by Fern Shaw | Feb 4, 2013 | Health and Hydration
Earlier this year, France imposed a tax on sugary soft drinks after a study found that more than 20 million of its citizens are overweight.
Health campaigners in the U.K. are pressing for a similar tax. Researchers at Oxford University calculate that a 20 per cent tax on soft drinks would reduce obesity and overweight in Britain by 1 per cent — roughly 400,000 cases across Britain. The only problem with this finding is that other studies have shown that over the last 10 years, although the consumption of added sugar soft drinks has reduced by 9%, obesity has increased by 15%.
Understandably, the idea of a tax has met stiff opposition from the British Soft Drinks Association.
Apparently, the problem is not only the range of between 6 to 8 teaspoons of sugar in a standard can of soft drink, but also the citric acid that is used to make the drinks fizzy. Citric acid is very corrosive on one’s teeth.
Diet soft drinks are not much of a better option as they contain chemicals that are not high on the good for your organs list should your consumption of these drinks be excessive.
A bigger problem than weaning oneself off soft drinks is helping one’s children to not drink them, as, because of the high sugar content in soft drinks, it creates a like-with-like effect and increases the desire to eat salty foods in place of say, drinking water and eating fruit or, the dreaded vegetables. J
While the battle about whether to tax or not tax added sugar soft drinks rages on, perhaps it’s time to look at other alternatives that are kind to you, your health and your pocket:
One could try the ‘everything in moderation’ approach or, for the more stout of heart, cutting the consumption of sugary drinks from one’s diet.
Either way, It is your decision as to what you choose how to ‘fuel’ your body.
by Fern Shaw | Jan 30, 2013 | Health and Hydration
Water makes up almost sixty six percent of the human body and seventy percent of the brain. (Can’t drink this).
At birth, water accounts for approximately 80 percent of an infant’s body weight.
One ear of corn is 80 percent water. (Can’t drink this either).
75 percent of a living tree is water. (Nope.)
75 percent of a chicken is water. (You get the general idea …)
80 percent of a pineapple is water.
95 percent of a tomato is water.
Water usage in the U.K. is around 3.6 billion litres per day which is 151 litres per property. That’s about 150 litres per day per person.
The total amount of water on the earth is about 1.36 billion cubic kilometres of water.
Scientists estimate groundwater accounts for more than 95 percent of all fresh water available for use.
Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, O degrees Celsius.
Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, 100 degrees Celsius.
Water is unusual in that the solid form, ice, is less dense than the liquid form, which is why ice floats.
Water regulates the earth’s temperature.
So much water and only an infinitesimal percentage of the Earth’s water is available for human consumption. Perhaps a good idea to start this New Year with achievable resolutions and ones that won’t just make you feel good, but can help other 70 to 80 percent humanoid beings too.
by Fern Shaw | Jan 30, 2013 | Health and Hydration
Even if you’re making an attempt to stay better hydrated, you may be ingesting dehydrating substances without even realizing it.
Sodium is a big culprit
When you eat salty foods, your cells tell your brain that you’re thirsty. Examples of foods high in salt are fast foods, potato crisps, tinned foods, deli meats and condiments like tomato sauce (ketchup), mustard and salad dressing.
Sugary drinks also contribute
Much like salty foods, sugary drinks also tell your brain that you’re thirsty. Try to avoid these – fizzy, energy and sports drinks as well as over sugared coffees and cocktail drinks.
Instead of eating and drinking these dehydration-inducing foods and beverages, drink more water, and add these top superfoods to your diet for optimal health and antioxidant levels.
Blueberries
Yielding antioxidants, vitamin C and anti-inflammatory properties, a handful of these berries daily in season can do wonders.
Fatty fish
Fatty fish with omega-3s include salmon, herring, sardines, and mackerel. Make sure that you only buy fish off the endangered list.
Soy
This does not mean using enough soy sauce to turn your sushi rice another colour. Soy sauce has an high sodium content. Clean and simple soy is recommended. Soy in this category includes tofu, soy milk, and edamame. Edamame, for the curious, are green soybeans boiled or steamed in their pods and it’s very trendy to be seen eating edamame.
Fibre
Some great options for getting more fibre in your body are:
- Beans. Think three-bean salad, bean burritos, chili, soup.
- Whole grains. That means whole-wheat bread, pasta.
- Brown rice. White rice doesn’t offer much fibre.
- Popcorn. It’s a great source of fibre.
- Nuts. Almonds, pecans, and walnuts have more fibre than other nuts.
- Baked potato with skin. It’s the skin that’s important here.
- Berries. All those seeds, plus the skin, give great fibre to any berry.
- Bran cereal. Actually, any cereal that has 5 grams of fibre or more in a serving counts as high fibre.
- Oatmeal. Whether its microwaved or stove-cooked, oatmeal is good fibre.
- Vegetables. The crunchier, the better.
Tea
The antioxidant powers of tea are present in both black and green tea. Try these tips on switching from fizzy drinks to water for the added effect of consuming more tea while you’re drinking less fizz.
Calcium-rich foods
Many health-conscious men and women tend to stay away from dairy products for fear that they contain fat, but calcium is necessary for the body. If you’re scared of the cheese and milk, take a calcium supplement.
by Fern Shaw | Dec 13, 2012 | Health and Hydration
Encourage your children to eat water-rich foods
At home and in the lunchbox, encourage your child to eat water-rich foods like grapes, watermelon, cucumbers, carrots, and tomatoes.
Float slices of fruit (such as lemons or limes) in a jug of water
Or be creative with strawberries, clementine segments and any other colourful fruit.
Let your children drink what they want – within reason
Water is always going to be the healthiest drink for both children and adults, but if plain water makes them turn their noses up, give your children a little more freedom. Milk, natural juice, and flavoured water all work. However, to help them avoid a caffeine or sugar addiction early in life; never let them try fizzy drinks (or worse, take one to school). Hydrated children are happy children.
Give your child a straw.
It may sound strange, but we actually drink more when we’re drinking through a straw. With a straw, kids will be encouraged to drink more fluids, and they may enjoy the fun factor of having a straw in their favourite colour.
Use ice cube trays that make fun shapes and use those ice cubes in your child’s water
Nothing quite like the fascination of watching an ice cube shape melt while drinking your water and should the ice cube drop or fall, no mess apart from a little puddle!
Take your child to pick out a new, special cup
Young children are big on ‘ownership’, especially when there are siblings, so once they have their own individual drinking cup, this will encourage them to use their cup for drinking from.
by Fern Shaw | Dec 7, 2012 | Health and Hydration
For this, the 2nd collection of the Super, Simple, we’re stepping up the effort factor a notch. Still simple, still practical, requires only a tad more thought and self-conditioning.
- Monitor your water bill for unusually high use. Your bill and water meter are tools that can help you discover leaks.
- Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 3 700 litres a month.
- Don’t use running water to thaw food. Defrost food in the refrigerator for water efficiency and food safety.
- If your shower fills a 5 litre bucket in less than 30 seconds, replace the shower head with a water-efficient model.
- Put food colouring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Fixing it can save up to 3 700 litres a month.
- When cleaning out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your plants.
- Plant in the autumn when conditions are cooler and rainfall is more plentiful.
- Use a broom instead of a hosepipe to clean your driveway and sidewalk and save water every time.
- We’re more likely to notice leaks indoors, but don’t forget to check outdoor taps, sprinklers and hoses for leaks.
- Group plants with the same watering needs together to avoid over watering some while under-watering others.
by Fern Shaw | Nov 29, 2012 | Health and Hydration
For now, forget the guilt inducing and super conservative heavy tomes about water conservation which can seem a little laborious and difficult to put into practise.
Here is the 1st collection of Super Simple, Practical Ways to Save Water that really will make a difference and you’ll have the knowledge that every little bit done, truly does count:
- Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap.
- Collect the water you use for rinsing fruits and vegetables, then re-use it to water houseplants.
- Choose shrubs and ground covers instead of lawn for hard-to-water areas such as steep slopes and isolated strips.
- For cold drinks, keep a jug of water in the fridge or invest in a water cooler instead of running the tap. This way, every drop goes down you and not the drain.
- Designate one glass for your drinking water each day. This will cut down on the number of glasses to wash.
- Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you’ll save up to 560 litres per month.
- When running a bath, plug the tub before turning the water on and then adjust the temperature as the tub fills up.
- Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and save 90 litres a month.
- Grab a wrench and fix that leaky faucet. It’s simple, inexpensive, and you can save 530 litres a week.
- Teach your children to turn off taps tightly after each use.
