H2O

“If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.”                                                          Loran Eisley, The Immense Journey, 1957

Week #8

Last week I shared with you my first small step: I am going to take a multi-vitamin each day.  Pretty simple and easy to do.  I want to continue on that path of simplicity, but I also want it to be interesting, not just so my reading audience won't be bored to tears, but because it should be something I can commit to all year.

Who hasn’t heard that you should drink six 8-ounce glasses of water a day?  Although I know it, and I do feel like I drink a lot of water.. I don’t actually measure to see how much I’m drinking.  Some days I drink what seems like plenty of water and some days…well hardly any, I suppose. Frankly, I just don't pay that much attention.

Anyway, the whole discussion about water seems a big unexciting.   At first I wasn’t sure that is was something that I wanted to take on as one of my beginning small steps. But as you know, I am determined to make my goals intentional and purposeful.  So, I decided I’d do a bit of Internet searching on the benefits of drinking water and then I’d decide if it were worthy of a blog page and a small step.

Wow, did I get a surprise! Actually I got two surprises. 

Let me ask you, can you name 5 benefits of drinking water?  How about 11 benefits? Doing my research,  I found that there are some very serious benefits to doing that simple thing of drinking plenty of water.  Check these out:
1. Lose weight
2. Remedy for Headache
3. Look Younger with Healthier Skin
4. Better Productivity at Work
5. Better exercise/more energetic
6. Helps in Digestion and Constipation
7. Less Cramps and Sprains
8. Less likely to get sick and feel healthy
9. Relieves fatigue
10. Good mood
11. Reduce the risk of cancer!!!!! ..................Get out of here, can that really be true?

What a motivation, and a reminder to drink lots of water each day, at least 48 ounces per day. Sounds like a worthy goal to me.

But remember, I said I found two surprises while doing my research.  The second one I came upon accidentally while researching the value of drinking plenty of water. I also found many benefits of adding lemon juice to some of those glassfulls.  Yes, lemon juice -Two teaspoons in a glass of water.  (Two glasses per day).  Can you name 5 benefits of drinking lemon water, how about 11? I was actually quite surprised to see how good this is for you.
This list of benefits below comes directly from the following website…(I included all the details in case you might be interesting):   http://www.lifemojo.com/lifestyle/health-benefits-of-lemon-lime-53489474


1. Vitamin C powerhouse: Vitamin C is extremely essential for a strong immune system. Both lemon and lime are a moderately good source of vitamin C, with lemons containing about one-third more vitamin C than limes. 100 gm of lemon (without peel) can provide 88 percent of the daily recommended value of vitamin C. A glass of warm water with lime/lemon juice and a teaspoonful of honey is an ideal remedy to keep yourself cold and cough free.
2. Good for stomach: Lemon/lime juice aids the digestion process hence should be had after a heavy meal. You can also add a few lemon drops on your dish to aid digestion. But, remember that lemon does not go well with milk. Having lemon juice in water is also an ideal remedy if someone is suffering from bilious vomiting, indigestion and burning. The acids in lemons/limes are also good for flushing out the toxins from the bowel tracts that keeps constipation at bay.
3. Helps maintain normal blood pressure: Lime juice is a good source of potassium which is important for regulating the heart rhythm and keeping the blood vessels relaxed thus reducing the risk of hypertension.
4. Anti Cancer properties: Citrus fruits, including lemons and limes, contain compounds called limonoids that have been shown to help fight cancers of the stomach, lung. breast, skin and colon in animal studies and laboratory tests with human cells. Lemons and limes are a good source of a very long-acting limonoid called limonin, which can readily absorbed and utilized by our bodies. Scientists found traces of limonin in the body even 24 hours after consumption, where as natural anti-carcinogens present in other food items were found to be active for just 4 to 6 hours; for example, phenols in green tea.
5. Weight loss: You know this one and probably you have tried it as well. Yes! Lemon water and honey first thing in the morning. It is an excellent fat burner as well as a brilliant refresher and antioxidant drink.
6. Beneficial for hair: Ever wondered why shampoo advertisements stress on the fact that their product has lemon extracts. That is because it is very effective against dandruff. Lemon juice if applied on the scalp can treat problems like dandruff, hair fall and other problems related to hair and scalp.
7. Gum problems: A deficiency of Vitamin C causes a lot of gum diseases (like scurvy which is characterized by swollen and bleeding gums). Regular consumption of lemons and limes, in some form or another, is a brilliant way to keep gum diseases at bay.
8. Beneficial for the skin: Lime juice has been used as a bleaching agent for centuries. The antioxidant, antibiotic and disinfectant properties of lime helps rejuvenate the skin and protect it from infections. Lemon peels when rubbed on dry or scaly skin, moisturize the skin, making it soft and supple. Daily consumption of lemon water can make a huge difference in the appearance of your skin. It acts as an anti-aging remedy and can remove wrinkles and blackheads.
9. Cholera: Lemons and limes contain many flavonoid compounds that have antioxidant properties. Particular flavonoids called flavonol glycosides also have been shown to have antibiotic effects. In several villages in West Africa where cholera (a disease triggered by activity of the bacteria called Vibrio cholera) epidemics had occurred, researchers added lime juice to the sauce eaten with rice and found that lime juice has a strong protective effect against cholera.
10. Protection against inflammatory disorders: Lemons and limes, being rich in antioxidants like vitamin C and flavonoids, can provide protection against inflammatory disorders like rheumatoid arthritis. According to a study of more than 20,000 subjects presented in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, people who consumed the lowest amounts of vitamin C-rich foods were more than three times more likely to develop arthritis than those who consumed the highest amounts.
11. Eye care: The antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties protect eyes from infections and macular degeneration.
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Are you convinced ? So am I.  I am now psyched about drinking more water, and adding lemon juice as well!

My small step: A minimum of 48 ounces of water each day, (two glasses of water with lemon juice). I’m thinking the easiest way to make sure I get in the minimum amount of H20 is to pour it into a pre-measured large container at the beginning of each day.  Since I discovered that lemon water can give you an energy boost, I think I’ll throw in a ½  lemon in my lunch sack for an afternoon pick-me-up drink, and then I’ll have my second glass of lemon water at dinner.

So, time to make a quick check. Am I sticking with the BASIC principles?
Begin it now, with an attitude that’s positive, simple, intentional and creative.

I'd like to propose a toast..... Here's to a little bit of magic, down the hatch! Let’s drink to it!