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It’s not JUST water

We can all remember the days of high school chemistry class and learning the basic components of water, H₂O: 2 hydrogen molecules attached to 1 oxygen molecule. You may also remember that our bodies are composed of 70%-80% water and we must drink enough of it to survive. Today we face major problems regarding safe drinking water, not only because of mass contamination from environmental and synthetic chemicals, but an even bigger problem is growing due to corporate and governmental control of our bottled water system. We are being forced to buy more bottled water than ever and the only people who benefit are the big corporations who mass produce this highly consumed product. It’s not easy to find clean, affordable drinking water but there are things that we can do.

Contaminants

The EPA has set standards for more than 80 contaminants that may occur in drinking water and pose a risk to human health. The EPA claims its standards protect the health of everybody, including vulnerable groups like children. Is there really a safe standard when it comes to drinking toxins? And, what happened to the countless other contaminants found in our drinking water? According to the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG’s) two-and-a-half year investigation, tap water in 42 states is contaminated with more than 140 unregulated chemicals that lack safety standards. In an analysis of more than 22 million tap water quality tests, most of which were required under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, EWG found that water suppliers across the U.S. detected 260 contaminants in water served to the public. One hundred forty-one (141) of these detected chemicals — more than half — are unregulated; public health officials have not set safety standards for these chemicals, even though millions drink them every day.

According to the EPA, contaminants fall into two groups based on the health effects that they cause. Acute effects occur within hours or days of the time that a person consumes a contaminant. Chronic effects occur after people consume a contaminant at levels over EPA’s safety standards for many years. The drinking water contaminants that can have chronic effects are chemicals (such as disinfection by-products, solvents, and pesticides), radionuclides (such as radium), and minerals (such as arsenic). Examples of the chronic effects of drinking water contaminants are cancer, liver or kidney problems, or reproductive difficulties.

Go here for more information.

The bottled water scam

With so many of us becoming aware of our contaminated tap water, the world is embracing the bottled water industry like never before. In 1999 the sales of bottled water in the US was around $6 billion in one year. By 2007 the sales of bottled water jumped to over $11 billion. Some believe that drinking bottled water is no more pure or better for your health, nor is it safer than community or municipal water. The purity standards for bottled water are no higher than those applied to tap water — in some instances they are lower or less rigorous. Studies have shown that chemicals called phthalates, which are known to disrupt testosterone and other hormones, can leach into bottled water over time. There are no regulatory standards limiting phthalates in bottled water. The bottled water industry waged a successful campaign opposing the FDA proposal to set a legal limit for these chemicals.

Go here for more information.

What can you do?

The majority of the contaminants found in our drinking water can be traced back to improper or excessive use of ordinary compounds like lawn chemicals, gasoline, cleaning products and even prescription drugs. As a consumer, you might consider buying eco-friendly cleaners, avoid using toxic toiletries, and dispose of your medications properly. By doing your part in creating a less toxic environment, we will be able to create safer water for generations to come.

The benefits of bottled water are convenience and novelty. Instead of buying bottled water you can carry a canteen or a reusable athletic bottle. My personal favorite is to use a glass bottle and filter the water at home using a water filter. It is good for the environment and lowers the risk of chemical exposure such as BPA, a common toxic chemical in plastics. This change will save you a lot of money and will help the environment because water bottles are one of the major sources of plastic going into landfills today. Shipping billions of gallons of water every year also uses a lot of fuel.

Lastly, recycle empty water bottles, EVERYTIME! And don’t WASTE your water by letting the shower or faucet run. Use old water for things like watering plants and invest in water saving devices for you home. Be a responsible and conscious water consumer. We will all benefit from it.

—Dr. Wendy Norman, D.C.

www.bodyelectrictoday.com

And for more information on how to dispose of your pharmaceuticals:

Green Your Home

Ever heard this one? “I want to drink more water, I just get so bored with it! I need taste!”

A-MEN!

Some people are happy with a slice of lemon, some just guzzle water when it is super cold to avoid having to taste it. But there are more interesting ways to liven up your water to make it taste great and still enjoy the numerous benefits to your health and well-being. Our favorite way at Aquasana is to infuse the water with various vegetables, fruits and herbs. We served our three favorite recipes at the Natural Products Expo West last week, and they were such a big hit, we wanted to share the recipes in detail here.

Cucumber Savory

Yield: 1 ½ quarts or 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 6 cups cold Aquasana filtered water, divided
• 20 thin slices cucumber
• 2 lemons, sliced thin
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme, slightly crushed
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, slightly crushed

Preparation:

In a 2- to 2 ½-quart pitcher, fill the bottom with about 1 cup of water. Add the thyme and rosemary and use a muddler or wooden spoon to lightly crush the herbs. Add the lemon and cucumber, then the rest of the water. Chill for at least 1 hour. Add ice cubes made from Aquasana water just before serving and enjoy!

Tangelo Dream

Yield: 1 ½ quarts or 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 6 cups cold Aquasana filtered water, divided
• 10 strawberries, sliced thin
• 2 tangelos, sliced
• 4 sprigs fresh mint, slightly crushed

Preparation:

In a 2- to 2 ½-quart pitcher, fill the bottom with about 1 cup of water. Add the mint and use a muddler or wooden spoon to lightly crush the leaves. Add the strawberry and tangelo, then the rest of the water. Chill for at least 1 hour. Add ice cubes made from Aquasana water just before serving and enjoy!

Watermelon Cooler (not served at Expo West)

Yield: 1 ½ quarts or 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 6 cups cold Aquasana filtered water, divided
• 1 ½ C watermelon slices
• 2 lemons, sliced thin
• 4 sprigs fresh mint, slightly crushed

Preparation:

In a 2- to 2 ½-quart pitcher, fill the bottom with about 1 cup of water. Add the mint and use a muddler or wooden spoon to lightly crush the herbs. Add the watermelon and lemon, then the rest of the water. Chill for at least 1 hour. Add ice cubes made from Aquasana water just before serving and enjoy!

Alternative recipes

• Plum and cinnamon (served at Expo West—tasty but subtle, and the plums sink!)
• Pineapple and mint
• Raspberry and lime
• Cilantro, lime and jalapeno
• Tarragon leaves with blueberries and raspberries
• Cucumber, honeydew and mint
• Tomato slices with fresh horseradish
• Strawberry, kiwi and mint

What are your favorite ways to dress up your water? Do you know more infused water recipes? Share your secrets with us!

The Expo was a huge hit! Preparing for the Expo was a ton of work, but our efforts were completely worth the trouble. We met so many lovely people and introduced them to Aquasana and the realities of filtered water, which is always a good thing.

Highlights

New bottle cap colors

We showed off our new bottle cap colors at the show. Everyone loved choosing their favorite color! The blue seems to be the most popular, then red and green. These will be on sale on our website soon—stay tuned!

Dr. Mao

Dr. Mao joined us on Saturday afternoon to sign books and advise people on improving their longevity and overall health. There was a line of people waiting before he even got there! We loved hosting Dr. Mao, and will continue to work with him to help spread the word about the importance of filtering water and taking care of yourself.

New booth
Amid much excitement, we debuted our new booth at Expo West. The more streamlined and softer construction brought people in on all sides, and we got a number of compliments! People especially loved the ability to fill up their free glass water bottles (that we provided) with chilled water from the twin Aquasana water chiller taps at the end.

Infused water

We supplied samples of yummy infused water concoctions for our new friends. From left to right, we served

1) Lemon, cucumber, rosemary and thyme
2) Strawberry, tangelo and mint
3) Plum and cinnamon

Women tended to like the cucumber/lemon infusion the best, and men generally preferred the orange and strawberry. The plum was tasty, but very subtle, and the plums sink, so it didn’t look as appealing as the other two.

Shout outs
And last but certainly not least, we’d like to send a big, happy shout-out to all of our new friends: Seventh Generation, Dr. Mao, True2o, Rodale News, Evolution Fresh, Bert’s Bees, Tom’s of Maine, Kor bottles, Ciao Bella Gelato and all our new friends!

Did you see Ellen this morning? We sure did!

Spotted: Aquasana made a flash appearance on Ellen this morning with Pam Anderson, actress and spokesperson for Waves for Water. Waves for Water is a non-profit organization dedicated to getting clean water to every single person who needs it. We believe so strongly in their mission and vision to provide families the world over with healthy and clean drinking water that we donated $10,000 to the organization. Pam accepted our donation to help get clean water to people in need on behalf of Waves for Water.

Find more about Waves for Water on their website.

For the start of the New Year, and to help our friends and fans get a great head start on those New Year’s goals, we rounded up 11 expert tips from nationally renowned health & wellness and culinary experts, including bestselling longevity expert Dr. Maoshing Ni, bestselling weight-loss expert Dr. Ann Louie Gittleman, and Chef-to-the-Stars Lulu Powers, whose clients have included Madonna, Will Smith and Bill Clinton.

Read the original release.

If you’re like most people, losing those last few holiday pounds is high on your list of to-dos this month. Fortunately, one of the best diet aids is free, abundant and right at your fingertips: water.

According to research from Virginia Tech, dieters who started each meal with two eight-ounce glasses of water lost an average of five pounds more than those who didn’t. Researchers say this is the first study that provides real evidence that water’s appetite-suppressing benefits translate into actual weight loss.

But you know the saying, “You can lead a horse to water…”

Fortunately, these 11 easy tips from a variety of health and wellness experts are sure to make you drink:

1. To make water taste better, Todd Bartee, the CEO of Aquasana, a leading maker of water filters for the home, recommends using an easy-to-install countertop filter to strip out the chlorine and other chemicals that are put in tap water to disinfect it. Says Bartee, “Once you remove the contaminants, you’re left with the most pure and delicious water you’ve ever tasted. You’ll notice a difference immediately.” Top consumer rating organizations recommend Aquasana’s AQ-4000 counter top filter, which uses a patented process to remove the chlorine, pesticides, lead and other chemicals in tap water.

2. Chef-to-the-stars, Lulu Powers, who just released a new cookbook, Lulu Powers Food to Flowers, recommends adding slices of orange, mint or cucumber to your water to complement meals.

3. Powers also suggests adding specialty ice cubes made from fresh fruits and herbs for an extra hint of flavor and to up the aesthetic factor.

4. Ann Louie Gittleman, Ph.D., author of the national bestseller, The Fat Flush Plan, recommends diluting your juice with water, adding less and less juice—and more water—as time goes by.

5. Dr. Gittleman also recommends including in your diet water-rich foods like broth-based soups, lettuce, broccoli and citrus fruits.

6. Dr. Maoshing Ni, author of the bestseller, Secrets of Longevity, and the just-released follow-up, Secrets of Longevity: Dr. Mao’s 8 Week Program, refers to filtered tap water as “a key to losing weight.” Says Dr. Mao, “Filter your own water with a high-quality water filter like the one from Aquasana and drink it throughout the day to help with fluid retention. It is also a natural appetite suppressant.”

7. Dr. Mao also suggests making a “detox soup” with filtered tap water, seasonal vegetables like kale and winter squash, dried beans and legumes and aromatic herbs and spices. Bring the soup to a boil and simmer for a couple of hours.

8. Track and monitor your daily water consumption by downloading an application for your phone such as Water Me or Water Your Body. www.itunes.com/appstore

9. Substitute a cup of warm water with a drop of honey for the coffee you might have after lunch and dinner. This will also help you eliminate caffeine, which dehydrates the body.

10. Outsmart the mid-afternoon blood-sugar blues. Set the alarm on your phone to ring at 3 pm to remind you to stop and drink a full glass of water before the afternoon munchies hit.

11. Design your own, one-of-a-kind, stainless steel water bottle to make drinking water more fun and a way to express yourself. This works especially well with kids. www.siggskins.com

Last time we talked about making those small changes in your lifestyle and diet that can add up over time to help you achieve some pretty serious results. The list I’ve compiled is based on eating and drinking these unhealthy things ONCE A DAY, which I know not everyone does. (Who eats Dominos every day?) This is meant to illustrate how daily choices can add up over time to net us big-time benefits. Here’s the breakdown of what small food choice changes can do for you:

Soft drink > water
Once a day, drink a glass of water instead of a 20 oz Coke.

Chips > apple and nuts
Once a day, eat an apple and a handful of raw almonds instead of a grab bag of Doritos Nacho Cheese chips.

Candy bar > Muscle Milk
Once a day, trade that post-work out Snickers bar for a Muscle Milk Light Ready-to-Drink.

Bad lunch salad > good lunch salad
Once a day, exchange an Outback Queensland salad w/ Blue Cheese dressing for a Panera Bread Asian Sesame Chicken Salad.

Domino’s > California Pizza Kitchen
Once a day, eat 1/3 of a California Pizza Kitchen Thin Crust Margherita Pizza instead of 2 slices of a Domino’s Large Ultimate Pepperoni pizza.

If you implemented changes like these, your net total loss of calories would be 1,491,308, for a total pound loss of 426. Maybe it’s time to examine your diet and see if there are some places that you can make some substitutions to make big changes down the road!

You may have heard the reports of the 60,000 chemicals from our industries that sometimes make their way into our drinking water supplies; the press keeps us abreast on what contaminants affect your water. You’ve no doubt heard all the dramatic warnings concerning the dangers of heavy metals, chlorine, bacteria, viruses, pesticides, volatile organic compounds, cow pee and fairy dust. Depending on the amount of unfiltered tap water you consume and the specific contaminants, you and your family’s health may be at risk.

Contaminants everywhere
The Gulf Oil Spill. Lead and giardiasis in city water. Water boiling warnings. You’ve seen this stuff all over the news, especially when the media run stories on local water supplies showing that this or that contaminant has been found. In these circumstances, your concern is probably justified. You may begin to worry, sniff the water that comes out of your taps, run water for 30 seconds before using it to cook or drink, or even make plans to buy bottled water or a water filter. Get the facts before you act. Consider the following:

1)    Contact your municipal water supplier. You have the right to review their annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) for ongoing water quality issues. If there is a widespread, short-term problem, your municipal water supplier will have some sort of statement prepared, and will likely have it posted on their website along with instructions on what to do.

2)    Contact local news and media outlets. If there’s a problem, they will more than likely know what’s going on. And if you are the first to bring it to their attention, they will probably investigate it!

3)    Contact local hospitals or a trusted doctor. If there’s been a spike in recent cases of water-borne illnesses or sickness related to contamination, they will know about it and be able to tell you what the danger is to you and your family, what symptoms to look out for and how to avoid it.

4)    Check the EPA’s website for information on contaminants that are prevalent in your area. This can be a good guide, but is rarely specific enough to really tell you enough information on your home or neighborhood. (Or try the Water Quality Association’s Interactive Problem Solver.)

5)    Have your water tested. This is only applicable if the problem persists and the local water treatment supplier is unable to correct the levels of contamination. Find out what, exactly, the problem is so you can take steps to correct the problem yourself.

Now, what to do if there is a problem? And worse yet, what if the problem is persistent? You can go the bottled water route, but that leaves you vulnerable while bathing. I’d go with a water filter, for both drinking and bathing water, with a carbon filter that is certified by one of the two main independent certification organizations: Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or National Sanitation Foundation (NSF). Also, check out this guide for how to choose a water filter.

Treat the problem, not the symptoms
We all have to work together to keep the federal, state, and local government accountable for how they treat the nation’s water supply. This is not an issue that lobbyists should be deciding, but sadly it does come to that from time to time. Make your voice and your opinions known. Write your regional and state representatives, let them know you feel water contamination needs more attention, help set the agenda and get out there and vote on Election Day.

Tap water contamination isn’t a hoax, and it’s no laughing matter. There really are contaminants in your drinking water. Small amounts of those pollutants aren’t usually harmful, but exposure to large portions of impurities affects your health.

For more information, check out some of the stories out there on water quality and the issues that surround it.

Each household has a different water filter need. The condition of tap water is different in every community. Contaminants in different neighborhoods and industrial areas differ in severity as well. Because of this, each home must be aware of the state of their tap water and the type of home water filter they need.

Once you know the kind of water filter you need, it is important to convey this to your water filter professional. A good water filter system company like Aquasana can then help you find the right kind of water filter unit based on the condition of your tap water and your budget.

It is true that water filter professionals can be very helpful in your quest for reliable and healthy drinking water. It is also important for each home water filter buyer to read and understand consumer product reviews of the water filter unit they choose to buy.

There are some things other customers can tell you that professionals and sales representatives might fail to point out. That is the kind of “insider information” that you can get from water filter reviews. Here are some things to keep in mind when reading a home water filter review:

The Taste of Filtered Water

Water coming from different water filters will have different tastes. No one is better equipped to tell you about the distinct taste of the water coming from the water filter brand you choose than the people who have used it. Users of that water filter can most accurately tell you how your water will taste like compared to that of other water filter brands.

The Life of the Unit

You do not want a water filter system that will wear out easily. By listening to the opinions of other users as expressed in water filter reviews, you can know how long a unit can be expected to last. This way, you can find out if the materials used in the unit are of good quality. The durability of a water filter system as reported in water filter reviews will also tell you a great deal about the quality of workmanship that went into the manufacturing of that water filter.

Repair Information

You also do not want a water filter that will break down easily. Every filter unit will require you to change the filter cartridge regularly. Aside from that, you should not be bothered with frequent repairs. By reading home water filter system reviews, you can find out what brands require fewer repairs and what brands have fewer problems. You can also find out which ones are easier to use and how accessible repair parts are. This is very important information to note that you may not find any other way than by reading water filter reviews.

Recommendations

People tend to rely heavily on other consumer’s recommendations for any major purchase. There is something about getting a recommendation from a customer that bought, used, and loved the product that builds your confidence in the purchase you are about to make. This just goes to show that the product satisfied their expectations, and it has a good chance of meeting your expectations, too. This same principle applies to reading and using the valuable insights that are only available from water system reviews.

If you are looking for a trusted water filter unit, check out Aquasana water filters. Their filters have been trusted by homes across the country for many years. Home water filter reviews from satisfied Aquasana customers will reflect that Aquasana is one of the country’s most trusted water filter brands.

They say that healthy water is life. And it is true. Water is essential to all living organisms, especially to us humans. Our bodies were designed to need healthy water and we rely on it for all of our bodily functions.

The earth mostly consists of water. Similarly, our bodies are mostly made up of water. In fact, 70% of your body consists of water. Even individual organs heavily rely on water such as the liver which is 90% water, brain 85%, blood 83%, and bones 35% water.

However, even though our bodies put great importance on water, many people do not understand this and deprive their bodies of the right amount of healthy water. They do not drink enough water, which makes them similar to a car trying to run on an empty fuel tank. That is an unhealthy thing to do to yourself and it puts an emphasis on understanding the need for healthy water in your daily life.

At least 75% of Americans are dehydrated. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they are sweating profusely and suffering from a dry throat. It just simply means that they do not have the right amount of water in their bodies and the result is that their health suffers. Dehydration is almost always mistaken as hunger. When you think you need more food, you might just need more water. This is an important fact that helps a lot of dieters in cutting down on overeating. One study conducted in Washington showed that drinking a glass of water when feeling hungry removed hunger pangs in 98% of their respondents. Almost all of them had mistaken dehydration for hunger.

Aside from that, studies show that drinking 5 glasses of healthy water a day decreases the risk of degenerative diseases in people. An even more surprising statistic is that drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day removed back and joint pain in 80% of patients. Your body relies on water so much that only a 2% decrease in the water amount in your brain can result in lack of focus, mental confusion, and short-term memory loss. Even daytime fatigue can be caused by lack of water.

So, how much healthy water do you need to drink each day in order to be free from all these? The formula is simple to remember. Divide your weight by two. The number you get is then the required ounces of water you need drink every day. For example, a 160-pound person needs to drink 80 ounces of water of clean and healthy water a day. This does not include juices, soda, or coffee. That is something else. You need to drink plain and pure water.

Most of us have not stopped and appreciated the importance of water in this way. The health benefits of keeping your water consumption up goes to show that water is vital not just to quench your thirst but also to keep your body going. Imagine all the uneasiness and illnesses you can avoid simply by drinking that tasteless and odorless liquid you so often take for granted.

Start being intentional about drinking water. Remind yourself to drink water throughout the day and not just during mealtimes. To have the quality of healthy water you deserve, turn to Aquasana. Aquasana is the nation’s leading water filter system provider. Aquasana filters will make sure that you have the purest and safest drinking water at all times. To be healthier, increase the amount of water you drink. Your body will take care of the rest.

The problem of contamination of the drinking water is a national crisis. The ultimate solution to the problem of toxins and other unhealthy contamination in the public water supply lies with the governmental agencies charged with the safety of the public water supply, like the EPA and the FDA. Unfortunately, these agencies seem to be fighting a losing battle because they have been in authority over the water that the citizens of the country drink for some time and the problem of water contamination is no better than it was when it came to public attention.

The conclusion is that it is the responsibility of the individual homeowner to find a water purification system that will assure that their families will have reliable and healthy water to drink. There are numerous methods for purifying water that have been used over the years. To select the water purification system that is best for your family calls for some deeper scrutiny of each of these methods to determine if they are effective and workable at a household level.

A water purification system that has been around for ages is also one that is often used by campers or people in a survival situation. That system is to boil the water. This system is highly effective against bacteria and other microorganisms that are contaminating the drinking water. There are three reasons that boiling is not a good solution for a home owner who wants a water purification system that will work every day.

First, boiling is not effective against chemical contamination of the drinking water which represents the largest threat to the health of the water the public drinks. Secondly, microorganisms in the drinking water are being addressed by most public water processing facilities by the addition of chemicals like chlorine. Thirdly, boiling all of the water you use for drinking, bathing, washing your clothes, or for taking showers is simply impractical for a modern family to attempt on a day-by-day basis.

Chemical treatments are a method of water purification that we mentioned earlier because it is commonly used at the municipal water treatment level. The focus of a chemical water purification system is that it only targets microorganisms. Chemical treatments do nothing about the pesticides, pharmaceutical drugs, toxic industrial solvents, or rocket fuel that has been found in so many public water systems. If anything, chemical treatments introduce another problem to the water purity issue because the chemicals added to kill disease microorganisms in the water becomes a water contamination issue itself. Obviously, chemical treatments are not an ideal water purification system for use at the home level.

Each of these water purification systems are good in a specific situation and to address a specific kind of water contamination. To provide service to a household, a water purification system must be able to address a wide array of water contaminants including chemicals, microorganisms, sediment, and others. To accomplish this goal, a good activated-charcoal home water filter system is a great choice. Aquasana has some outstanding models of activated-charcoal water purifier systems that will fit the need.

Activated charcoal does a great job of addressing hundreds of different kinds of water contaminants and does so reliably for you and your family. Once you have an Aquasana home water filtration system in place, you can enjoy clean and healthy water from any faucet in the house and you can have as much as you want for no additional cost. It is an efficient, economical, and healthy way for homeowners and parents to take a big step forward to protect the health and wellbeing of their families quickly and for many years to come.