Ahhh water - nothing tastes better when you're thirsty.  I just wish I could enjoy it before I'm feeling dehydrated.  As my mantra has always been to "love the food that will love you back" I am determined to drink water - and love it!
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The good news about water is that its effects are immediate.  I discovered this a few days ago when I woke up feeling sluggish, and then felt wholly revived after drinking a bottle of water. ​

It's estimated that more than half of us fail to drink the recommended eight cups of water a day.  Dr. Andrew Weil has named this condition NAMAIS (not as much as I should), which is what most people say when asked how much water they drink.  For those who want to take simple steps to good health - grab yourself a nice tall glass of water and join me in my resolution to IDEW (I drink enough water).

Health benefits of water

• When you're drinking water, you're not drinking soda! 
• Water flushes out toxins from the body, leading to clearer skin.  Some studies suggest that it may help plump up wrinkles too (yay!)
• Drink water before a meal to feel fuller.  Next time you find yourself feeling hungry, try drinking a glass of water first - you may walk away feeling satisfied.
• Research has shown that drinking water may even reduce your risk of certain cancers.

​Bottom line - your body needs water to function.  We can't live more than 3 to 5 days without it.

Tips

• Drink water throughout the day.  Don't try and get through the required amount in one sitting as your body will expel what it can't use.
• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. The water content in them can be as high as 90% or more. 
• Add a little freshly squeezed juice  (or a splash of 100% fruit juice) to carbonated/sparkling water to make natural soda.
• Create your own healthy, delicious water. To make an infusion, fill a jug with cold filtered water, and add your choice of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Refrigerate for a couple of hours to let flavors develop and discard after 3 to 5 days, or when the fruit becomes mushy.
•  Don't be tempted to use the commercial flavor drops - most are just artificial coloring and sweeteners.

If water is just too dull for you and you really hate drinking it, try plain carbonated/sparkling water.  For some reason, there were rumors that it promoted tooth decay and bone loss - all completely untrue!  Not only will carbonated water help you feel fuller, but it can aid with digestion, and even help with constipation.  Sparkling water is also a great choice if you're out with friends and would rather not drink alcohol.  Just have it in a wine glass (with lots of ice), and you'll fee part of the social scene.  Be sure not to confuse carbonated water with tonic water, which is sweetened with sugar or high fructose corn syrup and has quinine added to it - not a healthy choice.
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​Happy drinking!

As a child, you were probably encouraged to eat your carrots, with the exciting promise that you would be able to see in the dark. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a myth perpetuated by the British Air Ministry during World War II to keep their newly developed interception radar a secret from the Germans.

Health Benefits

• Even though carrots won't bless you with night vision, they contain an abundance of beta-carotene (a powerful antioxidant and precursor to vitamin A) as well as other nutrients essential for overall health.
• Eating carrots can also help prevent sunburn, give you radiant skin, and may even keep wrinkles at bay - which now that I'm older, I'll choose over night vision any day!
• ​Carrots belong to a group of foods that have been proven to have disease-fighting abilities, especially when it comes to cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. However, it is important to note that some studies have concluded that in supplemental form, beta-carotene can actually be detrimental to health. Although eating too many carrots may give your skin a temporary orange hue (carotenemia) they should not cause the type of toxicity associated with vitamin A supplements.

The moral here is always try to meet your nutritional needs from food and not just from taking a pill - science simply cannot compete when it comes to what nature has to offer.

Carrot facts

• Carrots are a member of the parsley family and were originally grown for medicinal purposes.
• Keeping carrots uncut during cooking maintains more of their disease-fighting properties.
• Beta carotene is fat-soluble and is best absorbed by the body when consumed with healthy fats like olive oil or avocados.
• Mark your calendars - April 4th is celebrated worldwide as International Carrot Day!

Recipe for quick carrot fries
Organic baby carrots
About a tablespoon of avocado or olive oil
Pinch of salt (Celtic or Himalayan)
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Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Rinse carrots and blot well with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
Add the oil and salt to a large bowl and toss the carrots in the oil. 
Bake for about 30 minutes or until the carrots start to caramelize.