When you look at your glass of water do you see it as half full or half empty?  This is a trick question because, if you are following the general recommendations for water intake, that glass should be alternately full and empty approximately eight times a day!

Most of us are familiar with the benefits of adequate water intake; but just to refresh let’s consider some of the positive contributions to our health that the proverbial 8 glasses a day can make.  We can start by remembering that the human body is approximately 60% water, the human brain is close to 70%, and the lungs are about 90%.  Every single one of your 50 trillion cells requires water in order to function properly.  Water helps to flush impurities out of the body, facilitates digestion and elimination and helps to maintain healthy and glowing skin.  Drinking sufficient water supports lung health, kidney function, bone health, energy levels and even our ability to think clearly.  On the contrary, inadequate water intake can result in constipation, sluggish energy, dull mind, unclear skin and build up of toxins.

 Some of you may have cultivated the water habit and have no problem taking an adequate daily amount of this life giving beverage.  And it is possible that some of you resist water, perhaps even convincing yourself that you ‘don’t like the taste’.  If you are the type of person who prefers to reach for a cup of coffee when you are thirsty consider some of the following ways to improve the appeal of water.  If you begin to see that water can actually taste good you will gradually be able to move from the not so good coffee habit to the much better water habit.

1. Make yourself a ‘spa’ water pitcher.   If you have ever been to a spa, you have probably noticed the pitchers of water often come with thin slices of cucumber floating in them.  The aromatic appeal and refreshing taste of this little addition can go a long way toward making you want to refill your glass again and again.  Why not try it, and while you are sipping on your specially prepared glass of ‘spa water’ close your eyes for a few moments and imagine you are in the setting to go with it.  For those few moments your body will relax and tension will leave giving you an inward spa treat for body and mind.
2. Make it with lemons or limes.  These sour, alkalizing fruits pep up the taste of water and have the added benefit of helping to detoxify your body.  In addition, when you cut through the peel you get the intense aromatic experience of the uplifting essential oils.  These help to invigorate your senses though the olfactory system and can make you feel generally more awake and aware of your environment.
3. How about an herbal infusion?  This is an especially good option if you have any fresh herbs growing in your garden or in a pot in the kitchen.  Simply by placing a  few sprigs of lavender, fresh mint or even a couple of slices of ginger into a pitcher of water you can liven up the taste to suit your mood.  Lavender has a naturally calming influence, while mint is a little more lively and refreshing to the palette, ginger is a good, warming option that can help to settle a nervous stomach.

Add to these ideas and let us know your favorite tricks for making sure you maintain an optimal water intake.  How much is the right amount for you and what benefits have you noticed from being consistent?

By Kripa Watts

"A good digestion turneth all to health."  ~ George Herbert

"A man has often more trouble to digest food than to get it."  ~ Proverb

These two aphorisms describe the path to and a challenge which can stand in the way of good health.  Can wellness really be as simple as having good digestion?  I would offer that, like many other accomplishments in life, good health is the result of the combined force of many contributing factors.  That being said many renowned physicians and naturopaths throughout history have acknowledged that excellent digestion goes a long way to maintaining excellent health.

Two fundamental requirements for healthy digestion are proper food choices and optimal digestive enzyme activity.  Colorful, fresh and wholesome foods provide us with the building blocks needed by the body for synthesis and repair of cells and tissues, as well as for the production of energy.  Enzymes are catalysts which enable the body to break down the foods that we eat into their constituent building blocks so that they can be absorbed and assimilated into the blood stream to do their essential work.

Certain digestive enzymes are produced by the body - these include lipase, protease, amylase and pepsin for example.  Other enzymes necessary for digestion must be delivered by food.  Cellulase is an enzyme which catalyses the breakdown of the fibrous material in fruits and vegetables; it is not produced by the body and must therefore be derived from the foods we ingest.  As we age, our body’s store of enzymes can diminish.  In addition, foods that are over cooked or processed are often devoid of enzymes.  Since most people do not eat a diet rich in raw fruits and vegetables, this double problem can lead to a gradual decline in digestive health and overall well-being later on in life.   The sad truth is that, while you may take great care to eat foods that are healthy, it is quite possible that your body is not receiving all of the nutrients the food has to offer.

“Art is the elimination of the unnecessary.”  Pablo Picasso

Since good health is as much an art as a science, then we must recognize that elimination plays a vital role.  It is worth considering that foods which are not broken down properly can simply clog up the digestive tract.  Undigested food material can lay in the gut and cause the build up of toxins.  These toxic substances create a healthy breeding ground for unhealthy bacteria and may cause gastric discomfort, flagging energy levels and even breakouts as the body tries to eliminate toxins through the skin.

One of the simplest ways to perk up your digestive health is to add a digestive enzyme at meal times.  If you are a fairly light eater you might consider a general plant based enzyme such as MegaZymes.  If your diet consists of carbohydrate heavy and protein rich meals a more potent, broader spectrum product such as High Active Enzymes might be in order.  If you have noticed that you have specific food sensitivities, consider looking for an enzyme product which is customized to help your body digest those specific foods to which you are sensitive.  MegaFood Gluten & Dairy MegaZymes was created to help sensitive individuals break down gluten and lactose in foods.  While you may try to avoid ingredients to which you are sensitive, there are times when it is difficult to know what ingredients have been used in cooking a meal.   This is a product which can be useful to take along if you have been invited to eat at a friend’s house or are dining at a restaurant.

Let us know if you have found benefit from adding enzymes to your diet – be it MegaFood or any other product – we are interested in hearing your experiences and sharing them with others.