Issue 13 - October 15, 2009

In This Issue:

• Bottled Water - Not as Healthy as You Might Think

• Keep Moving, in and out of the Gym

• Fit Tips

Bottled Water - Not as Healthy as You Might Think

Many people drink bottled water because they think it's healthier than tap water. But this is not necessarily so.

Bottled water, because it's defined as a "food" under federal regulations, is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), while tap water is regulated under much stricter standards by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Companies that sell bottled water do not have to divulge to consumers the water's source, how the water has been purified, and what chemical pollutants the water may contain. Also, all plastic bottles leach plastic byproducts, like phthalates and BPA, into the water.

There are also environmental concerns when it comes to bottled water. Close to 90% of the plastic water bottles used in the United States end up in landfills, taking up to 1,000 years to biodegrade. And large amounts of fossil fuel are used to manufacture, transport and refrigerate bottled water.

So what do you do if you decide to cut back on bottled water, drink more tap water? Even though it's more strictly regulated than bottled water, tap water still contains trace amounts of many different chemicals, and it can oftentimes taste and/or smell bad.

The only way to ensure that your drinking water is safe and healthy is to use a water filter. Using a water filter is a convenient, economical and environmentally friendly way of getting clean, healthy, great tasting water, and it's one of the best things you can do for your health.

Check out my review of the best water filtration system on the market.

Keep Moving, in and out of the Gym

Working out regularly will help you get more fit and healthy, but getting fit and healthy doesn't stop once your workout ends. You also want to keep moving throughout the day.

Researchers from the University of Missouri conducted studies to find out what occurs to the enzymes responsible for burning fat when the body is at rest. They found that when the body is at rest, fat-burning enzymes slow down their fat burning process and fat is more easily stored in fat cells. This means that even though we all need to rest and relax at times during the day, you don't want to spend too much time inactive.

There are plenty of simple and easy ways to increase your activity level. Get up from your desk and move around. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Stand or move around while talking on the phone. Take a walk on your lunch break or after dinner.

Fit Tips

• According to the World Health Organization, $75 billion is the estimated amount spent on medical costs in the United States as a result of inactivity during 2000 alone.

• Researchers from Tufts University found that weight training for just two months can double or even triple the leg strength of older people, thus increasing their walking speed and ability to climb stairs, as well as reducing the risk of falling.

• If you're having trouble sticking with your exercise program, try working out in the morning. According to several studies, 75% of those who work out in the morning stick with their exercise program.