The Health Benefits Of Drinking Water – Is Bottled Drinking Water Healthier Than Filtered Tap Water? – Home-Improvement
The Health Benefits Of Drinking Water - Is Bottled Drinking Water Healthier Than Filtered Tap Water?
Water is a key ingredient in a healthy diet and lifestyle. There are many health benefits of drinking water. It helps flush impurities and toxins out of our systems. It aids in the delivery of oxygen and nutrients. In fact, nearly every system in our bodies relies on water for proper functioning. But what if your water is unhealthy?In past decades, concerns about tap water and its impact on overall health led some people to turn to bottled drinking water instead. In those days, there were few choices. You could pay to have a company deliver large bulky plastic bottles of water for the water cooler. Or you could purchase gallon jugs of distilled or "drinking water" at the grocery store.In recent years, there has been an explosion in the number of different bottled waters available, with big distributors such as Coke and Pepsi jumping on the bandwagon. But are bottled drinking waters like Coke's Dasani brand, Pepsi's Aquafina, or Wal-Mart's store brand really any healthier than your tap water? Or would you be better off with a drinking water filtration system?As we've learned more about the water we drink, the technology behind drinking water filters and purification systems has improved dramatically. There are filters to remove impurities, chemicals, heavy metals, bacteria and most every contaminant you can think of. With the right size and filter combination for your specific home, your water can be exceptionally pure and healthy.Cost ComparisonDrinking water filtration systems have also become more affordable and easy to use. Although the initial cost of a whole house system usually runs several hundred dollars, that cost is often less than $100 each year if spread out over the life of the system.There may be additional expenses to replace carbon filters, membranes in reverse osmosis drinking water filtration system, or lamps in an ultraviolet light water treatment device. These expenses can add another $100 or so to the annual costs of operating drinking water filters and purification systems.While some people may hesitate to spend two or three hundred dollars each year for clean, safe drinking water, they are probably paying more for bottled drinking water. Calculations show that at a price of $1 to $4 per gallon, bottled or delivered water costs an average of $400 each year, especially if you purchase individual bottles. And that doesn't take into consideration the gas needed to drive to the store or the environmental impact of all the empty plastic bottles.Health AspectsMany people who choose bottled drinking water understand that it is more expensive, but are willing to pay the extra money because they feel bottled water is safer and healthier than filtered drinking water. After all, bottled water is often marketed as "natural spring water" or "pure glacier water."In reality, few bottled waters come from natural springs, and most of them use municipal tap water. The companies are able to get away with this false marketing because the regulations and standards for bottle drinking water are less stringent than those for residential drinking sources.Bottled water quality is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), while drinking water systems are typically regulated by State regulations or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This doesn't mean that the FDA isn't doing their job. It's just that the rules for bottled water only require it to be as good as tap water, not better.In addition, the FDA regulations only apply to bottled drinking water that is transported across state lines. If a company sells their bottled drinking water in the same state where it was bottled, the federal regulations don't apply. The result is that many bottled waters are not any healthier than filtered water, and in fact some are less pure.This was demonstrated in a study conducted in 1999 by the Natural Resources Defense Council. They tested over 100 brands of bottled drinking water and found that about 1/3 of the waters contained contamination in the form of chemicals, bacteria, and arsenic. The study also found that up to 40% of bottled drinking waters come from a city water system.How To Tell If Your Water Is HealthySo how do you tell if the water you're drinking is healthy? With tap water, it's relatively easy. If you water comes from a municipal source, the suppliers are required by law to provide annual water quality reports. If you have a well, you can have an authorized lab test your water. It may cost $100 or more, but it's a small price to pay for peace of mind. Or you can purchase a kit and test it yourself, although the results are not as conclusive or reliable.When it comes to bottled drinking water, it can be more difficult to know what you're getting. Start by checking the label or the bottle cap. Some may tell you that the water comes from a municipal source or "community water system," which means tap water.If the label doesn't give any information, you can call the bottler and ask. But don't be surprised if you get the run around and are transferred to several different departments. Some states have a bottled water program that tracks bottled drinking water and can tell you the origin of the source water as well as other information.Safe and healthy drinking water has become big business. Thousands of companies are vying for your hard earned cash, and some are not always honest about what their products offer. The initial investment for a home drinking water filtration system can seem expensive at first, but over time, it is usually less expensive than bottled drinking water. And with a water filter, you at least know where the water you drink came from and how it was treated.Before going out and spending your hard earned money for bottled drinking water that may be no better than your own tap water, it's a good idea to do some research. You're likely to decide that a drinking water filtration system and/or purifier is the healthier choice and provides the best value as well.About the Author:
C.J. Gustafson is a successful writer for Water-Filters-N-Purifiers.com, providing consumer information on
water purification systems such as whole house and
under sink water filters. She found out about comparing the
health benefits of drinking water years ago when she learned that the
bottled water she was buying came from a municipal system in a nearby city.
Top 10 Ways to Use Quotations to Be Healthier, Happier and More Productive! – Top7-Or-10-Tips
Top 10 Ways to Use Quotations to Be Healthier, Happier and More Productive!
Most people have at least one favorite quotation from a famous or not-so-famous person. Some people collect them like baseball cards, figurines or classic cars. You can find hundreds of websites featuring quotations, thousands of sites with a favorite quotes page, and many collections in any bookstore you walk into. All of this proves that quotations are popular. What may be less evident to you is exactly how you can use them to improve you life and your results.Below is a list of eleven ways you can do just that!Use when journaling. My Grandmother kept a diary, and so does my mother. Fewer people call them diaries now, and more call them journals. It really doesn't matter what you call them. If you spend time writing each day, you can use a quotation to relate to your activities for the day, record what you have been thinking about, or to help you with your writing in general.Share at work. You can use quotations whether you are the boss or anyone on the team. Post a new quote on your door, on the bulletin board in the coffee room, or send out in an email. If you pick quotes that are relevant to the work of the group and are positive in nature, you won't believe what an impact they can have ? and how much people will miss them if you don't keep posting new ones!Share with clients. Use quotations as a way of keeping in touch with clients. When you read a great quotation that you think a client would enjoy, send it off to them with a quick note. This is both thoughtful and thought provoking (and keeps you in the mind of the client too).Share with yourself. When you find a particularly powerful quotation with specific meaning to you, put it where you can see it! Put a copy on your mirror, on the side of your computer monitor, on your refrigerator or anywhere else you will see it and read it often. Instead of turning on the radio, think about a quotation you've recently read and how it applies to you.Use in your email. I know I mentioned email in the last tip, but here I am talking about putting a quotation in your signature line. Most all email programs allow you to create a standard message at the bottom of every email that includes your name, contact information and anything else you would like to include. Consider using a quotation that is thought provoking, funny, or that expresses a personal belief or value. This way without any extra effort you can be giving others the opportunity to think about your quotation, and differentiating yourself from the crowd at the same time.Use in speeches and presentations. Many people give speeches, talks, training, or presentations of some kind. Using a wise quotation from someone else can add credibility to your message, help you persuade others (after all that is what Ben Franklin or Winston Churchill or Gandhi said, not you!), and show that you are well prepared. Beyond these benefits, the right quotation can help you build your talk more effectively, by giving you a focus to build from.Use in writing. We've talked about journals, which are for ourselves. But many people write for others to read. Whether an article in the church newsletter, a letter to the editor, or your Great American novel, quotations can help you get your point across more clearly and beautifully. Quotations can also be helpful with "writers block," giving you great spurs to help you get your ideas flowing.Use when you meditate. Perhaps you meditate, pray or spend quiet time reflecting on your day. If you do, you may read something as a part of that activity. Quotations can be used as a seed for your thoughts or "mental conversation" during this time. Other people would like to be more proactive in building this habit. Quotations can be even more valuable to the "newcomer" as it helps give them mental food for their reflection.Commit them to memory. You can use quotations as a way to exercise your brain! Pick a quotation you love and commit it to memory. Then, you will be able to use it whenever you want ? for yourself or while in conversation with others.Use as an attitude adjustment. Having powerful, positive, proactive thoughts around can be a great way to adjust your attitude at anytime!So, the next time you read a great quotation, do more than just think it is it very good -- decide to use one of the ten ideas above to help the wisdom of the quotation benefit you and those around you.Kevin is Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group (http://KevinEikenberry.com), a learning consulting company that helps Clients reach their potential through a variety of training, consulting and speaking services. Kevin publishes Powerquotes Plus (http://PowerquotesPlus.net), a daily ezine which includes inspiring quotations, questions to ponder and actions to consider designed to help you start your day in a more positive and proactive way.
Glutathione for a Healthier Pregnancy
Glutathione for a Healthier Pregnancy
All parents-to-be nurture the dream of a healthy pregnancy and baby.But the modern environment and diet is deficient in many factors essential for the health of mother and fetus. One of those factors is antioxidants.The role of antioxidants like folic acid in preventing birth defects like spina bifida and cleft palate is well known. It is now included in all prenatal vitamin supplements.But the role of antioxidants like glutathione and Vitamin E in pregnancy is often overlooked.Antioxidants and glutathione status play an important role in the development and growth of the fetus, maintenance of a healthy pregnancy - and even before pregnancy, in fertility and conception.Glutathione is the body's master antioxidant. It helps to regenerate stores of other antioxidants like Vitamin C and E.It also protects both mother and fetus from the damaging effects of free radicals and oxidative stress.Many pregnancy complications and birth defects have been linked to oxidative stress, free radical damage and low glutathione levels in the mother and fetus.The role of glutathione in the development of the foetus and placenta is crucial. Glutathione (GSH) can control cell differentiation, proliferation, and cell death - essential functions in the developing embryo.In the placenta, glutathione detoxifies pollutants before they reach the developing child. Most substances or factors which cause birth defects (teratogens) are known to exert their embryotoxic effects because they cause oxidative stress.The human placenta possesses a significant amount of glutathione S-transferase (GST) capable of detoxification or activation of drugs and pharmaceuticals during the critical period of organ development in the fetus.Some drugs are known to cause birth defects in the growing fetus by generating free radicals, and depleting GSH stores.In the early embryonic stages, the fetus is sensitive to the toxic and teratogenic effects of chemicals, whereas it is sensitive to carcinogenic effects during late fetal stages.Carcinogens administered to the mother can be transferred through the placenta and induce cancer in the fetus. Many carcinogens are much more active in the fetus than in adults and they tend to act as abortifacients and teratogens as well.Environmental and lifestyle factors are known to cause oxidative stress and lower glutathione levels - resulting in birth defects, abortion and miscarriages in pregnancy.Some of the known teratogens (causing birth defects) in pregnancy include:o Radiation
o Pesticides and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
o Air pollution
o Heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, arsenic)
o Vinyl chloride
o Acryonitrile
o Excess Oxygen (hyperoxia)
o Anti-psychotic and anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs)
o Thalidomide
o Cigarette smoke
o Alcohol (ethanol) consumptionMaternal health factors that increase free radicals and cause birth defects include:o Diabetes
o Pre-eclampsia
o Infection and InflammationGlutathione and other antioxidants attenuate oxidative stress in pregnant women with inflammation or maternal conditions like diabetes and pre-eclampsia, and in fetuses at risk for developing cystic fibrosis.Supplementation with glutathione precursors and antioxidants can decrease the incidence of birth defects and protect both mothers and the fetus from the damaging and possibly fatal consequences of pregnancy complications.Glutathione (GSH ) also prevents or minimizes the oxidative stress that occurs during labor and the birth process.Perinatal or birth asphyxia/hypoxia (deprivation of oxygen supply to the brain) in preterm deliveries and labor can lead to cerebral palsy, respiratory distress syndrome, irreversible brain injury, and permanent neurological and intellectual handicaps.Administration of the glutathione precursor, N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC), to the pregnant mother partially prevents oxidative stress during the birth process in premature infants.Currently, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology advises all pregnant women to take a prenatal vitamin containing antioxidants.In addition, they advise eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, the best sources of antioxidant protection.Read a detailed report with references on the role of glutathione in pregnancy------------------------
Pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid the use of supplementary glutathione. Women who are pregnant or nursing should discontinue all supplements except as directed by their healthcare providers.
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