Cafe of Life      32 Berwick Ave.    Suite 201

647-352-2233

wellness@

cafe-of-life.com

Learn the following about water:

1. Importance in the body.
2. How much is enough?
3. When do I get thirsty?
4. Why bottled water is draining our environment
5. What is BPA in plastic bottles and why care?
6. Is fluoride in our water a hoax?
7. Distilled water, yes or no?
8. The best water for you is?

And lastly, our upcoming events!!

Importance in the Body

Your drinking water is one of the most important topics you will concern yourself with in your life!!  That is how important it is.  Water makes up more than 70% of the body.  It plays a role in almost every body function from regulating temperature, eliminating toxins, cushioning joints, maintaining proper blood pressure and bringing oxygen to the cells.  Lack of proper hydration on a daily basis can cause fatigue, headaches, constipation and dry skin.  Severe dehydration can affect blood pressure, circulation, digestion and kidney function.

How Much Should I Drink?

The traditional rule of thumb is to drink 8 glasses of water each day, a more refined approach is to drink one quart for every 50 lbs of body weight.  Recently, the Institute of Medicine panel concluded that people generally get enough water with regular eating and drinking throughout the day and by letting thirst be their guide.  I recommend carrying around a bottle of purified water with you from morning until night.  Drink when you feel like you want to drink, not because you are trying to put in a quota of 8 glasses a day.  Also, be aware of the color of your urine, ideally it should be a very light coloured yellow (unless you are taking a Riboflavin supplement (B2) or a multivitamin which turns your urine bright yellow).  If it is a deep yellow your body is not getting enough water. When exercising the importance of drinking water is magnified as you are losing it at a faster rate through sweating and increased respiration.  Be sure to hydrate the body during and after the activity to avoid dehydration and lethargy.  Water should be consumed at room temperature, as ice cold water can harm the delicate stomach lining. 

Thirst, what does it mean?

When our body loses 1 to 2 percent of its total water, our body’s innate mechanism of thirst kicks in.  Drinking water when you are thirsty is one way to gauge how much water you should drink if you are healthy and aware of your body’s signals.  However, our thirst mechanism works less efficiently when we are older so it is increasingly important to check urine colour.  A tip to insure proper hydration no matter what your age is to sip water throughout the day, approximately one to two cups of water per hour.  Water should be your exclusive beverage of choice.

Why bottled water is draining our environment?

Every year 1.5 million tons of plastic are used to bottle water.  One quarter of the 89 billion litres of water that are bottled worldwide are consumed outside of the country of origin.  In addition to the waste and toxins created to produce and transport bottled water, the water itself may not be any cleaner than tap water.  Up to 40 percent of bottled water is bottled tap water that may or may not have received additional treatment.  Public water supplies are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, however they don’t have any authority over bottled water.  In fact there are more standards regulating tap water in Europe and the US than those applied to the bottled water industry.

What is BPA and why should I care?

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic estrogen invented in the 1930’s.  The substance is found in many consumer products, including plastic and Styrofoam.  The problem with BPA is that it leaches from plastic as it ages, which in turn pollutes our water, our food and our body.  BPA exhibits hormone-like properties and imitates the effects of naturally occurring estrogens.  Researchers have found that even extremely low levels of the compound can produced genetic abnormalities, disrupts sperm count, prostate and testicular development.  With this in mind, storing your food and water in glass containers is a safer option.  One way to reduce exposure to BPA is to never use Styrofoam cups especially if you are drinking a hot drink.  Also, consider the container used to bottle feed a baby should be glass also.  Unfortunately the government is not out to protect us on this issue.  In the U.S the Food and Drug Administration does not have a safety limit for BPA on foodstuffs.  Contrary to what many believe, Lexan model Nalgene bottles are not exempt from BPA problem, however Nalgene makes a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottle that is identical in size and shape and is a safer option.

Is Fluoride in our water a hoax?

Fluoride intentionally put into our water supply is the equivalent of administering a nation with a drug that is not researched prior to use or shown to have positive effects when ingested by the human body.  The World Health Organization data shows no difference in tooth decay when comparing countries that use fluoridated water and countries that don’t.  Additionally, studies show that when water fluoridation stopped, tooth decay rates did not increase.  Most dentists even recognize that fluoride’s benefits result from topical application, not when it is swallowed.  Fluoride is found in our water supply, toothpaste, processed food, some vitamin tablets, and beverages like fruit juice, soda and tea.  Many people are not aware that ingested Fluoride is associated with a number of negative health effects:

-          Fluoride can make the bones brittle and more easily fractured

-          Fluoride build up in the pineal gland may inhibit the production of melatonin, which helps regulate the onset of puberty.

-          Fluoride can damage tooth enamel

-          Fluoride may lower fertility rates

-          Fluoride has been found to increase the uptake of aluminium in the brain.

-          Fluoride affects the immune system by inhibiting antibodies from forming in the blood.

-         Fluoride can also confuse the immune system and cause it to attack the body’s tissues.

-         Fluoride can increase the growth rate of tumours in people that are prone to cancer.

It is interesting to note that many European countries have banned water fluoridation.  The best policy in Canada is to avoid fluoride by using non-fluoridated toothpaste, drinking reverse osmosis water, receiving fluoride free dental work and avoiding processed foods.

Distilled Water, Yes or No?

Distilled water is better than tap water because it doesn’t contain the toxic chemical chlorine.  However, distilled water has the wrong ionization, PH, polarization and oxidation potential, not to mention it can drain the body of minerals.  Researchers agree that a body PH on the alkaline side helps the body maintain better health.  Distilled water quickly turns highly acidic (5.8) if left in an open-air container for a short period of time.  Drinking distilled water can contribute to an acidic PH in the body which contributes to dis-ease formation.  Dr. Emoto the famous water researcher found that distilled water loses its inner order and the beautiful crystalline geometry that pure water has.  See pictures below to help determine what you would put into your body.

The best water for you is?

Each year 4.4 billion pounds of toxic substances (Pesticides, arsenic, mercury, prescription drugs) are released into the environment each year.  So what is the best solution for all this bad news?  Reverse osmosis home filtration systems seem to be the best solution.  Reverse osmosis systems force pressurized water through a contamination-rejecting membrane, which removes fluoride, chlorine, bacteria, parasites, most chemicals, basic minerals and heavy metals.  Systems can be installed at home, which is important to bypass the bottled water issue.  When buying a system watch for NSF classification to be sure that the manufacturers’ product claims and materials meet appropriate standards.  Be prepared to invest around $500 for a decent system.  I recommend going to the store Water Related Products at 5883 Leslie St. (416-491-9945) for excellent, friendly service, knowledgeable staff, and good products and prices.  For further reading on water, read the book “Your Body’s Many Cries for Water”. 

Upcoming Events at the Café of Life

1.  Discovery Workshop – Winning with Wellness, A focus on Antioxidants and Anti-aging with Dr. Evan, Thursday Feb 9^th, 7:30-8:30pm, reserve seat in advance.

2.  Fuel Your Life Speaker – Mindfulness Meditation, the Art of Improving Everything by doing almost Nothing with Lou Carcasole, Feb 16^th, 7:30 to 8:30pm

3.  Discovery Workshop – Freedom From Arthritis with Dr. Allison, Monday Feb 20^th, 7:30-8:30pm

References