Goodness
gracious, we’re already half way through September. It’s been an incredible month thus far at
Pathfinder Village, and we’re so grateful to all of our community patrons who
make our weekly fresh fruit and veggie market, Pathfinder Produce, such a great
success. We’re at the height of the
harvest season, so be sure to stop by this Thursday from 1 to 5 p.m. at the
Village Commons to get some tasty and healthy treats for your family.
I
apologize that last week we took a brief hiatus from our “veggie blog.” Maura, our Director of Education, was
welcoming her students back to another year of learning adventures at
Pathfinder School. Martha and I were
working at the Otesaga Hotel Seniors Open and Pro-Am, the Chobani Tennis
Classic, and the Juniors Tennis Classic in support of Pathfinder Village’s
Scholarship Fund. Thanks go out to all
who made both the first week of school and our tournaments so successful!
****
Over the past two weeks, the area’s youth soccer players and the
members of the Edmeston Central School’s Cross Country Team have returned to
Pathfinder Village for practices and competitions at Grant’s Field and the
Pathfinder Community Fitness Trail. It’s
wonderful to have our youngsters enjoy Pathfinder’s athletic fields, and we
offer a great round of thanks to the parents who support these teams. We’re looking forward to a memorable season
for all the athletes.
My own son, now on the varsity soccer team at his school,
requested that I buy a new water bottle for him, large enough so that he has
plenty of water during games and practices.
I was happy to do this, as I know how important it is for athletes to
stay hydrated. Typically, the kid will
take a water bottle with him to school, sip it during the day and at lunch, and
then refill it before his afternoon practices.
We ended up buying a 32 oz. stainless container, so if he fills it twice
each day, he’ll be well on his way to getting enough to drink.
(We tend to buy the stainless containers as they don’t break or
leak, are easy to keep clean, and don’t contain BPA, a plastic that some studies
have indicated can leach into food and beverages, and may have an effect on
brain, circulatory and developmental health).
When I was looking online to purchase the bottle, I got thinking
about how we can actually know if we get enough water each day. Many folks use the general guidelines of the “8
x 8 rule.” A quick
online search reveals that the amount of water you actually need is more
determined by your size, your level of activity, and other factors. Some also believe that it is beneficial to
drink water through the day, rather than at intervals. And there are plenty of studies that show
that drinking cold water boosts metabolism and can help you lose weight if you
drink water about 30 minutes before eating.
(One thing that I’ve read online, and have experienced, is that it is
possible to confuse thirst with hunger. Livestrong
recommends that the next time you think you are hungry, try drinking water and
see if your cravings go away).
I found out too, that there are several free
iPhone and Android apps that people can use to help track their water
intake. By logging in how often you
drink, you understand your water needs better and reinforce the positive
behavior of drinking regularly. I think
I’m going to download one of these and see how it goes. If you don’t have a smart phone or aren’t
tech savvy, there are plenty of page
printouts you can use to help you get enough daily fluids.
And, not to gross anyone out, but if you aren’t one to track
things, the surest indicator that you are getting enough water is to gauge the color
of your pee. If it’s dark yellow, it’s too concentrated and you need to drink
more. For those who care for children,
always check to see if they are getting enough water; monitor diapers and
pull-ups using the color chart, and observe if their eyes appear sunken or if
they have tears when they are crying. If
there aren’t any tears, the child is dehydrated, needs to drink and may
need medical attention. Older
people are also highly prone to becoming dehydrated, which can cause a list
of conditions from confusion to constipation, from rapid heart rates to serious
UTIs. Encourage your older loved ones to
always drink enough water, even if they aren’t always keen on the idea.
Until next time, enjoy these glorious days of fall, and drink up!
Lori
