction in risk.

�Our observations are consistent with previous
reports
of an inverse association between dietary fruit and
dietary vitamin C and respiratory symptoms,� said
the
researchers.

The mechanism behind the protective effects of vitamin
C and manganese appears to be due to their antioxidant
nature, with manganese in particular playing a key
role in the enzyme superoxide dismutase. Reduced
levels of this enzyme have been reported in the lungs
and blood of asthma sufferers.

A major strength of this study, argue the researchers,
is the comprehensive nature of the dietary data,
allowing them to confidently make the link between
manganese and vitamin C intake and reduced risk of
asthma.

There are several limitations however, as there are
with all observational studies. The most notable being
that cases may have altered their diets because of
their asthma, although possible errors from this are
reduced by the fact that only 22 cases reported such a
change. There also exists the possibility that other,
unaccountable confounders, may have affected the
results.

The study does appear to add to a growing body of
evidence linking increased antioxidant intake to a
reduced risk of asthma. Indeed, a spokesperson for
British charity Asthma UK told NutraIngredients.com:
"Fresh fruit and vegetables are a good source of
anti-oxidants and the results of several studies
suggest that a diet high in anti-oxidants may protect
against asthma and some other lung diseases.

This research has looked at whether people with a low
intake of fruit and antioxidants such as vitamin C
have a higher risk of asthma. Further research is
necessary before the link between diet and asthma is
fully understood.

However, Asthma UK would encourage all people with
asthma to strive towards general good health through
eating a healthy diet made up of plenty of fruit and
vegetables," they said.

Vegetarian Diets: Eat as Much as You Want & Still Lose Weight

By Melinda Smith
Washington, DC
11 May 2006

http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-05-11-voa48.cfm

It seems too good to be true. Eat as much as you want
and still lose weight? That's the conclusion of a
group of health experts who say a vegetarian diet is
just the ticket for losing those unwanted pounds or
kilos. But others say a side order of common sense
goes along with it.

Hamburgers and french fries ... staples of what's
called the "Western diet". Quick ... easy ... often
cheap ... and very fattening. This calorie-rich diet
has become one of America's most successful exports.
McDonald's and other fast food restaurants are popping
up in China and elsewhere, and health experts lay much
of the blame for a worldwide problem of obesity at
their doorsteps.

Obesity is a serious health problem in the United
States. Fad diets that guarantee weight loss often
make headlines. But one of the latest studies to grab
attention supports the old-fashioned notion that if
you eat your fruits and vegetables, you can lose
weight.

Washington dietitian Susan Levin is with the
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which
conducted the research. She says the diet is simple:
just whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes.
"Those are the four food groups that a plant-based
diet should be built around and those food groups are
so high in fiber and typically low in calories and low
in fat that you don't have to think about quantity."

But Washington nutritionist Janet Zalman is concerned
about the reality of sticking to this kind of diet. "I
think that's for most busy people in major cities
pretty impractical because there's no way you can
really eat in any kind of restaurant and do it in an
effective way, because everything is going to have
some butter, some cheese, and I think only having
fruits, vegetables, grains and some nuts is going to
be a plan that you're really going to be hungry."

Susan Levin agrees that even a vegetarian has to watch
out for the fat. "You don't want to eat things like a
lot of olive oil ... a lot of cheese ... a lot of
anything that's high in fat, because that's where you
get in trouble."

Butter and cheese are what separate the vegetarians
from the vegans, says Gail Naftalin, who runs a
vegetarian catering company in Wheaton, Maryland.

As a vegan, she doesn't eat dairy products and finds
other sources of calcium in leafy green vegetables,
like kale. Gail believes the nutritional balance in
her diet can be found in the colors of what's on her
plate. "So that if you even think about it in terms of
colors, you know ... 'have I had some green things,
some orange things, some yellow things,' you can get
your nutrients very well satisfied that way."

With the growing concern about obesity and related
problems of heart disease and diabetes, Americans are
becoming more particular about what they buy. Frozen
vegetables from the grocery store may be more
convenient, but Gail Naftalin says fresh produce from
the local farmers' market has more appeal:

"Local ingredients that haven't had to be trucked
across the country and seasonal ingredients that are
growing now -- and that's the food that people really
enjoy the most."

So, what is the food you enjoy the most? Gail
Naftalin believes variety is the spice of healthy
eating. "Meat eaters certainly can eat vegetarian
food, whereas if you have something with meat or
chicken stock, the vegetarians won't eat it. So it's
a nice safe route to go and it's healthy and it's
setting a good example."

Setting a good example can be critically important to
your health. A British study of 500,000 people in 10
countries has shown that a high fat diet is second
only to tobacco as a leading cause of cancer, and when
combined with alcohol, accounts for almost one third
of the cancer rate in developed countries.

Google takes up cage-free eggs

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060511-050257-1508r

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 11 (UPI) --
California-based Google, one of the hottest companies
around, has embraced a hot trend in animal rights --
cage-free eggs.

The company will require that all of its cafes and
cafeterias serve only the pricier cage-free eggs, the
San Jose Mercury News reports. Google uses about
300,000 eggs a year along with 7,000 pounds of liquid
egg products.

Animal-rights activists charge that caged chickens --
sometimes called battery-raised, because the cages are
piled high -- have miserable lives during their
productive egg-laying months, confined six to a cage
with only 67 square inches of floor space per chicken.
Egg farmers say caged chickens are just as happy as --
and healthier than -- those raised outdoors or in open
barns.

Google is jumping on a bandwagon that already includes
America On Line and Bon Appetit Management, a catering
company serving a number of Silicon Valley companies.
Several universities have also pledged to serve
cage-free eggs.

"There's a ripple effect that I think will happen,"
said John Dickman, Google's food service manager.
"Other companies also will want to ensure humane
treatment of animals."

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Choose It! builds a simple-yet-sophisticated decision matrix while you complete a step-by-step decision tree. This decision making process organizes your thinking. Result? You make correct choices for the most complex, nuanced questions.

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Butter vs Margarine

Do you know the difference between butter and margarine?

Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys. When it
killed the turkeys, the people who had put all the money into the
research wanted a payback so they put their heads together to figure
out what to do with this product to get their money back.

It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellow
coloring and sold it to people to use in place of butter.

How do you like it? They have come out with some clever new
flavorings.

DO YOU KNOW...the difference between margarine and butter?

Both have the same number of calories.
Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams compared to 5
grams.

Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over-
eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard
Medical Study.

Butter has been around for centuries where margarine has been around
for less than 100 years.

And now, for Margarine...

Very high in Trans fatty acids. Triple risk of coronary heart
disease. Increases total cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad
cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol, (the good cholesterol)

Increases the risk of cancers up to five fold.
Lowers quality of breast milk.
Decreases immune response.
Decreases insulin response.

And here's the most disturbing fact.... HERE IS THE PART THAT IS VERY
INTERESTING!

Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC...

Margarine is hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added, changing the
molecular structure of the substance).

You can try this yourself:

Purchase a tub of margarine and leave it in your garage or shaded
area. Within a couple of days you will note a couple of things: no
flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it (that should
tell you something); it does not rot or smell differently because it
has no nutritional value; nothing will grow on it, even those teeny
weenie micro-organisms will not a find a home to grow.
Why? Because it is nearly plastic. Would you melt your Tupperware and
spread that on your toast

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Nationwide School Soda Ban

May 03, 2006

School Soda Ban Called Good First Step

WEDNESDAY, May 3 (HealthDay News) -- Health experts are applauding today's agreement by major soft drink manufacturers to limit the sale of sodas in U.S. schools, calling it an important first step in a much-needed effort to combat childhood obesity and to provide better nutrition to youngsters during the school day.

"For the first time, we are going to be able to control calories in beverage form in schools," said Dr. Robert Eckel, president of the American Heart Association, which helped push for the initiative. "That's an attempt to get at this childhood obesity epidemic."

While the ban -- estimated to affect about 35 million students -- should have an impact on obesity, Eckel said that it "needs to be added to many other things that need to be done, such as snacks, breakfast and lunch menus and physical activity. We are currently working in these areas, too."

Dr. Lisa Altshuler, director of the Kids Weight Down Program at Maimonides Medical Center, in New York City, said, "It's a necessary first step. But it is only a first step in creating a healthy environment for kids."

Altshuler thinks controlling soda sales is particularly important in middle schools. "These students are more likely to be making choices" about the foods they eat and drink, compared to elementary school students, she said.

Another expert agrees that the announcement should be greeted as a positive accomplishment.

"This agreement is very welcome news," said Dr. David L. Katz, an associate professor of public health at Yale University School of Medicine and director of the school's Prevention Research Center. "This is an important initiative, and should be seen as such, even by those who note that improving school nutrition will not solve the problem of epidemic childhood obesity," he said.

Coca-Cola views its involvement in the campaign as a way to identify itself with the fight against obesity. "We wanted to be part of the solution to childhood obesity," said company spokeswoman Diana Garza. "We wanted to be able to contribute toward the effort."

Schools are a unique environment, Garza added. "By combining our brand product offerings with some of the physical and nutrition educational programs we already support, we feel we are helping to put the schools at the forefront of the issue of childhood obesity," she added.

An estimated 16 percent of U.S. teens (ages 12 to 19) and 15.3 percent of children (ages 6 to 11) are overweight, according to the American Obesity Association. The childhood obesity epidemic is being blamed for an increase in serious health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Overweight children can also struggle with problems of self-esteem.

According to the agreement, industry giants such as Cadbury Schweppes, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and the American Beverage Association will limit portion sizes and reduce the number of calories available to children during the school day. The deal was brokered by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a joint effort of the President William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association.

Under the guidelines, only lower calorie and nutritious beverages will be sold to schools. The guidelines cap the number of calories available in beverages in schools at 100 calories per container, except for certain milks and juices whose nutritional value warrants the higher number of calories.

"Soda has been referred to as liquid candy, and this is rather apt," Katz said. "There is no nutritional value in soft drinks, and the regular varieties provide a considerable load of calories and a concentrated dose of sugar," he added.

The soda industry will work to apply the new standards to 75 percent of the nation's schools before the start of the 2008-2009 school year; full implementation is expected for the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year.

Elementary schools will only sell water, and 8-ounce servings of certain juices with no added sweeteners and servings of fat-free and low-fat regular and flavored milks. Middle schools will adopt the elementary school standards, but will be able to offer 10-ounce drinks.

High schools will have guidelines similar to middle schools but will also sell no-calorie and low-calorie drinks, such as bottled water, diet and unsweetened teas, diet sodas, fitness water, flavored water, seltzers and light juices, and low-calorie and regular sports drinks.

However, Katz thinks diet sodas remain a problem.

"Diet sodas may be free of calories and sugar but still provide an unsavory mix of chemicals and intense sweetness," he said. "Artificial sweeteners may propagate a sweet tooth, and there is no consistent evidence that they help with weight control."

Altshuler thinks sports drinks should not be available to students.

"Sports drinks are definitively a problem," she said. "Sports drinks certainly have a lot of sugar in them and have minimal nutritional value. They should be gotten out of the schools."

But Coca-Cola's Garza said sports drinks should be available to high school students. "We are trying to provide hydration beverages in packages that are conducive to the high school environment," she said.

John Sicher, editor and publisher of Beverage Digest, said the agreement would have virtually no impact on the $63 billion beverage industry's bottom line, The Associated Press reported.

"The sale of sugar-carbonated sodas in schools is a tiny, tiny part of their overall volume," Sicher said. "Financially, on the big companies, it will have virtually no impact."

Altshuler, while hailing the new agreement, said more needs to be done to promote better nutrition among America's schoolchildren.

"Even though soda will be available elsewhere, it is vital that it is removed from the school lunchroom," Altshuler said. "We have an obligation to remove items that are unhealthy. We need to use this issue to impress upon children not only that soda is not healthy, but open up the broader discussion on the need for responsible marketing and advertising. And not allow business deals to be created which will hurt our children --such as allowing beverage companies to purchase billboard space in gyms and on ball fields in exchange for helping to build those facilities," she added.

More information

To learn more about childhood obesity, visit the American Obesity Association.

My notes on this subject:
This would be great EXCEPT for the fact that artificial sweetners cause damage and kill just same as obesity...Why offer "Diet" sodas.

Sure they have less calories but MORE side effects than obesity!

Aspartame, which is being marketed as Nutrasweet, Equal and Splenda, is found in most, if not all, diet sodas. Symptoms such as fibromyalgia, spasms, shooting pains, numbness of the legs, cramps, vertigo, seizures, dizziness, headaches, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), joint pain, depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision and memory loss were sighted in conjunction with aspartame consumption...

yea those symptoms are so much better than just obesity! (read that with sarcasm)
C'mon people WAKE UP!!!!!

do not take just 'soda' and allow "diet" soda in it's place to continue to kill and poision!

Do away with it ALL!

7 Ways to Double Your Energy

by Frederic Patenaude

Admit it, there are times when you wish you could just feel more energetic and get more done. Don't you just hate it when you feel like hiding under your bedsheets, and yet more and more things come up that you have to deal with?

Though mastering the energy game is a complex topic, I'd like to give you 7 things you can do anytime you need an extra boost.

1. Breathe

Breathing is one of the best ways not only to calm yourself but also to energize your body. Whenever you start feeling overwhelmed, take one minute to do a simple deep-breathing exercise.

Here goes: Sit in a comfortable position, then breathe in for 5 counts, hold your breath for 5 counts, and breathe out for 5 counts.

Repeat for approximately 1-2 minutes, or longer.

2. Yoga

One of the best ways to feel more energetic is to combine stretching, movement and breathing with yoga. It works like a charm every time, but you probably think you have to spend an hour doing it.

Not so! Just 15 minutes of yoga give tremendous benefits. Practicing a few “sun salutations,” along with a back bend and a few more postures will really make a difference in your day.

Another possibility, which is just as powerful or even more so, is to spend ten minutes practicing the five Tibetans, a simple series of exercises that anyone can do and that give tremendous benefits. (For more information, go to this link).

3. Wait for True Hunger ... Or Eat!

Depending on how you feel, you can either eat to gain more energy, or wait.

Why the two diverse options? The reason is that tiredness can either be caused by your body trying to “detox” the previous meal, or simply due to the fact that you haven't eaten enough.

If you're in “detox,” you might feel a little depressed or irritable. Your stomach might make all sorts of noises.

In that case, I find that when I fast a few hours until I feel “truly hungry” - I will gradually feel more energetic as my body is restored to homeostasis.

But if you have eaten well lately, then try the following drink for quick energy. The water, the electrolytes (like sodium in the celery) and the natural sugar will help recharge your batteries.

- 1-3 bananas
- 1 cup of blueberries (fresh or frozen)
- 2-3 stalks of celery
- 1 to 2 cups of water

Blend and enjoy!

4. Drink

One of the main reasons people feel tired is that they are dehydrated. It happens very often in hot weather. You can easily forget to drink. If you feel tired for no apparent reason, it's warm outside and you haven't been to the bathroom in the last 2 hours, then you should drink a liter of water and watch what happens.

If you were dehydrated, you will immediately feel more energetic.

5. Dump Your Brain

Often you may feel overwhelmed by everything on your schedule, especially if you don't know exactly where to start to get things done. This is a major energy-drainer.

Trying to keep things in our brain becomes extremely draining when there are more things than we can keep in mind at one time.

Here's one quick solution: Take out a bunch of sticky notes. Write down as many things as you know you have to do. Write one item per sticky note.

Literally dump out your brain. Then organize the stickies by category, and identify your top 3 priorities.

For each of those 3 priorities, identify the very next action you have to take to get it done. Then schedule a time to do this.

When you do this, you will immediately feel yourself coming back to life, and your energy will instantly double.

6. Clean Up Your Space

Untidy or messy surroundings are a major drain of energy. Especially when getting through the mess seems overwhelming.

My suggesting is to spend 15 minutes to clean up, and see what happens.

What I recommend is actually timing yourself. I personally use a countdown timer. I set it to 15 minutes and then get as much done as possible in those 15 minutes, like a race!

Try this and you'll find that so much can be done to clean up your environment in just 15 minutes. You'll feel your mood instantly change and your energy double.

7. Find a Program That Works

The best thing you can do to keep your energy up is to pay attention to the factors that influence your health.

Those factors include: eating a good diet based on fruits and vegetables, getting sufficient nutrients, training your body in the 5 areas of fitness, mastering your sleep, and more (there are more than 21 in total).

Your health program should focus on mastering these different factors of health - not just diet - and show you how to become a high-energy person!

Want to Use This Article In Your Website or E-Zine? You can, as long as you include this blurb with it: "Frederic Patenaude, is the author of the best-selling e-book “The Raw Secrets”. He is currently giving away fr'ee access to his private library of over 100 exclusive articles along with a subscription to his newsletter Pure Health & Nutrition. Visit http://www.fredericpatenaude.com while charter subscriptions last.

Are Plastic Bottles Safe?

Are Plastic Water Bottles Safe?

We all know the importance of staying hydrated. The method of choice for most people these days is to carry around a trendy, colorful plastic sports bottle filled with water. You know, the tough, hard plastic ones that everyone from bikers and hikers to active business folks to on-the-go moms tote around - not to mention students ranging from elementary to college. They're perfect for an active lifestyle - light, durable and available in a rainbow of colors. However, new research has shown that these plastic sports bottles may pose serious health hazards.

The irony is that the hazard may actually come from the material that makes these bottles so attractive. Lexan polycarbonate resin, a plastic polymer accidentally developed by General Electric in 1953, was and still is a revolutionary material. It's been used in a variety of products over the last four decades including compact discs and DVDs, bulletproof windows, mobile phones, computers, baby bottles and water bottles. Lexan is a perfect choice for water and baby bottles as it's durable, doesn't hold flavors or odors nor delivers any taste from the bottle material itself to the fluids it holds.

The Problem:

This is where the confusion begins.
Many folks assume that because it doesn't impart flavor to the liquid it holds that it's safer than other types of plastic bottles. Research findings published in 2003 by the journal Current Biology, show otherwise. These findings were the result of a study by Dr. Patricia Hunt of Case Western University in Ohio that questioned the use of polycarbonate plastics such as Lexan.

In1998, Hunt discovered that plastics made from polycarbonate resin can leach bisphenol-A (BPA), a potent hormone disruptor. BPA, a chemical found in epoxy resin and polycarbonate plastics, may impair the reproductive organs and have adverse effects on tumors, breast tissue development and prostate development by reducing sperm count.

BPA can be leached into the water bottles contents through normal wear and tear, exposure to heat and cleaning agents. This includes leaving your plastic water bottle in your car during errands, in your back pack during hikes and running it through your dishwasher and using harsh detergents. And, a 2003 study conducted by the University of Missouri published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives confirmed Dr. Hunts' study conclusions but also found that detectable levels of BPA leached into liquids at room temperature. This means just having your plastic water bottle sitting on your desk can be potentially harmful. In this author's humble opinion, the best thing to do is to avoid plastic altogether. (Side note: baby bottles made from polycarbonate plastics have quietly disappeared from the market despite industry assurances that polycarbonate plastics are safe)

The Solution:

There are two approaches to take to avoid exposure to BPA. First, if you are active and take water with you, switch to a stainless steel water bottle. But, be careful. Many products on the market are lined with an epoxy finish. This defeats the purpose. Make sure that the bottle is stainless steel both inside and out. Stainless steel water bottles are light, durable and hold both hot and cold liquids well. There's a wonderful stainless steel water bottle called the Klean Kanteen. It's available in a 27oz and a 40oz size and is available at www.greenfeet.com.

The second approach is to reuse glass containers such as quart sized juice bottles. Yes, they are a bit heavier but are good solutions if you're in an office environment where mobility isn't an issue.

Either way, to avoid bacteria build up, wash out your containers with warm water and biodegradable dish soap. Be sure to wipe the mouth of the container and the lids. And most importantly, let the container completely dry before refilling. Keeping any container continually filled with liquid can lead to bacteria developing and potential illness.

Keeping hydrated is extremely important year round - but especially during the summer. It keeps our systems functioning properly and is important in sustaining good health. Here's a tip on how much water you should be consuming daily based on a formula provided by the Mayo Clinic: Simply take your body weight and divide in half. For example, if you weighed 150 pounds, you need 75 oz (9-10 8oz glasses) daily. Caffeinated and alcoholic beverages are dehydrating so for every glass of these beverages you drink, add an extra glass of water.

So, while you take care to only fuel your body with plenty of pure, filtered water, take the next step and ensure the container holding your water is safe.

Bottom's up!

Vegan & Raw Vegan Recipes

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