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Elderly and drinking water

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Waterborne contaminants are not a new health risk. It has been the topic of discussion for years, inciting debates on policies, restrictions and technology when it comes to the water you use every day. Last year, a study by the University of California-Berkley’s School of Public Health shed some light on a population that may be more susceptible that the rest when it comes to contamination: the elderly. The report showed while some risk levels are acceptable for the public at large, the “immunocompromised” may need to invest in extra precautions. The article Increased Risk in the Elderly from Tap Water Consumption goes on to say, “…POU drinking water filters were found to reduce stomach illness in the elderly (persons over the age of 55). The incidence of highly credible gastrointestinal disease among those with and without purification systems differed by 12 percent, a statistically significant improvement. It is important to note that the supplied water was from a high quality, treated source in Sonoma County, California that met all state federal water quality standards during the survey period. Thus, the additional rate of illness could be even higher in less quality supplies that are not treated at the POU.” The overarching theme of these studies is to simply make people aware of their water. It is up to the individual to watch their faucet, and it is up to the individual to do something about it if there is an issue. source – www.culliganh2pointo.com

What does “TDS” mean to you?

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TDS (Total Dissolved Solids)

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) is a term used to define the amount of all the dissolved minerals in the water. Dissolved solids come from rock dissolved by water. High dissolved solids may have the following effects:
  • Bad Taste – This could be really any variety of tastes, but more common would be salty, bitter, or astringent
  • Scaling – High hardness in conjunction with high alkalinity or sulfates causes scale
  • Spotting – Even with soft water, a residue can be left behind on a surface after the water has evaporated
  • Mineral Fur – Mineral Fur is found around water spigots/faucets due to the accumulation of solids upon evaporation
  • Laxative Effect – caused by high sulfate
The Federal Drinking Water Standard on TDS is 500 ppm.   http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/secondarystandards.cfm The best way to treat high TDS is through reverse osmosis.  It is important to know your TDS levels ahead of time before you purchase any equipment.  Reverse osmosis (RO) will have certain limits as to how much TDS it can reduce depending on make and model.  Other important factors in reverse osmosis is feed pressure and temperature.  It may be necessary to add booster pumps either before or after an RO depending on those factors.  More information on RO can be found here:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_osmosis

Is Flouride Necessary? Part 1 of 5

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Here is a 5 part interview that addresses the issue of Fluoride being added to our Municipality water system. Is Fluoride necessary? Over the next 5 days take the time to watch this series of interviews. Its well worth your time “Natural health advocate Dr. Joseph Mercola and Fluoride Action Network head Dr. Paul Connett talks about the potential dangers of water fluoridation and what you can do to help remove fluoride from your water supply”

Whats in your water?

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One of the best new tools on our blog is the “What’s in Your Water?” widget ( found on the left sidebar, and seen below.) It is produced by the Environmental Work Group, a third-party watchdog organization on a mission to “expose threats to your health and the environment, and to find solutions.” Their research is incredibly detailed, and their Drinking Water Quality Report is nationally renowned. What’s more, the widget is incredibly intuitive. Plug in your zip code, press search, and get educated. A few points worth noting on this site:
  • The testing timeline differs from area to area. Some of the analysis was finished in 2007, some as recent as 2010. As you can imagine, the breadth of such a report takes time.
  • In some cases, the health standards and the legal standards differ.
  • The site is mostly written in layman’s terms.
  • Regardless of the limitations of the study, the results are well worth noting.
An example of a query into water in New Ulm, MN (note: this is simply a summary, a much more detailed report is offered):

Packing a School Lunch that makes the Grade!

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With back-to-school season in full swing, Culligan is providing tips to help parents ensure their kids get the nutrition and hydration they need to ensure A+ performance throughout the school day. Brown Bag It for Balance While a packed lunch isn’t automatically healthier than one bought at school, it does offer certain advantages. When you pack your child’s lunch you can be sure it includes healthy foods that are also their favorites. Parents should follow balanced diet guidelines, including a mix of the four basic food groups: grains, fruits, vegetables, meat or protein foods, and dairy foods like milk and cheese1. Just Say No to Soda & Juice Dehydration can lead to a reduction both mental and physical functions, oftentimes affecting a student’s performance in the classroom.  Parents should be picky when selecting a drink for their child’s lunch. Unlike sugary sodas and fruit juices – which can contribute to tooth decay and weight gain, elevate blood sugar levels and attribute to unnecessary caloric intake2 – water helps improve digestion and keeps the body feeling fuller longer, helping kids resist the urge to snack throughout the school day. Encourage Your Kids to be Eco-Friendly Americans buy an estimated 29.8 billion plastic water bottles ever year, with nearly eight out of every 10 bottles ending up in a landfill3. Parents can help their kids make a positive impact on the environment by switching out plastic water bottles for reusable, non-toxic aluminum and stainless steel water containers. These eco-friendly water bottle options can be easily filled at home with and refilled while at school; ensuring all-day hydration. Parents can also select reusable plastic containers for food that’s packed in their child’s lunch, instead of plastic baggies that are thrown away after one use. Healthy Hydration Starts at Home Packing clean, fresh tasting water for lunch is a snap when parents have access to bottled-water quality water at the touch of a button. A drinking water system from Culligan provides an endless supply of clean, refreshing drinking water right at the kitchen sink. And with better tasting water always available, encouraging kids to drink water with every meal just got easier. 1”School Lunches”. Kids Health. Online: http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/school_stuff/school_lunches.html# 2 “Kid’s health: Benefits of drinking water”. Health and Fitness: Nutrition. Helium.com. Online: http://www.helium.com/items/1825815-children-and-water 3 “Facts About Plastic Bottles”. Earth911.com. Online: http://earth911.com/recycling/plastic/plastic-bottles/facts-about-plastic-bottles/
Posted by Jennifer Griffin at 8/9/2010 9:17 AM

I will have water please!

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Summer is here, and boy is it is hot out. With this heat, staying hydrated is incredibly important. Be conscious of what beverage you are reaching for to quench your thirst. The popular, calorie-heavy beverages, like soda, are actually increasing your body’s need for water. Perhaps this is why an estimated 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.  And according to studies, in an estimated 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is mistaken for hunger. People are eating when they are actually thirsty – a tall glass of water can prevent all of this from happening. While you’re outside enjoying the holiday weekend, go with the glass or bottle of water to quench your thirst, rather than the carbonated, sugary soft drink. The decision between water and soda should be an easy one. In case you need a little more convincing, these figures should help: Drinking five glasses of water daily is said to decrease the risk of colon cancer by 45%, slash the risk of breast cancer by 79% and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer. I don’t know about you, but I’m thirsty – or am I hungry? I’m confused now. Tall glass of water, please! written by – Peter Raisch

Drink Up – Some Home Water Test

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There is a theme I am hitting on right now, and it’s Drinking Water Month. So, here are some very quick ways to get an indication on how your drinking water stacks up.
  1. Check your ice cubes. If they are cloudy, you may have a water issue.
  2. Take the sniff test. Does your water have an odor? Is it similar to a swimming pool smell? Or a rotten egg smell?
  3. If you have a pet, pour some water from a bottle in a bowl and some tap water in another bowl. If your pet chooses to drink the bottled water, you may have high levels of chlorine in your tap water.
  4. Make a cup of tea with bottled water and one with tap water. Put the teas in a glass. If the tap water tea is darker than the bottled water tea, then you may benefit from a reverse osmosis (RO) drinking water system.
  5. Track how much you spend each week on single-serve bottled water. If it’s more than $5 weekly, you could put a virtual “bottled water plant” under your sink for only pennies a glass.
Written by Peter Raisch
Virtual Drinking Water Plant!

So I ran a Marathon…

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Austin Marathon Finish Line!
I ran a marathon! Great right? I was super excited to train for this not only for the great accomplishment but excited to see how it would change my body. I will be in the best shape of my life! Well, so I thought. Although I was exercising more then I’ve ever exercised before, worked harder then I’ve ever worked before I actually gained a few pounds while training. I am aware of what I eat and aim to eat a healthy balanced diet. The difference in my diet is that I started consuming gels/gu’s and sports drinks. Basically drinking a lot of calories that I normally don’t. My rule is to not drink my calories, besides my one cup of orange juice in the AM. I stick to water and un-sweet tea and some diet soda although I did cut that out while training. This phenomenon happened to my good friend too who is also a woman. Our husbands on the other hand lost weight while consuming more calories, go figure! What did I learn in my training experience? I will stick to more good water while training and not as many sports drinks! Written by – Katy Garner Bookmark and Share

Healthy lives start with water, from pregnancy and beyond

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Did you know that water is an important part of a healthy pregnancy? While staying hydrated is always an important step toward maintaining a fit lifestyle, pregnancy presents specific circumstances that make hydration – and cleaner, safer water – even more vital. Combat the Side Effects of Pregnancy Proper hydration can aid in preparing your body for the side effects and physical changes of pregnancy, while ensuring your baby experiences healthy fetal development. The hormonal changes associated with pregnancy can alter the way women store water in their bodies, often leading to water retention. While it might seem counter-intuitive, drinking the recommended eight glasses of water a day can actually alleviate excess water retention.  Staying properly hydrated can also replace fluids that are lost due to increased perspiration and urination, which are side effects commonly associated with pregnancy. Plus, as your blood volume increases during the third trimester, the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular problems can increase.  Maintaining a healthy intake of water can help reduce the risk of these conditions1.

Water Your Growing Baby

Did you know that water can also nurture your growing baby throughout the gestational period? Proper hydration aids in the flow of nutrients to the baby through your blood. Also, the amniotic sack that protects your baby in the womb depends on fluid that must be replaced every hour by a cup of water that is stored in the body2. If you’re dehydrated, your body may not have the fluids necessary to ensure the amniotic fluid surrounding your baby is properly replenished. Dehydration can also lead to harmful effects on your baby’s development, such as an excessively warm maternal environment and, potentially, preterm labor and delivery3. Nurture Your Newborn If you choose to breastfeed once your baby is born, keep in mind that you may feel even thirstier than normal. That’s because the hormones involved with milk-making cause your body to conserve water. Failing to get enough fluids to replenish your body’s water supply can impact how much milk you’re able to produce. This can also lead to constipation, fatigue and impaired concentration4. Safe, Refreshing Water: Just a Taste Away Ensuring the water you drink is free of potentially harmful contaminates is crucial. The cleaner, safer water you get from a Culligan drinking water system will make a difference toward a healthy, happy pregnancy.  Contact Culligan today for a free water analysis to see how a Culligan water system can deliver better drinking water to you and your baby – during pregnancy and beyond. Bookmark and Share 1 and 2 “The Benefits of Water in Pregnancy.” Pregnancy Info.net. Online: http://www.pregnancy-info.net/benefits_water.html 3 “Water Consumption During Pregnancy”. Mediconsult’s Nutrition Services. StorkNet. Online: http://www.storknet.com/experts/nutrition/cd21.htm 4 Mary Silva, M.S, R.D. “Dietary Tips for Breastfeeding Moms”. Dr. Spock.com. Online: http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,5370,00.html
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3900 State Hwy 6 Suite 102
College Station, Texas 77845

(979) 314-0333

Proudly Serving the Brazos Valley : College Station, Bryan, Caldwell, Navasota, Hearne, Franklin, Calvert, Snook, Richards, Bedias, Anderson, Madisonville, Shiro, Somerville