Health Tip: Drink Lots of Water & Cool Your Body Down

“Look to your health; and if you have it, praise God, and value it next to a good conscience; for health is the second blessing that we mortals are capable of; a blessing that money cannot buy.” ~ Izaak Walton

Now that the warmer, hotter weather is shining our way, it's important to remember to drink plenty of water when you're out and about, walking in the sun, chillin' on the beach, playing sports, exercising, or performing virtually any activity that causes you to sweat and lose bodily fluids. In the warmer weather, this may mean that we have to increase the amount of water we consume.

For those of us who break into a sweat at the up-tick of an eyebrow, making sure we replenish our losed body fluids, often, is essential to prevent dehydration or worst, heat stroke. But even if you're not breaking a sweat, it's stil crucial to drink enough water.

According to scientists at Northwestern Health Sciences University we need water in order to:

• Regulate body temperature.
  
• Carry nutrients to cells and tissues throughout the body.
  
• Improve digestion.
  
• Remove wastes and toxins from the body.
  

Your Body Is Approximately 75% Water!

Water is crucial to every function of our body... I'm talking the whole enchilada all body fluids, not only blood but also the digestive juices, bile, lymphs, perspiration and bodily wastes. It acts as a lubricant preventing friction between moving parts of the body. Even the eye needs water to function. Through evaporation from the lungs or perspiration from the skin, water regulates our internal body temperature.

Water Is The Key To All Bodily Functions

Water is needed for Circulation... Assimilation... Digestion... Elimination... and ...Temperature Control.

• Water helps maintain proper muscular tone and prevents dehydration
  
• Water helps make the skin clear, healthy looking and resilient
  
• Water helps rid the body of waste and relieves constipation
  
• Water increases energy levels
  
• Water also suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat
  
• Water is the key to any weight reduction plan
  
• Water helps maintain body weight, function and good health
  

(Source: Yahoo's HealthDay News)

EAT WELL... BE WELL!

Super Food: Dark Chocolate Fights Diseases Part 1

“In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.” ~ Aristotle

Women have always known that when they eat chocolate, they feel better! Well now, several scientific studies over the years have clearly demonstrated that chocolate, and in particular, dark chocolate has real health benefits and eating it not only taste good but is good for you.

Recent clincial reseach has show that dark chocolate is high in antioxidants that help fight free radicals in your body. Free radicals are known to be root causes of many degenerative diseases such as: heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, and clogged blood vessels. These conditions have a cumulative serious negative consequences for our health as we get older. So whatever we can do to reverse these conditions enable us to live longer, enjoying an active, quality life-style.

Back in March 2007, trial investigators reported findings on a small clincal trial co-sponsored by Yale Prevention Reseach Center that: "In this sample of healthy adults, dark chocolate ingestion over a short period of time was shown to significantly improve (blood vessel) function," said Dr. Valentine Yanchou Njike of Yale Prevention Research Center, a co-investigator of the study.

    TRIAL RESULTS
   "During the six-week trial, 45 people were given 8    ounces (227 grams) of cocoa without sugar, cocoa    with sugar or a placebo each day. An upper arm    artery's ability to relax and expand to    accommodate increased blood flow — known as    flow mediated dilation (FMD) — was measured    using high-frequency ultrasound before and after    daily cocoa or placebo consumption.

Of the 39 subjects who completed the trial, FMD improved significantly in both cocoa groups —by 2.4 percent among those who had it without sugar and 1.5 percent among those who had it with sugar. It dropped 0.8 percent in the placebo group. (Source: Dark Chocolate Good for Blood Vessels)

The results, were presented at the annual American College of Cardiology scientific meeting in New Orleans, add to mounting evidence of the health benefits of dark chocolate.

THE TAKE-AWAY: Don't start wolfing down all the chocolate you can eat -- over-indulgence is neither good or healthy! Rather, continue to enjoy your chocolate treats in moderation, but switch to dark chocolate for the health benefits. Enjoy!