Food for Thought : Hydration

Summer is here  and  many of  us  are  gearing up  for  spending days  and  evenings outdoors . Whether  you are  exercising , gardening  or playing  with your kids at  the  park , you are  going  to need extra hydration over the  next few  months . Water  is  the  most important nutrient in our  diet .

While  you can go several days  , even weeks  without  food , you could go but  just a  few  days  without water . Our bodies  are over  half  water . Water is needed  for proper  metabolism , supplying nutrients and  removing waste .
Here  are a few tips to help  you  stay  hydrated  this  summer .

1 .  Most people  do not  need  a sports drink  after  working  out , water  will replace  the fluids lost . If you need a strenuous  workout  and   need to replace  fluids  and  electrolytes, such  sodium  and  potassium , try  fresh  fruits , vegetables juices  or  soups .

2 .  Monitor fluid loss  by  checking  the  color  of  your  urine . It should  be  clear  or pale  yellow . Anything  cloudy  , dark  yellow  or  a strong odor indicates you  may not  be properly hydrated .

3 .  Make sure you begin  exercises  well  hydrated  . Drink plenty of  fluids the  day before  and  an hour  or  so before  and  during  your exercise.

4 .  Although  a  cold  beer  or  frozen margarita  may sound  refreshing  ,  you should  drink alcohol  cautiously  and in moderation . Alcohol  can not  only cause  some  dehydration , but  it may also mask  your  feeling  of being  dehydrated .

Words  of Wisdom : 

Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.

True friendship multiplies the good in life and divides its evils. Strive to have friends, for life without friends is like life on a desert island... to find one real friend in a lifetime is good fortune; to keep him is a blessing.

People spend too much time finding other people to blame, too much energy finding excuses for not being what they are capable of being, and not enough energy putting themselves on the line, growing out of the past, and getting on with their lives.

Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers. It may not be difficult to store up in the mind a vast quantity of facts within a comparatively short time, but the ability to form judgments requires the severe discipline of hard work and the tempering heat of experience and maturity.

You are a product of your environment. So choose the environment that will best develop you toward your objective. Analyze your life in terms of its environment. Are the things around you helping you toward success - or are they holding you back.

A proud grand-poppa                    G.