The first thing we want to look at in this article in what the experts think about tap water and bottled water. Then we will try to see what conclusions we can make before we decide where our best water might come from.

Okay, let the first salvo in the water wars be fired at tap water…there are those who believe it is not safe to drink.

Well, here are what the experts think. What do you think?

1. “Each day, millions of Americans turn on their taps and get water that exceeds the legal limit for dangerous contaminants.” USA Today-Special Report, “How Safe Is Your Water?”

2. “Cancer risk among people drinking chlorinated water is as much as 93% higher than among those whose water does not contain chlorine.” U.S. Council of Environmental Quality

3. The “Ralph Nader Research Group” stated, “U.S. drinking water contains more than 2,100 toxic chemicals that can cause cancer.”

4. “Weed killers were found in the tap water of 28 out of 29 cities tested.” Environmental Working Group Report, “Weed Killers by the Glass”

5. According to research done by the Associated Press, 41,000,000 Americans, or more, have a wide variety of pharmaceutical drugs in their drinking water.

What did they discover? They came up with everything from sex hormones and antibiotics to chemicals used in the treatment of mental illness, cancer, heart disease, epilepsy, high cholesterol and more.

My first thought when I read some of these reports was, “I hope they don’t start charging us a drug delivery fee”. Now, it is bottled water’s turn.

1. The World Wildlife Fund commissioned a university study that showed the only clear difference between some bottled water and tap water was, “…it is distributed in bottles rather than pipes.”

2. “Bottled water standards in the US are at least as protective as those for tap water”. (Can’t you feel the love!) This was from Stephen Kay, spokesman for the International Bottled Water Association.

3. The EPA sets the standards for tap water and the FDA sets them for bottled water. Since the EPA has the stricter regulations, this statement from Jon Coifman makes sense, “Bottled water is not tested as throughly or as frequently as tap water.”

4. “Toxic chemicals can be released into the environment during the manufacture and disposal of bottles,” was another conclusion of The World Wildlife study that also said the bottle water industry uses 1.5 million TONS of plastic yearly.

5. In the bottled water industry suppliers often use reverse osmosis filter systems to purify the water. In this process the water is stripped of all minerals and it becomes slightly acidic. This water is thought by some health experts to be dangerous to drink on a regular basis since:

(a) The acidic water we drink will try to return to a neutral state by pulling calcuim from our cells, bones or teeth, and…

(b) In an acidic environment cancer seems to thrive and the number of free radicals increase, both lead to increased risk for cancer.

I took a break from writing this report today and went to the store to find the cheapest bottled water I could. It came in at about $5.00 a gallon, much worse than gasoline. And the bottlers didn’t have to acquire oil leases, find the oil, drill for it, get it to a refinery, refine it, etc.

What a deal (for the bottled water companies)!

It is clear that our tap water is very dangerous and we now know bottled water regulations are even less strict than for tap water, and the IBWA itself confirms that 25% of their bottlers use water right from the tap.

So, what can we conclude?

1. We can surely say tap water is a real threat to our health and that bottle water is “chancy”, to say the least, due to lack of oversight.

2. In addition, landfills are facing an environmental nighhtmare from the plastic bottles, bottled water is very costly, and the acidic ones are considered to be harmful.

It kinda looks like a case of “name your poison” doesn’t it? Either way we go we are the real loosers.

The good news is we don’t have to be dependent on either choice. We can ensure ourselves of good, safe water by bottling our own water straight from our filtered taps at home.

An uncommon form of psoriasis, guttate psoriasis usually affects the legs, arms, and trunk of the body. Instead of thick plaques, guttate psoriasis is characterized by small and fine pink or red drops.

Guttate psoriasis is not contagious. It may run in the family and is most often triggered by an infection. The most common infection that triggers guttate psoriasis is a strep throat infection. The onset occurs a few weeks after the infection. There is no cure for guttate psoriasis, but it is possible that it will only happen once and then clear up. For others, it is reccurring.

The guttate form of psoriasis is often mild and is more likely to cause irritation and itching than scarring. Although the lesions will often form on the legs and arms, they are unlikely to occur on the bottoms of the feet or on the palms of the hands.

Because it is generally mild, you may choose to see a doctor for treatment or you may choose to use over-the-counter remedies. Topical steroids can be purchased or prescribed by your doctor and will control both inflammation and itching. It’s important to keep your skin moisturized to reduce irritation. One of the best times to do this is after bathing.

If the guttate psoriasis is bothering you, see a doctor. You may be prescribed medication or be treated with UV light therapy. Artificial ultraviolet light therapy, also known as phototherapy, can be used over a short term to help clear up guttate psoriasis outbreaks. Phototherapy is useful since it can treat a large area of psoriasis at once, something that can be difficult with creams and ointments.

If you have other forms of psoriasis and suffer from a strep throat infection, you should see your doctor so you’re prepared if guttate psoriasis occurs. You should also see your doctor if it is reoccurring and comes back after it originally clears. Of course, many people choose to see their doctor for the first outbreak to ensure they choose the best treatment options for a speedy recovery.

No matter which path you choose to deal with your guttate psoriasis, control the itching and irritation and you should be well again in a few weeks.

All right, so you want to get strong and go to the gym to work. You may think that pumping weights is all you have to do, but it is not that simple.

It is nutrition that plays in big role when it comes to recovery and growth. You need to change your diet according to the increase or decrease of your muscle mass. If you gain muscle you need to eat more. If you loose muscle you need to eat less. How can you observe what is occurring inside your body?

Watching your weight daily is important if you are trying to increase your mass. If your weight is going down or staying the same, you may need to consider eating more. If you find yourself gaining a lot of weight you need to take a closer look at what you’re eating. Be careful, while you can expect to gain fat while attempting to gain muscle, you should keep an eye on it to ensure you don’t gain too much fat.

Using body fat calipers is a great technique to assess whether muscle or fat is increasing. You can use the calipers every other week. If muscle seems to be going down according to your calipers, that is the evidence that you are not eating enough good nutrition. If the calipers reflect that the percent of bodyfat is increasing then you will have to consume less.

Every good gym will have a set of calipers and assuming it is the same person doing the measurments each time you will get a honest reading as for what is going on. After you have figured out the amount of millimeters and your bodyweights, it is then that the chart which comes with calipers will determine what bodyfat percentage you are.

If you get yor bodyweight in pound and then multiply it by the percentage of bodyfat, that will give you your total bodyfat. Total bodyweight less the resulting figure will equal one’s fat free mass. Although the figure has organs and muscle we use the entire model for the calculations including organs and bones.

The two figures you have just worked out, the total bodyfat and fat free mass, should be written down and kept. Then next time you have the measurements done you will see if the bodyfat percentage has gone up. You will find that if your food intake is right then with your exercise and nutrition the fat free mass will go up and the total bodyfat will go down. But if your not eating enough then you will find that the fat free mass, muscle, is going down and the bodyfat will go up.

Once upon a time, women and men lamented getting glasses, but today, glasses can be worn by even the fashionably elite. Rock stars, and popular statesmen wear eyeglasses now, making them trendy and hip. Since the stigma has been eradicated, many well known companies have branched into creating spectacles that are becoming as much a staple to the wardrobe as the belt or handbag. These fashion glasses are available in a variety of frames styles such as plastic frames, metal frames and rimless.

So, who are the names that people are wearing on their eyes nowadays? The list is quite extensive, but if you wish to play in the big leagues, you need to purchase the most fashionable eyeglasses around. Below is a list of the top five eyeglass lines that are the must have styles for winter (or really any season).

As per usual, the price tags are pretty hefty, however, you c an acquire these fairly reasonably via online shops and wholesalers.

Prada eyeglasses

Prada, a name that is synonymous with classic style, has joined the ranks of many well known and famous designers by creating their own line of fashion spectacles. Based in Italy, Prada decided to make their mark in the field of eyewear with outstandingly flawless masterpieces that embody the class and sophistication of the label.

Gucci specs

Gucci takes it eyeglass line very seriously, even devoting an entire web spread to their eyewear on their site. They offer a variety of styles as well, from aviator, to gender specific male and female frames. The most popular appear to be rimless and shield forms, which a lot of movie stars and celebrities are currently wearing. If you like to shop for deals online, Gucci even offered exclusive web based steals on some their hottest styles. Still. the price of these shades will set you back a pretty penny, even with the discounts.

Fendi

You have been living under a rock if you don’t know the name Fendi. The high couture fashion house has consistently put out designs that are contemporary, glamorous and classical simultaneously. These elements appear to fit the eyeglass line to a tee. Also made in Italy, many of the glasses display squared plastic frames and metal accents. They also come in a variety of styles and colors.

DKNY

DKNY’s recent motto is, it’s not about clothes it’s about lifestyle. They apparently feel the same way about their glasses, which incorporates the DKNY sense joie de vie. A stand out amongst an industry that is dominated by Italy, Donna Karan’s eyeglasses are light, fun and less pretentious than other offerings. Innovative styles, creative designs, sleek sophisticated lines dominate the eyeglass line giving consumers what they want—fashionable frames that are functional and great for everyday use.

Christian Dior

Christian Dior has made an art out of franchising the name, and thereby, the company knew just how to market their one of kind brand of eyewear. The most sassy and beautiful of the eye wear lines; CD eyeglasses offer style and comfort. Women cannot help but fall in love with the svelte and gorgeous lines of the women’s collection. Men’s eyewear was also stylish and masculine; complimenting the more rugged features of a male while giving a crisp air of refinement.

For those of you who can’t afford the name brands, ‘legal knock offs’ can be obtained at reputable retailers. These items don’t have the name of the designer on them; all they seek to do is emulate their given style. Still, investing in the real thing may be worth it. Designer frames tend to be classic ones, staying in vogue long after trendier lines have come and gone. As a fashion staple, they will stay the same as clothing styles and designs evolve.

Without question there are certainly many benefits to using a back pillow. Whether it be medicinal or simply for increased comfort, back pillows can make sleeping more enjoyable. But often individuals use a back pillow when another kind of pillow would be more beneficial. It is important to correctly determine your needs and use the proper pillow.

There are a variety of pillows, each with very specific functions and purposes. Cervical pillows are very useful for traditional bed sleeping as they provide a cradle for your head and support for your neck. However, these pillows do not necessarily provide the same benefits as a back pillow. Additionally, if you are traveling, these pillows are difficult to use.

Among the different styles of pillows available on the market today, you can find pillows specifically designed for travel. These are often “U” shaped pillows which offer support for your head and neck while in the upright position. However these traditional travel pillows do not provide the same features as a back pillow. For back support while traveling the travelCOZY proves to be beneficial as it offers support for your arms as well as your head and neck taking considerable strain off your back.

Inflatable back pillows are often used to provide needed support for the back. Whether sleeping in a bed or in an upright position as may be the case while traveling, inflatable pillows have their place but there are some things that should be considered. An inflatable pillow does not necessarily provide constant and consistent support for the back as the user can shift forcing air to provide greater pressure and support on one end of the pillow only. An inflatable “U” shaped pillow does not hold the same risks, but the traditional “U” shaped pillow does not provide back support as a traditional back pillow does or even the travelCOZY.

When deciding which pillow to pick, it is important to identify just what your needs are. If your needs include back support for sleeping in a bed, a travel pillow would obviously be a poor choice. Conversely, if your needs include support when traveling, a traditional back pillow would also be a poor choice. It is easy to choose the wrong pillow as there are so many on the market to choose from. And while most scenarios will not be too extreme, it’s possible to produce greater discomfort if you use the wrong pillow.

The travelCOZY is a new take on an old thing. It combines the benefits of a traditional travel pillow with a very functional arm hammock providing support for the arms, head, neck and even the back. Of course the travelCOZY is not intended for use in a bed or to replace back pillows designed for use in a bed.

Often greater comfort can be found when using a back pillow, additionally a back pillow can offer orthopedic attention to a damaged back. When a back pillow is used properly it can help to prevent discomfort associated with a poor sleeping surface. But back pillow users should always be aware of their actual needs and should not substitute pillows as this could result in increased problems.

If you are having difficulty identifying the pillow that would best satisfy your needs, please consider the subject matter presented in this article or contact your doctor.

There has been a lot of information over the years about weight loss. New diets here and a new gadget over there. However, there has been little said about the effects of alcohol on weight loss efforts. That is what we will look at here today.

Alcohol contains calories like everything else, but there are a few differences. Extra calories from alcohol might not seem like a bad thing, but these calories have no nutritional value to your body. These empty calories are worthless and you will still need to ingest quality calories in addition to these useless ones.

Like other calories, the ones you get from alcohol are processed in the liver. Alcohol calories are kind of like bullies, they must be burned first, this leaves all other calories patiently stored and we all know what stored calories are, they are fat.

Adding to the problem is the fact that alcohol provides twice as many calories as carbohydrates and proteins. What this means is alcohol provides seven calories per gram as opposed to carbohydrates, which contain four calories per gram. To put it in even simpler terms when you drink four 12-ounce beers you have consumed 600 calories! It is easy to see how prolonged use of alcohol could pack on the pounds.

One last note about the caloric effects of alcohol are the mixers. Many popular alcoholic drinks are actually a mix of different substances. These additives can add to the calorie count in a hurry. For example, one long island ice tea has an astounding 740 calories. In one drink, you could get half of the day’s recommended daily allowance!

Metabolism is another key ingredient to weight loss. The sum of the physical and chemical reactions in your cells that produce energy is your metabolism. Or more simply put the rate at which your body processes calories into energy. A study published in New England journal of Medicine shows how alcohol slows this entire process. A person on a 1250 calorie diet where 250 of the calories were from alcohol could see as much as a 36% reduction in their metabolism. In reality what happens is that the calories that you taken in are not being processed as fast as the should be. So you need to be more active and if you are then the calories will be burnt off a lot faster.

It has been reported that people who drink everyday state they feel a lot better. But, alcohol is a depressant and actually move to true clinical depression. When you’re depressed you may find it difficult to diet because food is sometimes used to make yourself feel better. A vicious cycle if you stop and think about it. Depression can cause a person to have no motivation along with also making you feel as if you cannot continue on with any type of exercise program.

For basic health water is essential but it is also needed to build muscle. Muscles need adequate hydration levels in order to work properly; lacking it, they may grow weaker and less efficient. Your body becomes dehydrated when drinking alcohol because of the massive amounts of water used in the kidneys required to remove the toxin from your body.

While a moderate amount of alcohol is good for the system regular drinking and drinking to excess is harmful. Along with all the problems it can cause with weight loss, you have the added medical issues to be concerned with. The bottom line is this if you are overweight and trying to lose it you may be better served by abstaining from the use of alcohol. At least until your weight is under control, if you must drink red wine is considered the safest alternative.

Proteins are consisted of amino acids. When you consume proteins (in the form of meat or other foods), your stomach and digestive system breaks them down into single, pairs, or triples of amino acids before they enter your bloodstream. When they’re in your bloodstream, amino acids are used by your organs and muscles for repair. For example, the enzyme hexokinase, is made of hundreds of amino acids, as an enzyme is a type of protein. Muscles are primarily made of protein and water. How does weight lifting build muscle? Well, it first damages muscles and fosters a response in your body that causes hormones to lead toward muscle growth. Thus, your body and muscles need a decent amount of amino acids: to repair and replace any damaged proteins, and to build new ones, causing muscle growth.

Your muscles thus build exactly the proteins they need from the amino acids you’ve supplied them. By eating lots of protein, you maximize muscle growth by ensuring your muscles have enough material to work with.So, how much protein exactly should you eat?

I originally thought this answer would be very simple, after 100 hours worth of research on this topic while I was getting my bachelor degree in exercise sciences. Everything I read after these classes seemed like gibberish until I read Lyle MacDonald’s The Protein Book. I pre-ordered a copy of this book and was not disappointed, as I was overwhelmed by the uniqueness of his ideas and presentation with practical applications.

After reading this book, the short answer for the perfect amount of protein is 1.2 grams per pound of body weight. For example, an 150 pound person should eat 180 grams of protein to maximize muscle growth.

Your muscles build with the proteins they need from amino acids you have consumed. If you consume large amounts of protein, you maximize your muscle growth by supplying your muscles with plenty of material to build.So, the question is, how much protein exactly should we consume?

As we’ve seen, weight lifting fosters a hormonal response that favors muscle growth. Simply put, when you train, your body enters a muscle-building state. That state is called anabolism; it’s an anabolic state.

Researchers have shown, however, that the body doesn’t enter the muscle-building (anabolic) state until you eat. That’s right. If you lift weights and don’t eat, you’re not building muscle. You’re actually losing some, as the weightlifting session damaged your muscles.

Muscles don’t grow when you train them. They grow and recover between training session, when you feed them with energy and protein. So, to maximize muscle growth, make sure your body has plenty of energy and protein available when you need it the most: during and right after the workout. Energy and protein from food fuel the muscle-building hormonal state: your muscles grow.
Since your body begins digesting food roughly 30 minutes after you’ve eaten it, eat a pre-workout meal of either solid or liquid food 30 minutes before each workout. Digestion slows down during the workout and most lifters experience discomfort when they eat food during the workout: drink your energy and protein instead.

Pre-Workout:
0.2 grams of carbohydrate per pound of body weight;
0.2 grams of protein per pound of body weight.
During Workout:
30 grams of carbohydrate ; 15 grams of protein.
Post-Workout:
0.4 grams of carbohydrate per pound of body weight;
0.2 grams of protein per pound of body weight.

Busy and active Australians, wherever they are located, are now discovering the acai berry, with its sweet flavour and health benefits, available as a new and healthy snack.

Athletes in particular enjoy the advantages of consuming the berry and regularly do so as a natural alternative to the drinks and shakes that are normally used to help with competitions, training and workouts.

Other people too can benefit from this energizing berry. Since vegetarians, vegans, and dieters may eat little or no meat, eggs and/or dairy, acai is a natural substitute containing the proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that their diets sometimes lack.

So what exactly is it that makes this berry so special? The answer to that question is in the contents of the berry, which many people say act as a remedy to numerous ailments and problems with health. The berry consists of Vitamins B1, B2, B3, C and E as well as iron, ORAC, calcium, potassium, protein, phosphorus, fiber, phytosterols, sterols, fatty acids Omega 6 and 9, fatty acids of an unsaturated nature, anthocyanin and polyphenols.

A feeling of wellness is experienced by all who eat this berry. It is healthier than pomegranates, eggs and blueberries and benefits many health complaints and conditions. Most people say they have a revitalized feeling and far more energy and stamina when consuming the acai berry.

As the acai berry does not contain cholesterol it assists with lowering and maintaining healthy cholesterol levels within the body. The berry is also a great aid as far as arthritis and inflammation are concerned and works well to ward off colds, flu and other winter time viruses too. It strengthens the heart by fighting against stress and keeping heart disease at bay.

This may well be the reason why several athletes and well know people who live in Australia have recently become fans of the acai berry and rave about the effects the berry has had on their daily lives as well as their careers.

World Surfing Champion, Layne Beachley, states that Amazon Power Acai “offers the best sustenance” for her surfing competitions and her training workouts. The berry is light and easily digested yet she remains satisfied the whole day long. The sweet flavour of the berry, and the fact that the contents are natural, appeals greatly to her. Also to help with her many food allergies and restricted diet, the Amazon Power Acai has the necessary antioxidants, nutrients, proteins and vitamins she needs to replace on a regular basis.

Pro Junior Surfer and Runner-up ISA Amateur World Champion, Chris Friend, says he is given the power to train and “surf at 100% intensity” by taking Amazon Power Acai. He not only eats acai for breakfast but also as a snack during the day and he simply loves the taste.

You can now find acai being sold all over the world and it is proving to be the perfect berry for people who are health conscious and active. It is dark purple in colour, looking quite like a blueberry and it is sweet with a subtle chocolaty flavour. Whether you choose to take it in juice, puree, capsule, powder or fruit form, it is sure to give you a great boost of energy as well as provide you with many health benefits.

Now, more than ever parents are becoming concerned about the fitness of their kids. This is no secret given the problems of childhood obesity and the increasing weight and lack of fitness that we are seeing in children. Child obesity and diabetes levels are rising dramatically. There is also the issue that many parents feel, which is that schools are paying less attention and devoting less time to physical education than they used to and that children’s activity levels are reduced as a result. All of this comes at a time when there is more television and video game distractions than ever that are tearing children away from the more physical activities that they would have once engaged in.

To combat these trends, there are a number of activities and routines that parents can encourage their children to take part in, and can use to increase the activity levels and fitness of their children.

The most important thing to remember with kids is that you will want to make the fitness routine fun. Trying to use guilt or shame to get over weight kids to be more active is likely to back fire and bring their confidence levels down even lower. The other point to remember is that the kids need not even realise that they are being encouraged to exercise more and you can simply slip the activities into their lives without them even noticing.

One easy way is to get the kids walking more. You may live close enough to their school to walk, or even cycle. This is a very easy way to sneak a little activity into their lives without them even noticing. You can also walk to other places like shops. Another very good idea for younger children is to buy a dog. While this will not be possible for everyone, it is an excellent excuse to have to take a walk every day and it also makes the task a little bit more fun and less mundane.

You can also plan fun activities for the weekend like roller blading, swimming, cycling, hill walking or ice skating. These activities are great fun and can be used to basically bribe kids into excercising. It is also a good idea to let the kids bring their friends to these activities as once they are involved in something with their friends, and they get a routine, they are much more likely to encourage each other and keep it up for longer.

Over time you will realize how much fun this will be and perhaps realize transform helping children into a rewarding business.In fact, entrepreneur magazine has named “children’s services” as one of the top 7 industries holding 7 figure potential for entrepreneurs.

Bootcampbuilder.com will provide you a step-by-step guide to starting your own profitable fitness camp business for children. On bootcampbuilder.com you’ll… 1.Enjoy working with kids and being a positive role model. 2.Appreciate being your own boss and setting your own schedule! 3.Make a difference in your clients’ fitness success! 4.Generate significant income with very little expense and spend more time with family and friends!

Go to http://www.BootCampBuilder.com NOW to discover how YOU can make a major difference in children’s lives and create a 7 figure business today!

Now, more than ever parents are becoming concerned about the fitness of their kids. This is no secret given the problems of childhood obesity and the increasing weight and lack of fitness that we are seeing in children. Child obesity and diabetes levels are rising dramatically. There is also the issue that many parents feel, which is that schools are paying less attention and devoting less time to physical education than they used to and that children’s activity levels are reduced as a result. All of this comes at a time when there is more television and video game distractions than ever that are tearing children away from the more physical activities that they would have once engaged in.

To combat these trends, there are a number of activities and routines that parents can encourage their children to take part in, and can use to increase the activity levels and fitness of their children.

The most important thing to remember with kids is that you will want to make the fitness routine fun. Trying to use guilt or shame to get over weight kids to be more active is likely to back fire and bring their confidence levels down even lower. The other point to remember is that the kids need not even realise that they are being encouraged to exercise more and you can simply slip the activities into their lives without them even noticing.

One easy way is to get the kids walking more. You may live close enough to their school to walk, or even cycle. This is a very easy way to sneak a little activity into their lives without them even noticing. You can also walk to other places like shops. Another very good idea for younger children is to buy a dog. While this will not be possible for everyone, it is an excellent excuse to have to take a walk every day and it also makes the task a little bit more fun and less mundane.

You can also plan fun activities for the weekend like roller blading, swimming, cycling, hill walking or ice skating. These activities are great fun and can be used to basically bribe kids into excercising. It is also a good idea to let the kids bring their friends to these activities as once they are involved in something with their friends, and they get a routine, they are much more likely to encourage each other and keep it up for longer.

Over time you will realize how much fun this will be and perhaps realize transform helping children into a rewarding business.In fact, entrepreneur magazine has named “children’s services” as one of the top 7 industries holding 7 figure potential for entrepreneurs.

Bootcampbuilder.com will provide you a step-by-step guide to starting your own profitable fitness camp business for children. On bootcampbuilder.com you’ll… 1.Enjoy working with kids and being a positive role model. 2.Appreciate being your own boss and setting your own schedule! 3.Make a difference in your clients’ fitness success! 4.Generate significant income with very little expense and spend more time with family and friends!

Go to http://www.BootCampBuilder.com NOW to discover how YOU can make a major difference in children’s lives and create a 7 figure business today!