Contaminated Bottled Water

Bottled water costs 2,000 times more than tap water, but is it worth the extra price tag? The answer may surprise you. The Environmental Working Group recently released a report that found "38 different contaminants in 10 brands of bottled drinking water, including bacteria, acetaminophen, fertilizers, solvents, plastic-making chemicals, and the radioactive element strontium."

Skip the bottled water and get a filter for your tap. Besides, 40% of all bottled water is actually tap water! A water filter is key for tap water, as recent studies have found pharmaceuticals (antibiotics, sex hormones and antidepressants) in the water of 24 major US cities. To remove heavy metals, drugs, and other chemicals from your water, look into getting a reverse-osmosis or nanofiltration system.

Source: Natural Solutions

Fruit of the Month

Summer is around the corner and the kiwi is calling your name! This deliciously tart yet sweet fruit packs a whopping 219% of the DRI (daily reference intake) for Vitamin C and 21% of the DRI for fiber, with only 108 calories and under 1 g of fat per cup (approximately 2 large kiwis).

Fun fact: Kiwi actually originated in China during the 14th century, where it was called the gooseberry. It was renamed when New Zealand started producing it commercially.

Two Eggs a Day...

A recent study in the International Journal of Obesity found that "eating 2 eggs a day for breakfast helps you lose 65% more weight and gain more energy than a bagel of equal calories." Eggs give you lots of protein with a small amount of calories, and since protein makes you feel satisfied quicker and longer than carbs - it makes sense to eat eggs for breakfast. The yolk of the egg is high in cholesterol but also contains about 40% of the egg's protein (as well as antioxidants like zeaxanthin and lutein which are important for preventing macular degeneration). So if you don't have a history of high cholesterol, two eggs a day won't likely hurt you. Just watch what you are eating with those eggs...sausage, bacon, home fries, butter or grease are items to stay away from. Instead, pair eggs with fruit, whole-wheat toast or yogurt and cook your eggs in olive or canola oil.



Source: Natural Solutions

Ear Infections = Weight Gain?

New research has shown that frequent ear infections damage taste buds, causing an increased preference for sugary and fatty foods...leading to weight gain. "People who suffered moderate to severe middle ear infections when they were younger were 62% more likely to be obese." The same connection has been made between childhood tonsillectomies and obesity.



Source: Natural Solutions

A Great Reason to Drink Cocoa

"A new study from the Yale School of Medicine found that people who sipped 2 cups of sugar-free cocoa daily improved blood flow by 5% and cut their blood pressure by 3-4 points, which can lower their cardiovascular disease risk. Skip packets with added sugar; the sweetener raises insulin and restricts blood flow, say researchers, limiting the benefits you'd get from the antioxidants in cocoa."



Source: Shape

Preventing Alzheimer's

Beth Reardon, R.D, an integrative nutritionist at Duke Integrative Medicine says, " Alzheimer's begins when a protein in the brain, called CD40, sends out stress signals trigerring an inflammatory response that ultimately kill brain cells." A new study from the University of Illinois found that green peppers and celery are packed with a flavonoid called luteolin. Luteolin diminishes CD40's signals and inhibits inflammation in the brain, which protects the cells from dying.


Source: Natural Solutions

Improve Your Posture

iPosture is a new device that can help improve your posture. The device (found at http://www.iposture.com/) is just bigger than a bottle cap and can worn on your bra, shirt, pendant, or directly on your chest. You record your posture sitting up nice and tall and throughout the day it will vibrate when you slouch for a minute or more. iPosture retails at $64.95 and it can help decrease pain from poor posture. It also helps you make good posture a part of your daily routine. Eventually, it will come naturally and you won't need the device.