Physical Effects of Stress.

Some of the physical effects of stress are more obvious than others, but there are very few of us who haven't suffered from at least one or two of them! The signs of stress cover a whole range of physical and emotional ailments and conditions, and they can vary considerably from person to person. Everyone has their own triggers or hot buttons, their own tolerance levels, and their own reactions to stress. What turns one person into a hyper-ventilating wreck, may barely phase someone else. In this way, the same causes of stress can lead to very individual reactions.                                                                                                                           Reactions to Stress
Although not everyone reacts to a specific "stressor" (situation, person, irritation etc.) in the same way, the most common physical effects of stress are the same in most people.
Our bodies are designed to react to stress in an age-old way called the "fight or flight" mechanism. This means we're basically hardwired to deal with urgent, emergency situations by either fighting or running away.
Now, while this worked like a charm when we had to fight off wild animals, or run from them if weren't strong enough to fight them, it doesn't work so well when our stress comes from the breakup of a relationship, losing our job, or experiencing financial hardship.
The physical effects of stress on our body are universal. Our system is flooded with adrenaline, cortisol, and other stress-related hormones. The effects include...

• Elevated heart rate
• Elevated blood pressure
• Muscles tense up
• Breathing becomes fast and shallow

These changes put a huge amount of pressure on our bodies, including the cardiovascular, respiratory, gastro-intestinal, nervous, musculoskeletal, and endocrine systems.
In prehistoric times, we would have killed the wild boar or escaped from the sabre-tooth tiger. This would have eliminated our stress and our bodies would react by terminating the "fight or flight" reaction. Unfortunately it's not so simple today.
The stress of unemployment, relationship problems, or financial worries are often chronic... lasting weeks, months, or even years. Our bodies stay in a constant state of "fight or flight" and this causes significant problems and damage.
Cancer, heart disease, depression, digestive issues, weight problems, headaches, and insomnia are just a few of the many physical effects of stress that takes a toll on our bodies.
If you're under stress on a daily basis, you may feel tense and anxious or suffer from panic attacks. At the same time, your cousin who is feeling a similar amount of stress may suffer a stroke. These are different physical effects of stress, but originating from the same problem.Stress-related Insomnia
One of the physical effects of stress that many of us have experienced at one time or another is the inability to sleep. Research shows that about 50% of all insomnia cases are the result of psychological issues such as anxiety, tension, or depression.
Insomnia is one of the most commonly diagnosed symptoms of stress. Sleepless nights could be temporary and caused by anxiety over a work related issue or because of feelings left over from an argument with a loved one. Yet, insomnia could also be a concerning chronic condition, where you spend every night tossing and turning because of worry over personal, family or work issues.
Even things as simple as watching horror movies can kick our bodies into 'stress mode' and stop us from getting a good nights' sleep.
There are other sleep disorders such as sleepwalking, bruxism (tooth-grinding) and nightmares that results from the physical effects of stress. In children, anxiety and stress can result in childhood insomnia or other sleep-related problems such as sleep terrors, bed wetting, and more.
Treating Stress-related Insomnia
If you're losing sleep because of anxiety, tension, and worries, self medicating with alcohol or other drugs or even watching late-night TV until you drop off aren't the answer - and are likely to make things worse.To eliminate the physical effects of stress, you need to treat the cause of your insomnia, which is your stress. While, you probably can't eliminate all the stress triggers in your life, you can take actionable steps to reduce them wherever possible. Learning how to effectively handle the feelings of anxiety you're experiencing can really make a difference.
If your stress is chronic and job-related, you may need to consider a change to your employment. The options are up to you but may include talking to your boss or co-worker, finding a new job, talking to a career counselor or going back to school. The short-term anxiety caused by dealing with the problem is preferable to the chronic effects of long-term stress.
The same goes for anxiety and tension caused by relationship problems, debt, and other life challenges. Begin reducing stress and improving your sleep by establishing a regular bedtime routine and improving your sleep environment.
Some people help reduce the impact of stressors by using relaxation techniques, hypnosis, meditation, aromatherapy, and other natural/herbal remedies.
Even simple lifestyle changes such as watching your diet and eating sleep-inducing foods can make a difference.
If you're experiencing insomnia as one of the physical effects of stress, there are several avenue to try. If the self-help methods are unsuccessful, talk to your doctor. Turning to sleep aids, whether over the counter or prescription, should only be used as a last resort, and after consultation with your doctor.
Let me also share with you the reader, that one of my all time best remedy is to turn to the Bible and start reading some amazing promises from someone who cannot and will not lie.

http://www.lifestylematters.com

Benefits Of Sleep.

The benefits of sleep impact nearly every area of daily life. While it may be obvious that sleep is beneficial, most people don’t realize how much sleep they need and why it is so important. According to the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School, your body manages and requires sleep in much the same way that it regulates the need for eating, drinking, and breathing. Extensive research has been done on the effects of sleep. These studies have consistently shown that sleep plays a vital role in promoting physical health, longevity, and emotional well-being.
This explains why, after a good night's sleep, you feel better, your thoughts are clearer, and your emotions are less fragile. Without adequate sleep, judgment, mood, and ability to learn and retain information are weakened. Over time, chronic sleep deprivation may lead to an array of serious medical conditions including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and even early mortality.HOW MUCH SLEEP DO YOU NEED?

While sleep requirements vary by individual, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke reports that most adults need seven to eight hours a night. Though, some people may need as few as 5 hours per night and others may need up to nine or ten hours of sleep each day for proper functioning.
Sleep Requirements by Age

Newborns (0-2 months old)	12-18 hours
Infants (3-11 months old)	14-15 Hours
Toddlers (1-3 years old)l	12-14 Hours
Pre-schoolers (3-5 years old)	11-13 Hours
School-aged Children (5-10 years old)	10-11 Hours
Teens (11-17 years old)	8-9 Hours
Adults	7-9 Hours

Studies show that people who get the appropriate amount of sleep on a regular basis tend to live longer, healthier lives than those who sleep too few or even too many hours each night. This underscores the importance of making sleep a top priority.
BENEFITS OF SLEEP

Following are some of the benefits of sleep and how it improves the quality and the length of your life.
Sleep helps to repair your body.
Your body produces extra protein molecules while you're sleeping that helps strengthen your ability to fight infection and stay healthy. These molecules help your immune system mend your body at a cellular level when you are stressed or have been exposed to compromising elements such as pollutants and infectious bacteria.
Sleep helps keep your heart healthy.
Your cardiovascular system is constantly under pressure and sleep helps to reduce the levels of stress and inflammation in your body. High levels of "inflammatory markers" are linked to heart disease and strokes. Sleep can also help keep blood pressure and cholesterol levels (which play a role in heart disease) in check.
Sleep reduces stress.
A good night's sleep can help lower blood pressure and elevated levels of stress hormones, which are a natural result of today's fast paced lifestyle.High blood pressure can be life threatening and the physical effects of stress can produce "'wear and tear" on your body and degenerate cells, which propel the aging process. Sleep helps to slow these effects and encourages a state of relaxation.Sleep improves your memory.
That 'foggy' feeling that you struggle with when deprived of sleep makes it difficult to concentrate. This often leads to memory problems with facts, faces, lessons, or even conversations. Sleeping well eliminates these difficulties because, as you sleep, your brain is busy organizing and correlating memories.
One of the great benefits of sleep is that it allows your brain to better process new experiences and knowledge, increasing your understanding and retention. So, next time you hear someone say "why don't you sleep on it," take their advice.

Sleep helps control body weight issues.
Sleep helps regulate the hormones that affect and control your appetite. Studies have shown that when your body is deprived of sleep, the normal hormone balances are interrupted and your appetite increases. Unfortunately this increase in appetite doesn't lead to a craving for fruits and veggies. Rather, your body longs for foods high in calories, fats, and carbohydrates.
So, if you're trying to lose those stubborn few pounds that just keep hanging around, consider the benefits of sleep on weight control and make sure that getting enough sleep each day. For more information on sleep and body weight, click here.
Sleep reduces your chances of diabetes
Researchers have shown that lack of sleep may lead to type 2 diabetes by affecting how your body processes glucose, which is the carbohydrate your cells use for fuel.
The Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School reports that a study showed a healthy group of people who had reduced their sleep from eight to four hours per night processed glucose more slowly. Other research initiatives have revealed that adults who usually sleep less than five hours per night have a greatly increased risk of developing diabetes.
Sleep reduces the occurrence of mood disorders.
With insufficient sleep during the night, many people become agitated or moody the following day. Yet, when limited sleep becomes a chronic issue, studies have shown it can lead to long-term mood disorders such as depression or anxiety.
The benefits of sleep are extensive and can make a difference in your quality of life, as well as the length of your life. Therefore, it is vital to place a priority on getting ample, consistent sleep.

http://www.lifestylematters.com

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Health Benefits of Water How 8 Glasses a Day Keeps Fat Away

Incredible as it may seem, water is quite possibly the single most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off. Although most of us take for granted, water may be the only true "magic potion" for permanent weight loss.
Water supresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits.
Here's why: The kidneys can't function properly without enough water. When they don't work to capacity, some of their load is dumped onto the liver. One of the liver's primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body. But if the liver has to do some of the kidney's work it can't operate at full throttle. As a result, it metabolizes less fat more fat remains stored in the body and weight loss stops.
Drinking enough water is the best treatment for fluid retention. When the body gets less water,it perceives this as a threat to survival and begins to hold on to every drop. Water is stored in extracellular spaces (outside the cell). This shows up as swollen feet, legs and hands.
Diuretics offer a temporary solution at best. They force out stored water along with some essential nutrients. Again, the body perceives a treat and will replace the lost water at the first opportunity. Thus, the condition quickly returns.
The best way to overcome the problem of water retention is to give your body what it needs -- plenty of water. Only then will stored water be released.
If you have a constant problem with water retention, excess salt may be to blame. Your body will tolerate sodium only in a certain concentration. The more salt you eat the more water your system retains to dilute it.
But getting rid of unneeded salt is easy -- just drink more water. As it's forced through the kidneys it takes away excess sodium.
The overweight person needs more water than a thin one. Larger people have larger metabolic loads. Since we know that water is the key to fat metabolism, it follows that the over weight person needs more water.
Water helps to maintain proper muscle tone by giving muscles their natural ability to contract and by preventing dehydration. It also helps to prevent the sagging skin that usually follows weigh loss -- shrinking cells are buoyed by water which plumps the skin and leaves it clear, healthy and resilient.
Water helps rid the body of waste. During weight loss, the body has a lot more waste to get rid of -- all that metabolized fat must be shed. Again, adequate water helps flush out the waste.
Water can help relieve constipation. When the body gets too little water, it siphons what it needs from internal sources. The colon is one primary source. Result? Constipation. But when a person drinks enough water, normal bowel function usually returns.
So far, we've discovered some remarkable truths about water and weight loss:

• The body will not function properly without enough water and can't metabolize stored fat efficiently.
  
• Retained water shows up as excess weight.
  
• To get rid of excess water you must drink more water.
  
• Drinking water is essential to weight loss.

How much water is enough? On the average, a person should drink eight 8-ounce glasses every day. That's about 2 quarts. However, the overweight person needs one additional glass for every 25 pounds of excess weight. The amount you drink also should be increased if you exercise briskly or if the weather is hot and dry. Water should preferably be cold. It's absorbed into the system more quickly than warm water. And some evidence suggests that drinking cold water can actually help burn calories. To utilize water most efficiently during weight loss, follow this schedule:

Morning: 1 quart consumed over a 30-minute period.
Noon: 1 quart consumed over a 30-minute period.
Evening: 1 quart consumed between five and six o'clock. When the body gets the water it needs to function optimally, it's fluids are perfectly balanced. When this happens, you have reached the "breakthrough point." What does this mean?

• Endocrine-gland function improves.
  
• Fluid retention is alleviated as stored water is lost.
  
• More fat is used as fuel because the liver is free to metabolize stored fat.
  
• Natural thirst returns.
  
• There is a loss of hunger almost over night.

If you stop drinking enough water, your body fluids will be thrown out of balance again, and you may experience fluid retention, unexplained weight gain and loss of thirst. To remedy the situation you'll have to go back and force another "breakthrough."

http://www.lifestylematters.com

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Your Family's Health: Make a New Start .

By Ann Matturro Gault
Reviewed by QualityHealth's Medical Advisory Board

This year, instead of the usual (work out more; eat less), consider what you can do to make your family healthier and happier.
Pediatrician Ari Brown, MD, says the new year is an ideal time to take a step back and evaluate where your family is going. "The art of parenting still exists," says the doctor who is the author of the Baby 411 book series. "We tend to get wrapped up in the day-to-day demands of our busy lives and sometimes lose sight of the big picture. Parenting, like any other job, requires intention and goal setting."

Dr. Brown's Healthy Family Resolutions:

1. Get moving. Be sure your children have at least 30 minutes a day of physical activity. "That can be walking the dog, playing chase in the yard, or even dancing to your iPod music," Brown says.
2. Limit screen time—ALL screens. "That includes TV, computers, videogames, iPads, etc. to no more than two hours a day," advises the expert. "Yes, some of these things may be educational games, etc, but you have to interact with humans at some point!"
3. Turn off electronics during meals. "Especially cell phones which are anti social and distracting. Dinner should be a sacred time for families to spend together," says Brown who forbids texting at her table.
4. Set a media curfew. If you have teens, you have cell phones, but Brown believes cell phones need a bedtime, too. "Avoid having your teen up all night texting by putting her phone to bed downstairs" or as an alternative, have your teen agree to shut the phone off before a certain hour.
5. Get more sleep! Brown believes sleep is underrated. "Set a reasonable bedtime and stick to it. Sleep is vital for mental health and physical development," says the expert who is the mother of two kids, ages 12 and 15. "Children's bodies are busy growing and their minds are learning all day long. They need their rest. Putting a 6-year-old to bed at 9 o'clock is too late."

Brush and floss and wash your hands. The American Dental Association says teeth should be brushed for a minimum of two minutes twice a day and flossed once a day. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says hand washing is an effective way to prevent the spread of germs and disease. Teach your kids proper hand washing technique: wash hands with clean, running water and soap for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the Happy Birthday song twice.

Eat less processed foods. Banish the 4 C's from the kitchen pantry: Cola, Chips, Cookies, Candy. "If it's out of the house, it will truly be a treat. If it is in the pantry, it is a staple," says Brown.

Get a flu vaccine. Everyone. "You are completely rolling the dice if you have your children immunized but don't bother with a shot for yourself," says the pediatrician. "Parents are susceptible, too. Kids bring home lots of germs so there is a ton of potential exposure in your own house!"

Make family dinner a priority...at least on weeknights. It helps the family reconnect at the end of the day and has a positive impact on your kids, no matter what their age.

Practice what you preach and enjoy your family. Remember, you are your child's role model but that doesn't mean you can't have fun. "Children really do grow up fast," says Brown. "You'll never regret spending time with your kids.

Sources:
Interview with Ari Brown, MD
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (for info on obesity and flu shots)
www.cdc.gov

Before You Pucker Up, Get the Facts about Kissing Allergies .

By Lisa D. Ellis
Reviewed by QualityHealth's Medical Advisory Board

Kissing is a great way to show your affection. But did you know that a greeting from someone else's lips can spark a serious reaction if you suffer from a food or medication allergy? Learn how best to protect yourself from before you pucker up.
The Danger of Kissing Allergies
If you're not familiar with the concept of kissing allergies, you're not alone. This isn't an allergy that affects many people. But if you have very severe allergic reactions, a danger exists when you have intimate contact with someone who has eaten food or taken medication to which you're allergic. Furthermore, according to researchers who studied kissing allergies and presented their findings at the 2010 annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI), the danger of second-hand exposure exists in circumstances beyond what you might expect.
The scientists believe that common allergy preventive tactics non-allergic partners may take such as brushing teeth, chewing gum, or waiting a few hours between consuming an allergen may not be enough. The reason these steps may not be effective is because the trigger can be excreted through saliva for at least several hours after ingestion. And even a peck on the forehead or cheek can be enough to trigger a reaction.
This means it's ultra important to avoid intimate contact for 24 hours.
Kissing Allergy Symptoms
Some of the types of symptoms that can be caused by a kissing allergy include:

• Swelling of lips or throat
• Rash or hives
• Itching
• Wheezing
• Vomiting

What You Can Do
If you're worried about the dangers kissing may pose for you, it's important to keep the situation in perspective. Only a small number of people actually have this highly sensitive reaction, although the danger of it occurring is very real. This means that if you suffer from serious food allergies, it's best to always proceed cautiously with any intimate contact.
ACAAI experts say that the best way to protect yourself is to have your partner refrain from eating or drinking anything you're allergic to for 24 hours before having contact with you. It's also essential that you let your family, friends, and colleagues know about your situation, too. Alerting people to this very real risk can be lifesaving. In addition, always check first before you kiss, so you can avoid taking any unnecessary risks.

Scientists think they’ve found the secret to our good and bad habits.

Scientists think they’ve found the secret to our good and bad habits. It has to do with the pleasure-sensing chemical dopamine, coursing up and down our body’s internal highways. According to an AP report this week, dopamine “conditions the brain to want that reward again and again—reinforcing the connection each time—especially when it gets the right cue from your environment” (South Bend Tribune 1-4-11). For example, you enjoy munching on chips (no doubt a healthful kind). You usually do it before supper, while you’re watching the evening news. (I know the routine well!) Dopamine links your desire for those chips to the environmental stimulus of watching the evening news, and pretty soon your brain’s dopamine-rich striatum region links both activities to a desired reward—pleasurable taste and relaxation. Turn on the news, get hungry for chips—munch some chips, turn on the television. The more repetitions, the stronger the dopamine tie that binds.
“‘Why are bad habits stronger? You’re fighting against the power of an immediate reward,’ says Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and an authority on the brain’s pleasure pathway. It’s the fudge vs. broccoli choice: Chocolate’s yum factor tends to beat out the knowledge that sticking with veggies brings an eventual reward of lost pounds. ‘We all as creatures are hard-wired that way, to give greater value to an immediate reward as opposed to something that’s delayed,’ Volkow says” (ibid).
And the problem is that we tend to overestimate our ability to resist temptations around us, “thus undermining attempts to shed bad habits, says experimental psychologist Loran Nordgren, an assistant professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. ‘People have this self-control hubris, this belief they can handle more than they can,’ says Nordgren, who studies the tug-of-war between willpower and temptation” (ibid).
All of which means that establishing good habits and ridding bad habits requires more than simply composing another list of New Year’s resolutions. “Been there—done that.” Based on this AP report of their studies, here are five new routines researchers recommend adding to your good-habits strategy:
“Repeat, repeat, repeat the new behavior—the same routine at the same time of day.” Pick a time of day, select an activity, and stick to it. Personal prayer and Bible study first thing the morning. Walking, jogging, working out at the same time each day. The striatum will eventually recognize the new habit and will “reward” you for faithfulness to the new routine, or “disturb” you when you neglect it.
“Exercise itself raises dopamine levels,” which means adding this good habit to your routine will raise your feel-good sense of vitality.
“Reward yourself with something you really desire.” A new book or a CD or an outfit you’ve been needing reinforces your own intentions to stick to good habit routine.
“Stress can reactivate the bad-habit circuitry.” So “chilling out” isn’t such a bad idea when your circuits are on overload.
“Cut out the rituals linked to your bad habits.” As the report puts it, “No eating in front of the TV, ever.”
But there’s one more strategy science can never measure. It’s your faith-factor. Repeat this dynamite promise from God daily and your striatum will quickly get the message:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Too simple? Hardly! Begin each day in quiet conversation with Him through a story-a-day reading through the Gospels, and you will unite yourself with Christ himself, as you discover for yourself his omnipotent friendship—a power even stronger than dopamine.

http://www.pmchurch.tv/blog/ 

 

The “New Wine” of the Kingdom.

And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles. Mark 2:22.
We need to be constantly filling the mind with Christ, and emptying it of selfishness and sin. When Christ came into the world, the leaders of the Jews were so permeated with Phariseeism that they could not receive His teachings. Jesus compared them to the shriveled wineskins which were not fit to receive the new wine from the vintage. He had to find new bottles into which to put the new wine of His kingdom. This was why He turned away from the Pharisees, and chose the lowly fishermen of Galilee.
Jesus was the greatest teacher the world ever knew, and He chose men whom He could educate, and who would take the words from His lips, and send them down along the line to our time. So, by His Spirit and His Word, He would educate you for His work. Just as surely as you empty your mind of vanity and frivolity, the vacuum will be supplied with that which God is waiting to give you—His Holy Spirit. Then out of the good treasure of the heart you will bring forth good things, rich gems of thought, and others will catch the words, and will begin to glorify God. Then you will not have the mind centered upon self. You will not be making a show of self; you will not be acting self; but your thoughts and affections will dwell upon Christ, and you will reflect upon others that which has shone upon you from the Sun of righteousness.
Christ has said: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink” (John 7:37). Have you exhausted the fountain?—No; for it is inexhaustible. Just as soon as you feel your need, you may drink, and drink again. The fountain is always full. And when you have once drunk of that fountain, you will not be seeking to quench your thirst from the broken cisterns of this world; you will not be studying how you can find the most pleasure, amusement, fun, and frolic. No; because you have been drinking from the stream which makes glad the city of God. Then your joy will be full; for Christ will be in you, the hope of glory.—The Review and Herald, March 15, 1892.
www.lifestylematters.com 

Relief for Tension Headaches.

There has been a dramatic increase in tension headaches caused by people working long hours on computers and sitting for extended periods doing paperwork. Stress adds to this type of headache. Tension headaches can be some of the most severe headaches and most resistant to treatment. Here are some simple remedies. Poor posture is a sure cause of tension headaches. If you find yourself sitting for an extended period, make it a point to practice good posture. Stop working at your computer or desk every hour and stretch your neck muscles. While stretching, give the muscles in the back of your neck a good, deep massage. Many people are surprised to find that they have severe pain when they massage their neck muscles. This is a result of not stretching neck muscles adequately. If you suffer from migraines, check out my report "Anxiety, Panic Disorder & Migraines: Fight Back Using Nature’s Elixier’s." I have cured a number of people of vertigo and dizziness just by teaching them how to massage their neck muscles. Neck muscle spasm is a major cause for spells of dizziness. These exercises could save you a trip to the doctor. Apply a warm, wet cloth to the back of your neck while massaging your neck muscles. Include the muscles of your shoulders and those between your shoulder blades. A professional massage can help a great deal. You can use an assortment of analgesic rubs such as Bengay or essential oils. Here are additional ways to fight back: • A major cause of headache is stress, so take time from your busy day to relax. For more information on reducing stress, see my report "Good Sleep: Stop Insomnia, Reduce Stress, Boost Your Total Health". • Sleep is essential. One of the most common causes of headaches is lack of sleep, so be sure to get what your body needs — usually eight hours. • If you get a headache, apply a warm compress to the affected area. Also, soak a towel in warm water and apply it to the back of your neck. • Make sure you eat — hunger is another common cause of headaches. But what you eat is vital. Stay away from excitotoxic food additives, like monosodium glutamate, known as MSG. • Drink plenty of water. Water can cool your body down, which can reduce headaches. Eight glasses of distilled water a day are recommended. For more of Dr. Blaylock’s weekly tips, go here to view the archive.   © 2011 Newsmax. All rights reserved. Special Links Sugar and Other Foods Shorten Your Lifespan Learn the Secrets Doctors Don't Know That Can Save Your Life Secret Government Plan Could Wipe Out Your Life Savings Doctor: Olive Oil Can Actually Heal Your Heart, Brain Have a Question for Dr. Blaylock? Ask . . . * Required *E-mail Address: *First Name: Last Name: *Postal Code: *Question: Sign me up for free e-mail Health Alerts from Newsmax.com

Health Benefits of Water.

Allow me to share with you something we all take for granted, but very essential to living,water!! yes water.Incredible as it may seem, water is quite possibly the single most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off. Although most of us take for granted, water may be the only true "magic potion" for permanent weight loss.
Water supresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits.
Here's why: The kidneys can't function properly without enough water. When they don't work to capacity, some of their load is dumped onto the liver. One of the liver's primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body. But if the liver has to do some of the kidney's work it can't operate at full throttle. As a result, it metabolizes less fat more fat remains stored in the body and weight loss stops.
Drinking enough water is the best treatment for fluid retention. When the body gets less water,it perceives this as a threat to survival and begins to hold on to every drop. Water is stored in extracellular spaces (outside the cell). This shows up as swollen feet, legs and hands.
Diuretics offer a temporary solution at best. They force out stored water along with some essential nutrients. Again, the body perceives a treat and will replace the lost water at the first opportunity. Thus, the condition quickly returns.
The best way to overcome the problem of water retention is to give your body what it needs -- plenty of water. Only then will stored water be released.
If you have a constant problem with water retention, excess salt may be to blame. Your body will tolerate sodium only in a certain concentration. The more salt you eat the more water your system retains to dilute it.
But getting rid of unneeded salt is easy -- just drink more water. As it's forced through the kidneys it takes away excess sodium.
The overweight person needs more water than a thin one. Larger people have larger metabolic loads. Since we know that water is the key to fat metabolism, it follows that the over weight person needs more water.
Water helps to maintain proper muscle tone by giving muscles their natural ability to contract and by preventing dehydration. It also helps to prevent the sagging skin that usually follows weigh loss -- shrinking cells are buoyed by water which plumps the skin and leaves it clear, healthy and resilient.
Water helps rid the body of waste. During weight loss, the body has a lot more waste to get rid of -- all that metabolized fat must be shed. Again, adequate water helps flush out the waste.
Water can help relieve constipation. When the body gets too little water, it siphons what it needs from internal sources. The colon is one primary source. Result? Constipation. But when a person drinks enough water, normal bowel function usually returns.
So far, we've discovered some remarkable truths about water and weight loss:

• The body will not function properly without enough water and can't metabolize stored fat efficiently.
  
• Retained water shows up as excess weight.
  
• To get rid of excess water you must drink more water.
  
• Drinking water is essential to weight loss.

How much water is enough? On the average, a person should drink eight 8-ounce glasses every day. That's about 2 quarts. However, the overweight person needs one additional glass for every 25 pounds of excess weight. The amount you drink also should be increased if you exercise briskly or if the weather is hot and dry. Water should preferably be cold. It's absorbed into the system more quickly than warm water. And some evidence suggests that drinking cold water can actually help burn calories. To utilize water most efficiently during weight loss, follow this schedule:

Morning: 1 quart consumed over a 30-minute period.
Noon: 1 quart consumed over a 30-minute period.
Evening: 1 quart consumed between five and six o'clock. When the body gets the water it needs to function optimally, it's fluids are perfectly balanced. When this happens, you have reached the "breakthrough point." What does this mean?

• Endocrine-gland function improves.
  
• Fluid retention is alleviated as stored water is lost.
  
• More fat is used as fuel because the liver is free to metabolize stored fat.
  
• Natural thirst returns.
  
• There is a loss of hunger almost over night.

If you stop drinking enough water, your body fluids will be thrown out of balance again, and you may experience fluid retention, unexplained weight gain and loss of thirst. To remedy the situation you'll have to go back and force another "breakthrough."

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