Water ... H2O...
This week is world water week so I thought I would focus the health awareness theme around the importance of water in our lives.
First a bit about World Water Week... what is it?
http://www.worldwaterweek.org/
World Water Week is held in Stockholm and focuses on global water issues. This year is the jubilee year for both the Week and the Stockholm Water Prize. The theme is Water for Development. In 2014, over 3,000 individuals and 270 convening organizations from 143 countries participated in the Week. It is like a super-hackathon with minds melding together collaboratively to resolve water themed challenges... (something so in line with my DNA)... fun huh...
Back to Health Awareness and Water
We can last without food for weeks... water is different... our bodies can only go a few days without water and then all body functions start to fall apart. Our bodies are made up of 60 - 70% water... and yes even our bones have water!
Lack of water, or dehydration, reduces the amount of blood in your body, forcing your heart to pump harder to circulate the blood to and from all the organs in the body. The first signs of dehydration are dizziness, irritability and experiencing headaches... followed by clumsiness and exhaustion.
So how much water should you drink to keep your body healthy....
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256?pg=1
The Institute of Medicine determined that an adequate intake (AI) for men is roughly about 13 cups (3 liters) of total beverages a day. The AI for women is about 9 cups (2.2 liters) of total beverages a day.
Of course the above varies with conditions around you. It is also dependent on the environment you are in, if you are exercising (moderately/ intensely), if you are pregnant, or if you are ill.
Enjoy your Water Week....
Wednesday 26 August 2015
Friday 14 August 2015
Health Awareness (Part IV)
Heart Health
The Heart is an important muscular organ. It pumps blood through the circulatory system and supplies the cells of our entire body with oxygen and nutrients and enables the removal of metabolic waste such as carbon dioxide from the cells.
In the spirit of heart month, the Ontario Pharmacists Association has put together a list of tips to help keep our hearts healthy...
https://www.opatoday.com/tips-and-common-questions/tip-sheets/tips-for-heart-healthy-families
These include:
- Learn how to do CPR and First Aid together as a family.
- Cut back on sitting time and try walking to various activities.
- Take a daily walk with your loved ones - incorporate three 30 min walks per week into your schedule.
- Make fast food a treat, not a regular occurrence.
- Make a commitment to start cooking heart healthier.
- Try one new vegetable every month. Not many folks know what an artichoke is at the grocery store and when they pick it up have no clue what to do with it... well try googling it!http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_cook_and_eat_an_artichoke/
- Snack healthy. I am beginning to like those celery sticks (no kidding).
- Put friend/ family exercise time on the schedule. Scheduling exercise makes it more likely to happen. Tennis, walks, biking, hiking, playground trips...
Thursday 6 August 2015
Health Awareness (Part III)
Creativity ... Simple Solutions Lead To Healing
Anyone who has dislocated or broken a limb knows how debilitating it can be. Movements that were once taken for granted are limited in function. The simple action of brushing one's teeth, combing one's hair, and yes even cooking/ eating or writing become next to impossible. If the limb is a leg or a foot - well then there's a lot of hobbling involved.
Yes I have been through this ordeal (an event very much in the past thank goodness). Along with the pain, the pain killers, the visits to the doctors and physiotherapists comes the multiple casts and braces. Braces can be costly so when a creative alternative makes its way to the market as a possible option - I think wow great idea!
I have been fascinated with the whole 3D printer notion. I think it has tons of potential. The simplicity of using a tool that can become common mainstay to create the ingenious ideas we can come up with is fabulous. One such idea is the creation of personalized braces to help heal limbs using 3D printers... see link...
http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-product-design/3d-printed-casts-broken-arms-bespoke-3d-systems.html
There are endless possibilities to the level of creativity we can bring to the forefront. Chances to heal humans and animals in a personalized way.
Anyone who has dislocated or broken a limb knows how debilitating it can be. Movements that were once taken for granted are limited in function. The simple action of brushing one's teeth, combing one's hair, and yes even cooking/ eating or writing become next to impossible. If the limb is a leg or a foot - well then there's a lot of hobbling involved.
Yes I have been through this ordeal (an event very much in the past thank goodness). Along with the pain, the pain killers, the visits to the doctors and physiotherapists comes the multiple casts and braces. Braces can be costly so when a creative alternative makes its way to the market as a possible option - I think wow great idea!
I have been fascinated with the whole 3D printer notion. I think it has tons of potential. The simplicity of using a tool that can become common mainstay to create the ingenious ideas we can come up with is fabulous. One such idea is the creation of personalized braces to help heal limbs using 3D printers... see link...
http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-product-design/3d-printed-casts-broken-arms-bespoke-3d-systems.html
There are endless possibilities to the level of creativity we can bring to the forefront. Chances to heal humans and animals in a personalized way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)