The Starting Blocks
Monday, September 24, 2007
Enhanced Water - Questionable
"Bottled water, one of the most popular beverages on the market, now comes purified, remineralized, electrolyte-enhanced and infused with vitamins, minerals, herbs and oxygen. Are these souped-up products worth it? Or are you better off sipping a glass of Emergen-C?
We asked several registered dietitians, who agreed that the health claims for enhanced waters are "iffy" and that food is a far better source of nutrients. Consumers, meanwhile, should watch out for added sweeteners and calories.
"None of the ingredients are harmful," said Kris Clark, director of sports nutrition and assistant professor of nutrition at Penn State University. "The question consumers should ask themselves include: Are the ingredients useful to me? Do I need these ingredients? Or do I just need water?"
Chances are, you just need plain old water."
Quoted from the Chicagotribune.com
Watch the claims, watch the ingredients.
We asked several registered dietitians, who agreed that the health claims for enhanced waters are "iffy" and that food is a far better source of nutrients. Consumers, meanwhile, should watch out for added sweeteners and calories.
"None of the ingredients are harmful," said Kris Clark, director of sports nutrition and assistant professor of nutrition at Penn State University. "The question consumers should ask themselves include: Are the ingredients useful to me? Do I need these ingredients? Or do I just need water?"
Chances are, you just need plain old water."
Quoted from the Chicagotribune.com
Watch the claims, watch the ingredients.
Labels: sports nutrition, water
Friday, September 21, 2007
Water - Friend or Foe?
"Fluoride is a known toxin, slightly less toxic than arsenic and more poisonous than lead. The industrial chemicals used to fluoridate over 90 percent of fluoridated water in the United States, (fluorosilicate acid and sodium silicofluoride), are by-products of the phosphate fertilizer industry and have never been tested for safety or effectiveness. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA), has declared the substance to be a hazardous waste and made it illegal to dump at sea." Source
Fluoride is a micronutrient. We need a minuscule amount to achieve the benefits we're looking for.
Large amounts of fluoride is used to kill rodents. This is why fluoride is categorized in the medical world as a poison. Too much fluoride intake by humans cause the bones to become brittle and less fracture-resistant because this is where excess fluoride in the body accumulates.
Other known side effects of fluoride over-dose:
1 - Disrupts the synthesis of collagen.
2 - Leads to breakdown in the bone, tendon, skin, cartilage, lungs, trachea, and kidney.
3 - Inhibits the formation of antibodies in the blood.
4 - Has a disruptive effect on various tissues in the body.
5 - Confuses the immune system causing it to attack its own tissues.
Water is essential to the serious athlete... Good quality water with no harmful additives is what is essential to the serious athlete.
Fluoride is a micronutrient. We need a minuscule amount to achieve the benefits we're looking for.
Large amounts of fluoride is used to kill rodents. This is why fluoride is categorized in the medical world as a poison. Too much fluoride intake by humans cause the bones to become brittle and less fracture-resistant because this is where excess fluoride in the body accumulates.
Other known side effects of fluoride over-dose:
1 - Disrupts the synthesis of collagen.
2 - Leads to breakdown in the bone, tendon, skin, cartilage, lungs, trachea, and kidney.
3 - Inhibits the formation of antibodies in the blood.
4 - Has a disruptive effect on various tissues in the body.
5 - Confuses the immune system causing it to attack its own tissues.
Water is essential to the serious athlete... Good quality water with no harmful additives is what is essential to the serious athlete.
Labels: sports drinks, sports nutrition, water
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Bodies of Water
Curt's wife wrote the following. Even though she is not at all athletic (in any way, shape or form), I think she wrote something that is very appropriate for "The Starting Blocks".
People have different percentages of water in their bodies
depending on age, gender and diet.
New born babies are comprised of the largest percentage
of water, at about 78%. By one year of age, that amount
reduces to about 65%.
Adult men have an average of 60% of water in their bodies.
Adult women carry about 55%.
Fat tissue does not hold as much water as lean tissue. So
the more overweight a person is, the less water they are
comprised of.
Even an average percentage of water in the body should cause concern over water quality issues. If you have 55% water in your body wouldn't you want it to be as pure as possible?
How much good, pure, non-contaminated water does an athlete need?
"Water is the most neglected nutrient in your diet but one of the most vital." - Kelly Barton
People have different percentages of water in their bodies
depending on age, gender and diet.
New born babies are comprised of the largest percentage
of water, at about 78%. By one year of age, that amount
reduces to about 65%.
Adult men have an average of 60% of water in their bodies.
Adult women carry about 55%.
Fat tissue does not hold as much water as lean tissue. So
the more overweight a person is, the less water they are
comprised of.
Even an average percentage of water in the body should cause concern over water quality issues. If you have 55% water in your body wouldn't you want it to be as pure as possible?
How much good, pure, non-contaminated water does an athlete need?
"Water is the most neglected nutrient in your diet but one of the most vital." - Kelly Barton
