Tap water in urban areas contains pesticides, industrial pollutants, chlorine, fluoride, and other chemicals. Well water and mountain streams in some parts of the countryside are not much better because of the acid rain and toxic levels of minerals present in groundwater.
On every inhabited continent, centenarians cite that their native water is responsible for their health and longevity – and the scientists agree with them. What they all have in common is pure water sources located far from any city, free from chemicals and toxins.
Your safest bet is filtered water. There are many different kinds of filtration processes available for removing contaminants. The best kinds use activated charcoal with other membrane filters, which remove the impurities but leave the water-soluble minerals. Avoid water softeners, which take away essential minerals. Also do not store water in plastic containers because the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can leach into the water.
Aromatic Flavored Water
Crush some fresh basil and mint leaves, put them in a large carafe, add room temperature water, and let this mixture sit for half of an hour. Then add one tablespoon of honey or agave nectar and mix. This is an aromatic and refreshing drink to accompany any meal. It may even help with your digestion and bloating too.
Another way to naturally flavor your water is to add slices of cucumber, orange, and lemon to a water carafe and let it sit for an hour for a refreshing and cooling beverage on warm summer days. During cooler days flavoring your water with slices of fresh ginger root, pieces of dried cinnamon bark, and goji berry will not only provide you with tasty water, but will also warm your insides.
Water for Weight Loss
Water is essential for everyone. Our body requires a certain amount to maintain our blood osmotic levels, provide the medium for circulating and excreting waste products, and cleansing the interstitial tissues.
That being said, water is also a key to losing weight. For example, in low-carbohydrate, high protein diets, it is recommended and often mandated to drink at least 80 ounces or more of water every day. This is actually in order to help with the removal of the ketons, an acidic particle residue produced when converting fat into sugar in the body for energy metabolism, from the body. Protein-rich diets also have a tendency to produce kidney and gall stones – extra water intake reduces the risk of these.
It is healthiest to drink pure, room temperature water although during hot days it’s fine to add a few pieces of ice cubes to your water.
Benefits of a good drinking habit:
• Flushes wastes and toxins. Water aids in circulating and excreting waste products and cleansing the interstitial tissues, helping us to flush toxins out of our system. Your body can process and eliminate some of the chemicals that enter it, but the rest get stored in the liver, lungs, kidneys, fat cells, intestines, blood stream, and skin. Without enough fluids to flush out your system, these accumulated toxins in your body will slow down your organ function, possibly causing premature aging or resulting in chronic illness.
• Stay hydrated. On hot summer days, your body needs to replenish itself with water more than ever. When you become dehydrated, you don’t have enough water in your body to carry out normal functions. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and give you a feeling of fatigue.
• Regulate body temperature. For workout fans, drinking water reduces cardiovascular stress and improves performance. And water reduces body temperature, making the exercise process safer and more effective.
• Skin health. Water hydrates and irrigates impurities from the skin, keeping it healthy and glowing.
• Nutrient absorption. Water transports essential nutrients, minerals, vitamins, proteins, and sugars through your body for assimilation.
Bonus tip: You are what you drink!
Everything that goes down the drain from our lawns, agricultural fields, pharmaceutical drugs, or elsewhere in our environment inevitably ends up in our drinking water. Invest in a good quality carbon-based filter to remove impurities from your tap water. Find out more about a top-rated water filter at the Wellness Living Store.
May you live long, live strong and live happy!
Dr. Mao Shing Ni, best known as Dr. Mao, is a bestselling author, doctor of Oriental Medicine and board certified anti-aging expert. He has appeared on Dr. Oz, the Doctors and EXTRA. Dr. Mao practices acupuncture, nutrition and Chinese medicine with his associates at the Tao of Wellness in Santa Monica and Newport Beach. Dr. Mao and his brother, Dr. Daoshing Ni founded Tao of Wellness over 25 years ago. In addition, he is the cofounder and Chancellor of Yo San University in Venice/Marina del Rey. To subscribe to a free newsletter please visit www.taoofwellness.com To make an appointment for evaluation and treatment please call 310.917.2200 or you can email Dr. Mao at [email protected]
