We hope you’ll be able to join us this Thursday afternoon
for our fresh fruit and vegetable market at the Village Commons, Pathfinder
Produce!
***
An avowed “coffee-holic,” I've tried to drink less coffee each day, and have switched to unsweetened flavored teas. Recent research indicates that moderate coffee consumption does not lead to an overall water loss in the body, according to a story on NPR’s All Things Considered. In fact, coffee is believed to help with short-term memory and cognition; however it’s still advisable not to overdo it and to rely on water to stay hydrated.
According to the Mayo Clinic's website,
on average a healthy man living in a temperate climate requires about 3 liters
(13 cups) of fluid each day, and a woman needs about 2.2 liters (9 cups). Of course, this can vary depending on a
person's size, activity level, living conditions, medications, and other
factors. They add that the oft heard
“eight glasses of water each day,” would result in 1.9 liters of water (using 8
oz. glasses): The “eight times eight rule” is an easy way for most of us to
remember to drink (almost) enough. The
site also indicates that there's no need to differentiate water intake from
other beverages … it all counts toward keeping one hydrated. (The Mayo experts don't advocate sugary drinks
however, especially the “supersized” drinks available at fast food eateries,
which add a lot of empty calories, spike blood sugar levels, and may take the
place of more-nutritious foods).
Of course, we all take in a certain
amount of water with the foods we eat; fresh vegetables and fruits are actually
high in water -- another reason to add more of these foods to our diets. The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture
has devised a neat
chart that shows that most popular produce
items are over 80% water. Most websites estimate we actually take in 20% of our
water needs through foods.
The human body is about 60% water, and
every basic biological process – respiration, regulation, transport, growth,
etc. – needs water to function effectively.
If we don't get enough water, a whole cascade of consequences can
happen: According to the Mayo experts,
mild dehydration can lead to ‘dry mouth’, diminished tearing of the eyes,
decreased sweating, sleepiness, headaches, dizziness, confusion, irritability,
and difficulties with bodily elimination functions. Young children, pregnant women, older people,
those who are ill, and performance athletes are all at risk for becoming
dehydrated.
So as you boost your intake of water,
it may not be a bad idea to boost your intake of fresh produce to improve your
health. And to help counteract the
drying effects of winter air, there are a few beauty and moisturizing “recipes”
using fresh fruits and veggies from around the web (some are topical, some are
meant to eat):
- Homemade skin care recipes: Seasonal fruits and vegetables
- Homemade cures for dry skin & rough-heels
- Eight natural recipes for amazing skin
- Banana moisturizing facial mask
Cheers!
