by Matt | Jan 30, 2015 | New Year's Resolutions, water and health
How to Add ‘Water’ to Your New Year’s Resolutions
Every year, January brings a long list of New Year’s Resolutions to lose weight, eat right, and lead a healthier lifestyle. Despite these goals to eat more fruits and vegetables, go to the gym, and take the stairs, there is one key health aspect that is often forgotten: water.
Clean water is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle, yet it is something many of us in the United States take for granted. Over 780 million people around the world do not have access to clean water, but US residents have abundant access to clean municipal water. (UN Facts and Figures). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that water is essential for keeping body temperatures normal, lubricating joints, protecting the spinal cord, and getting rid of waste. Despite these benefits, up to 75 percent of Americans may be chronically dehydrated (CBS Miami).
To make 2015 a successful one, let’s prioritize water in our New Year’s Resolutions. This year, aim to conserve and consume water sustainably for a better planet and a healthier YOU. Stuck on the perfect water-related New Year’s Resolution? Here are some perfect ways to incorporate water sustainability into your every day.
1. Your Home
Everyone has a barrier that prevents them from drinking enough water in their home. Overcome those barriers by preventing them in the first place!
- If your tap water’s taste is unappealing, try a Brita pitcher or faucet filter that minimizes the taste of chlorine and can remove impurities such as heavy metals.
- Designate a specific cup, mug, or reusable bottle for water. Keep it filled and carry it with you throughout your home as a reminder to drink more water.
- Drink water at key times throughout the day. To keep hydrated, space out your water consumption and pair with daily activities. For example, set a goal to drink a glass of water when you wake up, at breakfast, at lunch, at dinner, and before bed. That’s already 5 glasses of water! The general rule of thumb is to drink 8 glasses per day (Mayo Clinic).
2. On the Go
We’ve all been there before: We’re in the car or at a meeting, and all we can think about is how thirsty we are. Thirst is a sign that our body is craving water to complete cellular tasks that keep us healthy. Prevent dehydration on-the-go this year.
- The best way to keep your body hydrated is to carry a reusable water bottle with you. Having the bottle near you – on your desk, or in your backpack – can remind you to keep drinking water throughout the day.
- Reusable water bottles are easy to refill at a tap or filtered water station. Plus, you can choose a design that fits your personality. BeCause Water has a line of reusable water bottles that keep your filtered water fresh all day long. If you’re looking for a bottle that can filter tap water, try brands like Brita or Camelbak.
- A reusable water bottle is key to a healthy environment and a healthier lifestyle. The majority of plastic disposable water bottles end up in landfills and in the ocean. These plastics create an unhealthy environment for all life on Earth. Do your part and resolve to use a reusable water bottle to carry water with you all year long!
3. School/Workplace
When you’re sitting at your desk, either at work or in class, it’s easy to forget to drink water. Water is essential for keeping our minds and bodies energized. Here are tips for keeping hydrated throughout your day at work or school.
- Keep a water glass, mug, or other container at your desk or in your locker so you can fill up and quench your thirst throughout the day.
- Track your daily water consumption. You’d be surprised at how much better you feel on the days you drink 8 glasses of water. Make a note in your daily planner or use a phone app to tally water intake. Not your style? Try water bottles that monitor your water consumption either digitally or manually.
Make sure to make water a priority in 2015 for improved health and a clean environment! If water quality is an issue in your community, take further action by contacting your local and state representatives to show them that water is important to you.
Good luck with your water-related New Year’s Resolutions! Here’s to 2015.
Have additional ways to incorporate water sustainability into the every day? Leave a comment below!
by Matt | Nov 25, 2012 | Drinking Water Quality, Health
It is well known that American water supplies have been treated with fluoride, but what is less clear are the long-term effects of fluoridation. Supporters of fluoridation say that the chemical helps strengthen teeth, while detractors worry about potentially dangerous side effects. The issue is still hotly debated with vocal advocates on both sides, and a wide variety of opinions exist on the practice.
We’ve all heard of fluoride, but just how often do we come into contact with it? Bottled water and many other beverages are treated with fluoride, often with no indication to consumers. Is fluoride a helpful tool for dental health, or an unnecessary chemical? Should bottled water companies be required to communicate the fluoridation of water on their product’s label?
What Is Fluoride?
Most of us have had fluoride applied by a dentist after a tooth cleaning, but you come into contact with fluoride more often than you think. Fluorides are chemicals used in the production of a number of products such as:
- Pesticides
- Insulation
- Nuclear fuel
- Teflon
- Bio-medical supplies
The fluoride used in water treatment is hexafluorosilic acid, known to prevent tooth decay in acceptable doses. However, the rise of fluoride toothpaste has led many experts to argue that adding it to public water has become unnecessary. In addition, elevated fluoride levels are known to cause health problems, a potentially unwanted consequence of water fluoridation.
Supporters of water fluoridation say that the process leads to better dental health for a population, and many supporters consider the process extremely beneficial for impoverished populations. Opponents of water fluoridation argue that the process is too expensive to justify and potentially harmful to human health. Both sides of the debate continue to gain steam as water fluoridation remains a controversial topic even in the 21st century.
You can check which locations in Massachusetts fluoridate their water here.
The Positives
Fluoride is proven to prevent tooth decay, and water fluoridation is an easy way to deliver this benefit to the public. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention listed water fluoridation as one of the ten greatest public health achievements of the 20th century. We spoke to dentist Shivani Pareek of North End Dental Associates, who told us “Fluoridation at the appropriate level is the smart way to treat water”. Fluoride is a proven tool to fight tooth decay, which particularly affects young and impoverished populations.
Fluoride Flaws
Many people see water fluoridation as a challenge to individual rights. The practice was useful in the 20th century, but many experts feel the rise of fluoride toothpaste has made fluoridation unnecessary. Dr. Myron Wentz, an internationally recognized microbiologist and founder of USANA Health Sciences Inc., is a fluoride expert and points out that most American fluoride is purchased as an industrial waste product from China. Chinese suppliers actually list fluoride as an insecticide, raising more concerns about the business ethics of Chinese industrial suppliers and the safety of the chemical. What’s more, many European countries have seen a dramatic decline in tooth decay with no water fluoridation simply because of the rise of fluoride toothpaste.
Ever since its implementation in 1945, water fluoridation has had strong vocal opinions on both sides of the argument. Whether you support fluoridation or avoid it at all costs, the debate looks like it won’t be going away anytime soon. If you want to completely avoid fluoridated water, this website explains what filters are capable of removing fluoride from water and which filters cannot.
by Matt | Oct 23, 2012 | Health
We all know that it’s important to drink water to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but it’s less apparent how much we truly need in order to stay hydrated. “Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day” is the common answer, mainly because it’s easy to remember. The truth is that different people need different amounts of water, and staying hydrated is especially important for growing bodies and athletes.
Most Common Causes of Dehydration
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Not drinking enough during exersize and hot weather
- Dehydrating beverages (caffeinated coffee & soda, and alcoholic drinks)
- Excess sweating
Being dehydrated is a terrible feeling. When you lose more fluid than you take in, you become dehydrated your body can’t carry out normal functions. Alcoholic beverages and caffeinated drinks like coffee and soda also lead to dehydration. Drinking fluids is the easiest way to fight dehydration, though severe dehydration requires medical attention.
Symptoms of Dehydration
- Dry mouth/thirst
- Fatigue
- Decreased urine, dark-yellow urine
- Headache
- Dizziness/lightheaded
- Fever/rapid heartbeat in severe cases
Severe Consequences
Untreated dehydration can cause confusion, hallucinations, and in extreme cases death. Extended time without proper hydration has significant mental effects and causes a dementia-like confusion. It is estimated that in a moderate climate, an average human being could last
about a week without water. However, in 2006 a man
survived 24 days without food and water after his body essentially shut down.
If you’re an athlete or person on the go its important to have water with you at all times. Consider buying a reusable water bottle such as the BeCause Water BPA-free Stainless Steel bottle so that hydration can always travel with you.
How Much Hydration?
There are a number of factors that determine how much water you should be drinking a day such as level of activity, weather conditions, and distance from sea-level. The Institute of Medicine recommends that adult males drink 3 liters (around 13 cups) of water a day, while women should drink 2.2 liters (about 9 cups). It is also important to spread out your water intake through the day; drinking a day’s worth of water at once will not give you the same health benefits as balanced consumption.
If you exercise heavily you should take steps to maintain healthy hydration. Drink 1.5-2.5 cups of water an hour before exercising, and take water breaks during your activity. Parents also need to make sure adolescent children are maintaining their hydration during sports. You can use this Hydration Calculator to get a specific idea of how much water you need each day.
Getting Your Fill
If you drink enough water so that you are never thirsty, you are most likely maintaining good hydration. While it may seem like you need to drink a lot of water in a day, you can also get your water through foods. Watermelon is mostly water, and remains the ultimate refreshing fruit on a hot summer day. Other fruits and vegetables such as grapefruit, melons, oranges, celery, and tomatoes can help put water back into your system.
Alcohol is the fastest way to become dehydrated. Make sure you drink a glass of water with every alcoholic drink to maintain your fluid levels. Another great way to replenish your fluids is with milk.
Staying hydrated is one of the most important parts of maintaining your overall health. Make sure you drink the recommended amount of water each day, especially if you are exercising. Raise a glass to your health!
by Matt | Sep 16, 2012 | Uncategorized
Ocean Contaminants
No one likes a crowded beach, especially one that’s full of trash and bacteria. It’s extremely important to make sure your beach is safe and free of ocean contaminants. Increased rainfall coupled with steamy, humid temperatures can lead to bacteria forming in and around the beach which can cause severe illness.
Whether you’re at the beach or in your home, its important to know that your water is pure and safe: You can request a FREE home water quality analysis here, and know for sure that your water is free from contaminants. We previously talked about how to avoid bacteria on the beach, but what exactly is lurking in the water? Here is a list of the top 5 contaminants that could be lurking in ocean water.
Top Ocean Contaminants:
5. Plastic Debris – We already know that humans consume and throw out far too many plastic products. Unfortunately these products often end up in the ocean, where it takes hundreds of years for the plastics to degrade. Bits of plastic end up contaminating water and harming ocean life.
4. Boating Waste – The environmental impact of shipping is huge. Sewage from ships and discharged ballast water contains viruses and bacteria that is extremely harmful for ocean life and unsafe for human interaction. Luckily Massachusetts restricts where boats can dump their waste.
3. Cyanobacteria – Cyanobacteria or “blue green algae” can develop exponentially in certain water conditions. The algae produces cyanotoxins, which are among the most powerful natural poisons known. Exposure to cyanotoxins can lead to respiratory failure and death.
2. Sewer Runoff – Storm water and sewage runoff is how most contaminants get into ocean water. Whether it be from improper human interaction, dumping, or a problem with drainage, it is important to maintain safe ways for runoff to get to it’s destination.
1. E-Coli/Enterococci – E-Coli and enterococci are bacteria caused by human or animal fecal contamination. E-Coli and enterococci cause gastrointestinal and upper respiratory problems when found at an unsafe level. These bacteria cause the majority of beach closings.
Staying Safe
The last thing you want to think about the beach is contaminants, and the possibility of getting sick; when you’re at the beach have fun but BE SAFE. Almost all water contamination comes from improper human interaction with water sources; we need to clean up our act. This means never disturbing public water supplies, proper dumping of chemicals or waste, and keeping good beach etiquette.
Luckily, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Bureau of Environmental Health conduct regular inspections to ensure water quality at Massachusetts lakes and beaches. Recently Boston kids played in the harbor to celebrate how far the ocean cleaning efforts have come. Be sure to check if your local beach has passed inspection, and keep an eye on the weather. Let’s all stay safe during these last weeks of summer!
