The Flu is here. Protect yourself!

It's on us!

We have been seeing a number of cases of "Flu" in schools, the workplace, and just among friends.  Some of these cases may be the real H1N1 Flu bug, but other cases are what I call a "flu-like illness" which lays people up for several days with fever (usually under 102), cough, nausea, and painful body aches.  The cases I've seen personally were in folks who did not take a flu shot.

How can I reduce my chances of catching the flu?

Flu is highly contagious, and the flu virus can live outside the body for up to 48 hours--so paying attention to cleanliness is very important.  A few points to note:

1.  Avoid contact with people who have flu.  If you can avoid direct contact with sick people, do so.  (if you can't look at suggestions #2 and #3 below)  And be considerate of others also--if you feel that you are getting sick, stay home from work and keep sick kids away from school and playmates.

2.  Cleaning surfaces; covered cough and sneeze.   If a friend or family member is sick, keep any surfaces that they touch clean by using antibacterial wipes or disinfectant spray.  Encourage all to cover their mouths and nose when they cough or sneeze.  Minimizing droplet exposure is helpful.

3.  Good Handwashing is probably the most important preventive measure.  Wash your hands with warm water and soap (ideally) or use an alcohol based hand cleaner (not as good but better than nothing)  if you come into contact with a person with the flu or if you have to touch dirty surfaces.  

When to see the doctor

If you are six months to 65 years of age and in good health, you don't need to see a doctor for the flu. Go to bed, drink plenty of filtered alkaline antioxidant water, take Tylenol or ibuprofen for pain and fever, and wait it out.  You will survive (after a few miserable days).

Infants, pregnant women, persons over 65 and those with chronic conditions should contact their doctor.

Persons with persistent high fever, difficulty breathing, or inability to keep down food and fluids should be seen promptly also. 

What medicines to take

The short answer here is probably "none" as most do not help a lot.  

Keeping well hydrated with alkaline antioxidant water is extremely important both to avoid dehydration and for its anti-inflammatory effect.

Minor analgesics like Tylenol or Ibuprofen can be helpful to lower temperatures and help with body aches.  

Cough preparations such as Mucinex (guaifenesin) or dextromethorphan may give a little relief but generally are nothing to write home about.  

Stay well!

Reboot your body for 2014

Start the Year Off Right

One thing that all health and wellness writers agree on is that "We Need More Water!"  Drinking at least two quarts (64 0z) of water daily has been basic medical advice for decades.  Whether you see a health coach, a doctor, a personal trainer, a chiropractor, naturopath or whatever, all will agree that a good water intake is important for proper body function.

What kind of water should I drink?  

Most will advised you to drink "filtered water" which generally refers to water that has been passed through a charcoal filtering system such as a Brita pitcher, or commercial systems such as is used for bottled water in the grocery or convenience store.  Ultrafiltered water like "reverse osmosis" or distilled water is sometimes called "dead water" because most minerals have been removed from it.  

At the Water for Life store, we provide "alkaline water" which has been charcoal filtered but further processed to give it alkalinity, micro clustering, and anti-oxidant properties.  This makes our water healthier than other types of filtered water--and at no additional cost!

Have a Healthier 2014

Start your year off with an alkaline cleanse, follow it with an alkaline eating plan, and use alkaline water to drink daily.  This medically sound approach will help you have a healthier, fitter body, improve chronic medical conditions such as digestive disorders, diabetes, arthritis and various autoimmune medical conditions, and assist in weight loss too.  

Come see us at the Water for Life Store today!

Water for Life

961-C Water Street

Kerrville

361-5433

Drink Wetter Water!

"Microclustered" water is more easily absorbed…

In cold winter weather it is easy to become under-hydrated; in the cold it is hard to remember to drink enough, a problem that most of us don't have in the hot summertime.

Alkaline Water is microclustered which means that the water molecules are bound together in smaller groups, making the water more easily absorbed by the cells of your stomach and intestinal tract.  That's why you can drink a gallon of our water and not walk around "sloshing"--it goes right in to your system.

Avoid colds, sinus infections, allergy worsening, winter nosebleeds, etc. by making alkaline water the main part of your liquid intake.

Can Alkaline Water Treat Cancer?

Hydration, Antioxidants, and an Alkaline Environment

Much of the early popularity of alkaline water has to do with its involvement in cancer treatment and prevention.  Many of the most prominent promoters of alkaline water are cancer survivors who feel that the water played a big role in their treatment.  So what is the true story?

Our friend Bill Powers of San Antonio had terminal Stage 4 throat cancer and had been sent home to die.  He was introduced to alkaline water and within a few months was disease-free.  So was he cured by alkaline water?  Bill doesn't think so--but as he puts it, "Alkaline water healed my body's immune system, so that my body was able to fight off the cancer itself".  Drinking alkaline water helps this fight in several ways.

Hydration.  Human bodies--both sick and well--function better when they have plenty of water in them.    Nobody feels well if they are "dehydrated".  The micro clustering effect of alkaline water allows it to be absorbed by the body more quickly and easily (without making  you feel waterlogged!) and thus it is easier to remain well-hydrated with alkaline water.

Alkalination.  Making your body more alkaline givers and unfriendly environment for cancer, infection, and inflammation.  Cancers and infections grow in acid conditions so following an alkaline diet and drinking alkaline water makes these disease states harder to maintain.

Anti-oxidants.  Oxidation?  Think rust.  That old rusty piece of metal in the back yard--it's oxidized.  When our bodies oxidize they are creaky, crumbly, no longer bright and shiny--just like the metal.  Alkaline antioxidant water keeps these changes from happening--keeps things new and shiny.  We are told to prevent cancer and other illnesses by taking in lots of antioxidants--like fresh fruits and vegetables.  Alkaline water is more potent than these foods…so include it in your diet.

Alkaline water does not cure cancer and is no substitute for cancer treatment--but it is a vital, perhaps the most important part of maintaining your body in a disease-free state.

Avoid the Worst Stress!

What's the Worst?

You could say that the worst stress that we can suffer is oxidative stress.  This stress condition exists when our bodies produce more free radicals than our bodies can handle.  Free Radicals are stray electrons that bombard our normal cells causing damage to them.  This damage is called oxidation.  Oxidation is to our bodies what rust--oxidized metal--is to a piece of steel. It makes it ugly, compromises normal movement, and makes it weak.  

Our bodies avoid oxidation by taking in antioxidants that neutralize the damaging free radicals.  Vitamins are antioxidants but even multivitamins only contain a few.  Fruits and vegetables contain many antioxidants--that's why we hear so much today about including antioxidants in our food intake.

Alkaline water is the most potent, efficient source of antioxidants that can be added to your diet.  Including alkaline water in your intake is an important tool in controlling aging, smoking, cells damaged from exercise, poorly controlled diabetes, and autoimmune--inflammatory disorders.

At the Water for Life Store we can show you how to easily and economically add this important healthy living tool to your daily lifestyle. 

Why Should You Be Drinking Alkaline Water?

Alkaline Water Improves Health and Performance

Just what is alkaline water, anyway?  Widely used in Japan and Europe, this water is rapidly gaining acceptance in this country for the advantages it brings to healing and strengthening the immune system and improving human performance.  It’s just regular water that comes from your tap—but it has been processed either by electrolysis machines or by simple mineral filtration, allowing it to take on three important chemical and physical properties that make it more usable to your body.

 Alkaline water is…alkaline!  Our bodies fight to stay alkaline too.  Acid conditions are decidedly unhealthy and are generally found around cancers, infections, and areas of inflammation.  A Nobel-Price winning scientist,  Dr. Otto Warburg, stated in 1931 that “no disease, including cancer, can exist in an alkaline environment”.  His “Warburg Hypothesis is still valued in medical research today.

Alkaline water’s second characteristic is called microclustering.  In its natural state, water molecules tend to group together in large globules, which can slow their absorption by the body; that’s why you walk around “sloshing” in your stomach after drinking a big glass of water.   Microclustered , or hexagonal water, groups these molecules into smaller packages allowing the water to pass rapidly through membranes and be absorbed.  You don’t have a “water belly” after drinking even a large amount of alkaline water.

Finally, alkaline water is an antioxidant.  Antioxidants are important in preventing cancer, heart disease, inflammation, diabetic complications and other health problems.  Alkaline diets are popular, and include lots of green vegetables and fruits, but alkaline water is even more potent in increasing the health-promoting features of a healthy lifestyle.  Carbonated drinks, “sports drinks”, and most bottled water products are acidic and promote unhealthy conditions in our bodies.  Drinking alkaline water can eliminate and reverse these bad effects. 

Come in and start a healthy lifestyle today!

Water for Life--Your Alkaline Water Store

961-C Water Street

Kerrville

Start Every Day Feeling Better

Repair, Flush, Restart

A good night's sleep lets your body rest and repair itself.  When you get up, a good way to get rid of the "cobwebs" of sleepiness is with a drink of alkaline water.  I'd recommend at least a 16-20 ounce bottle. Or two!  This will help rehydrate you, flush toxins from your system, and give you a jump on the day!  Follow this with a cup of fresh green tea with a twist of lemon.  Enjoy!