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Most people have heard the never-ending mantras of ‘drink water, drink water, and then drink more water.’ And it is definitely true that it is important to drink enough water. But what is enough? The ‘old stand by’ is about 8 glasses a day, or somewhat just over 2 liters. There is mounting evidence, however, that most people don’t actually need to drink quite that much. Over-filling your bladder regularly can often lead to several problems, including aggravating incontinence. In addition, you can overload your kidneys, diluting important nutrients and causing ‘water poisoning’. There is even some evidence emerging that various metals and other chemicals in most water can build up in your system and cause a variety of issues. So… how much water should you drink? The body actually has a built-in monitor for this; it’s called thirst. Drink when you’re thirsty, enough to quench your thirst. Forcing yourself to down glass upon glass of water when you aren’t thirsty isn’t really necessary, and may even be damaging. Instead, just learn to listen to the signals your body is sending you.
For those who suffer from hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar levels, even the most careful will occasionally suffer from a sudden crash in blood sugar. Even those who do not suffer from it normally can feel the effects of such a crash, especially if your diet is too high in sugar and simple carbohydrates, such as refined flour products (white bread, pasta, etc.) When such a crash happens, you need relief, and you need it fast. All the advice in the world on how to prevent such a crash won’t help you right then, when you need it. Many people know the ’standard’ tricks to help with this, like drinking orange juice or eating a glucose tablet. But there are also a few unexpected ways to deal with this, which are a bit more pleasant than a large, mealy, flavorless glucose tablet. What wonderful remedy is it? Certain candies. There is a ‘family’ of candies whose primary ingredient is dextrose, which is very easily converted to blood sugar. A few of these candies can work wonders for someone suffering from a hypoglycemic blood sugar crash. One of the most effective is a candy called Smarties (in the US) or Rockets (in Canada). They are small, sweet tablets in a roll of about 10 wrapped in crinkly plastic. You can carry a roll or two easily as-is, or repackage them in convenient ’sugar-boost’ servings depending on your level of hypoglycemia. Other similar candies are SweetTarts and Spree, all three of them having dextrose as their primary ingredient. Another helpful candy is Candy Corns, which are most useful for those who calculate their sugar intake, as one candy has about 1g of sugar (a serving of 26 pieces has 27g of sugar).
Quinoa (pronounced either keen-wa or kee-no-ah) is perhaps one of the healthiest, and least appreciated foods you can eat.
Almost all of the few who are familiar with quinoa will readily sing the praises of this ‘super grain’, but technically it is not a cereal, as it is the seeds of a bush, rather than a grass like wheat or rice. It can, however, be treated and used in almost identical fashion, making it a very healthy substitute for either. It is naturally gluten-free, helping to make it easy to digest. It has a set of essential amino acids that is rather unusually well balanced for humans (unlike rice or wheat, which are short on several, including lysine.) Perhaps most importantly, it has an extremely high protein count, coming in between 12%-18%, one of the highest among all commonly eaten plants; and of course it has no shortage of dietary fiber. This makes it absolutely invaluable to vegetarians and vegans, and highly nutritious for everyone else, as well. It is also a good source for phosphorous, magnesium, and iron. It can be cooked just as you would rice, with one cup of dry grains to two cups of water or stock for about 14-18 minutes, until the germ separates from the seed (this makes it look like they have grown little white ‘tails’.) This goes well in almost any use to which you would put cooked rice. It can also be soaked for 2-4 hours in water, which germinates the seeds and hugely increases its nutritional value, as it activates the amino acids and boosts the vitamin content; this can be added to foods to increase the nutritional value, or used on salads, etc. You can easily find a number of delicious recipes for or containing quinoa, such as Quinoa with Peanuts and Sesame Seeds.
We all know that diets low in fats and carbohydrates and high in fruits and vegetables is the healthiest sort of diet. However, young children - especially toddlers - not only have different dietary needs, but can even suffer from mild malnutrition on the same diet that is perfectly healthy for adults, or even slightly older children. It can lead to stunted growth and a general lack of important vitamins and nutrients in their bodies. A recent study in the UK of the foods given to toddlers at preschools, written about in The Observer, showed that many people, even those whose job involves keeping informed on early child nutrition, misunderstand the nutritional requirements of toddlers. They require more calories and energy-producing foods and lower fiber content than adults, and diets too high in fiber can even block the absorption of many nutrients they require. Additionally, because their bodies are not properly equipped to absorb the nutrients efficiently yet, they require frequent small meals and snacks, instead of the standard three meals a day. It’s important to remember that toddlers are not just little adults; they have very different needs than older people do.
There are a number of things that one should always keep in mind when seeking a natural way to greater health. For the most part, they are not complicated or difficult, but they are too easily forgotten in this day and age of chemical medications, frozen or fast food dinners, and high-speed, high-stress lifestyles. Perhaps the most important and most easily overlooked is to just take time… take time for yourself, and take time to think about all the little choices that flash by in an instant. Slow down occasionally! Even ten or fifteen minutes out of your day to sit still and relax, and think, can make a huge difference to your health and outlook in general. Also of great importance is to be sure to take in enough fluids, especially water. There is a massive amount of research, which is growing by the day, linking many of the common health problems that plague people to a lack of proper hydration, including general fatigue and sluggishness, to headaches, to the improper function of many bodily organs. Another thing to keep in mind, yet is too often overlooked or forgotten, is to simply be aware. Be aware of what you put in or on your body. Be aware of which chemicals you consume, and any possible risks associated with them. For instance, it is becoming almost impossible to eat a diet completely free of MSG, and yet it is potentially a very dangerous substance, linked with all manner of health issues; the same goes for nearly all types of artificial sweeteners. Similarly, overexposure to sunlight or UV (including tanning beds) can prematurely age the skin, and contribute to skin cancer and other problems. We are regularly exposed to hazards that the human body was never designed to cope with; do your best to know and recognize them. Above all, remember the phrase ‘everything in moderation’. Too much of anything is a bad thing. Likewise, small enough amounts of even things that are “bad” for you aren’t likely to make much difference in an otherwise healthy lifestyle.
Welcome to Natural Health at Content Quake! In the coming days, weeks and months I will strive to bring you a wide variety of information and resources to help you to increase your health, as naturally as possible! Check back often for updates! |
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