"When the Well's dry, we know the Worth of Water" - B. Franklin

W.H. Auden wisely stated, "Thousands have lived without love, not one without water."

While we have all been told to drink anywhere from six to eight glasses of water a day, most of us do not. Sure, we drink a water bottle's worth during our workouts. We ask our waiter to being us a glass when we are at dinner. But we rarely sip water throughout the day; instead choosing to enjoy a coffee in the morning, Coke at lunch and wine at dinner.

I'm sure you have heard the basic benefits of water consumption when it comes to things like clear skin, basic hydration and weight loss. However, there are more vital reasons and statistics that will leave you looking for the nearest drinking fountain.

Did you know that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated (and that likely applies to half the world population)?

It leaves me to wonder, why a nation so blessed with extravagance and an abundance of resources would take for granted the most beneficial resource pertaining to our health and well being. We have purifiers, distillers, water with carbonation, water without carbonation...all at our fingertips. Yet, if you look across the oceans you will find people so desperate for water they drink from gutters, gulping water filled with contaminants.

Did you know drinking five glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer?

Imagine that you can help yourself that much by simply drinking water every day. With healthcare in limbo and prescription prices continually rising, having the ability to partake in active prevention methods is a luxury many cannot afford NOT to take.

Did you know a mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or printed page?

Work days seem longer, lunch breaks shorter and our concentration levels often plummet towards the end of the day. While there are any number of reasons for the dragging feeling we get at the end of the day, lack of water is a leading cause. The next time you feel your brain drifting to a place far away from the task at hand, try drinking a full glass of ice water and see what happens.

Lastly, we are all jumping on and off the fit train at various times throughout our lives. We cut calories by cutting food intake. We deprive ourselves of the red velvet cupcake we love. We run an extra mile after indulging in too much wine. But we rarely attribute weight loss or weight gain to water consumption.

In fact, one glass of water shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters in a recent U-Washington study. In addition, the thirst mechanism in 37% of Americans is so weak it is often mistaken for hunger.

Most assume dieting is all about subtraction, but it is also about addition. The addition of water will help increase your metabolism. Ironically, even MILD dehydration will slow down your metabolism as much as 3%, making weight loss more difficult despite diet changes and exercise increases.

The next time to find yourself fatigued in the middle of the work day, drink water. The next time you jump on the fit train in hopes of shedding a few unwanted pounds, remember to consistently consume water. True, it is at our fingertips but not all are so lucky...take advantage of this natural prevention method and help yourself combat the daily wear and tear on the body.

Is Your Diet Coke Making You Gain Weight?

Is diet soda better for us than regular soda? As the weather begins to turn warm, we begin to crave an ice cold beverage. Gone are the days of hot herbal tea. Instead, we find ourselves indulging in soda, sweet tea and an ice cold beer.

We all know beer will undoubtedly add pounds around our midsection, and a refreshing glass of sweet tea is loaded with sugar. However, many of us are misled in believing diet soda has little to no effect compared to regular soda.

Wrong.

In a study at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, it was discovered that people drinking ONLY diet soda were at a GREATER risk to become obese than those consuming regular soda.

In fact, for each can of diet soft drink consumed each day, a person's risk of obesity went up 41%

For regular soft drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was:

- 26% for up to 1/2 can each day

- 30.4% for up to 1 can each day

- 32.8% for 1 to 2 cans each day

- 47.2% for more than 2 cans each day

For diet soft drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was:

- 36.5% for up to 1/2 can each day

- 37.5% for 1/2 to 1 can each day

- 54.5% for 1 to 2 cans each day

- 57.1% for more than 2 cans each day

This is not to say diet soda causes obesity. Rather, it shows that something linked to diet soda drinking is also linked to obesity. Many believe giving your body something that tastes sweet, but lacks actual calories, leads our bodies to search for the calories promised but not delivered.

Some soft drink studies do suggest that diet drinks stimulate appetite. Others link artificial sweeteners to multiple illnesses.

I am not saying that you can never have another diet soda. I know that is probably an impossible request. However, if you are gaining weight despite eating healthy, or are feeling a bit "unlike" your usual self, try cutting out soda all together.

You will see a difference in both your overall health, as well as your weight loss effort!

Green Smoothie - Recipe for Health

I finally perfected my Green Smoothie. It doesn't look good but I promise that it is really yummy and about as healthy as you can get.

I'm not a big veggie girl so this really has made a difference in my overall health. I also add some things for energy.

Just try it once...I know you will love it!!

Recipe:

2 C. of torn organic greens packed (I use Kale, Collard Greend and Spinach and sometimes Bok Choy, but you can use whatever greens are in season...just rip them up and pack them down some to make two cups....I use my blender to measure so I don't have a bunch of dirty dishes)

4 large frozen organic Strawberries

1 large frozen organic banana (peel the banana, wrap it in plastic wrap and freeze it whole...you can break it up before you put it in the blender)

1/2 cup frozen organic blueberries

1 TBS organic amber honey (I like Wholesome Sweetners brand...could be biased it is made in Sugarland, TX)

1 TBS organic Bee Pollen

1TBS Flax Seed Oil

2 C. organic Green Tea (I nuke an organic tea bag in 1 C. of water and add ice to chill it quickly and make up the difference in volume)

Blend and enjoy!