Tag: nutrition

Hydrate!

Are you carrying around a ridiculously huge Stanley cup? Do you have a timer for your water consumption? Do you even know how much water you drink in a day? When it’s hot, everyone keeps saying to make sure you stay hydrated. But what does that really mean?

Hydration is all about making sure you replace the fluids your body loses through sweating, breathing and waste elimination (I’m being delicate!). On average, our bodies lose between 2-3 quarts of fluid every day and it’s important – especially when you’re sweating more than normal – to keep up with that fluid loss.

What happens if you get dehydrated? You might just feel thirsty – but symptoms can escalate quickly and include dizziness, tiredness, headache, muscle cramps, rapid breathing, rapid heart rate and even fainting. When you get to rapid breathing, rapid heart rate or fainting, it’s time for immediate medical help.

If you have the less severe symptoms of dehydration, you can just move to shade/cool room to rest and drink water slowly – think by regular sips. Suck on ice chips or popsicles. But by all means – DON’T drink caffeinated or alcholic drinks that can only dehydrate you more.

Here are some great links where you can learn more about hydration so you don’t end up dried up!

What’s New in Wellness?

I’m working on an application for a Marketing Director position with a nutrition company. I’m a believer in vitamins and health supplements so I’m enthusiastic about the role – it would allow me to use my experience and skills to help make a difference in people’s lives.

I take a Women’s multivitamin, extra Vitamin D, extra Vitamin E and an eye health vitamin every day (almost – I tend to forget them on days that I get out of a normal routine). Why? Well, like many women, I try to eat a healthy diet, but life can get in the way of that! I make it even harder on myself since I live alone – making the quantity/variety of food I cook challenging.

Why do I take what I do? Well, I think a multivitamin is sort of like an insurance policy. It helps ensure I get iron, Vitamin C and various minerals that I might not quite get from my day to day diet. As a woman, iron and calcium are really important to me so the multi-vitamin gives me a little boost.

My OBGYN recommended extra Vitamin D because I’m an inside worker so I may not get it naturally via sunlight particularly during the winter. And I’m very fair skinned so I avoid a lot of sun in the summer so I don’t get burned! Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium – and ladies, as we age we want to maintain calcium levels to help avoid osteoporosis. I figure a little boost here can’t hurt. I don’t want broken bones!

I take extra Vitamin E because it has anti-oxidant properties and it’s good for your skin and your eyes. And years ago my OBGYN recommended it as a way to help relieve monthly cramping. That was reason enough for me to take it but I also think it’s part of the reason I have very few issues with my complexion.

Last but not least, my Opthamologist has been tracking the onset of macular degeneration in both of my eyes. I had cataracts removed from both eyes at a fairly early age and I’m also showing signs of macular degenerations very early. I have spots in both eyes that are areas of concern although I haven’t started with any noticiable symptoms in my vision yet. So I take a daily eye health vitamin as well. I prefer Ocuvite since it’s only 1 capsule a day. Eye Health vitamins typically contain Lutein and Zeaxanthin which are related to Vitamin A and help keep your retinas healthy.

Want more info about Vitamins? Check out these links!