The Importance of Cellular Hydration

Why should we drink plenty of water? Here's why...

It's officially cold outside and I find that I can't go anywhere without my lip balm... and a back up in case I lose the first! Lip balm has become my crutch for the chilly seasons. No matter how much I moisturize and use lip balms, my lips still seem to feel the sting and bite of dry windy winter weather! I started to think there must be something more than just the cold causing this! Guess what? There is: dehydration.

We're all told to drink plenty of water each day, but do we know what happens when we aren't drinking enough? Some common symptoms (depending on the level of dehydration, of course) are: mood swings, emotionally liable, quick to feel stress, dry skin, chapped lips, headaches, chronic fatigue (even coffee won't help if you're dehydrated!), allergies, asthma, dizziness, muscle cramps, weight gain, food cravings, insomnia, high blood pressure... This list goes on and terrifyingly on! But water to the rescue!

Feeling thirsty? Don't ignore that urge! Our bodies are composed of 25% solid matter and 75% water and our brains are composed of 85% water. Even our bones, hard and seemingly solid, are made up of 25% water!* With water being a key element in our body composition, it's no wonder that it plays a major role in basic bodily functions: it helps the body metabolize fat, convert food into energy, prevents wrinkles, supplies essential nutrients to the cells, flushes out toxins, builds a strong immune system, fights fatigue, helps prevent disease, increases mental acuity... Yes, we definitely need water to live!

There's more to hydration than drinking water. Drinking plenty of water will give us water outside of our cells (we're made of billions of these little guys!). What we all want is cellular hydration: water within our cells. So how do we achieve cellular hydration? We need water and minerals! *Read more about cellular hydration and the importance of water in Dr. Neetu Dhiman's article featured in the Richmond Review.

Time to go and refill my water bottle!

Image sources: Sarah Does Fitness, Chasing 42

Looking for some good and informative reads?

Read on for eight Webber Naturals archival gems!

It's the weekend and we've got some great Webber Naturals posts from the past. With articles and tips being published everyday, it's easy for useful information to get buried in the archives. I did some digging and I've decided it's time for us to put on our glasses and brush up on our health facts! Here are eight informative posts that will keep you in the know:

I love to sleep. Fortunately for me, it's an extremely important part of our lives. Unfortunately, I, like so many others, probably do not get enough Zzz's every night. Read The Importance of Sleep for a fabulous infographic and learn why sleep is so valuable!

Feeling stressed? Deep Breath, and Relax... Breathing for healing: how the right breathing method can help you heal.

Busy schedules call for innovative fitness! Margaret Peters worked her journalistic muscle and shares how you can squeeze a workout into your day: Get Fit in a Flash? 20 Second Fitness

Coffee drinkers rejoice! There may be more to coffee than just keeping you awake! Find out in Woohoo! Coffee's Good for You!

With new TV show seasons starting up again this week after the summer hiatus, you may see more of actress and Vampire Diaries star, Nina Dobrev. I don't know about you, but every time I see her, I wish I had her flawless skin! Read Get Skin Like Nina Dobrev's with Webber Naturals and find out how you can get the Photoshop finish naturally!

That said, ladies, we will most likely still be using makeup. Know what not to put on your face. I'm Talking Toxin-free Makeup, Webber Naturals' tips for healthy skin, inside and out!

Gentlemen, I haven't forgotten you, sirs. We know life keeps you busy and you could use some quick and concise information to keep you healthy. Webber Naturals expert, Dr. Stephanie Rubino, has shared her Essential Health Tips for Men on the Go: Part 1 and Essential Health Tips for Men on the Go: Part 2!

And there you have it! Now you've got the tools to be a smart owl too! Have a great weekend everyone!

Image source: Amy Hamilton Art Prints

Webber Naturals Puts Olive Oil Rumours to Rest

As I was blog browsing, I found a post that mentioned a shocking statement about olive oil: it was potentially toxic. How could this delicious ingredient be toxic?! On one hand, people rave about the health benefits of olive oil. On the other, polar opposite hand, some people say it's toxic to use for cooking. So which one is it?

Cooking with olive oil: healthy or toxic?!

I think it's safe to assume that olive oil is not a life-threatening food! I have yet to hear anything in the news about death by olive oil! However, there are concerns over cooking with olive oil and it all has to do with 'smoke point.' When cooking in high heat with olive oil, you reach the 'smoke point' when it literally begins to smoke.

At this point, the olive oil is being burnt and experiencing decomposition; a chemical reaction is taking place that changes the composition of the molecules that makup olive oil. This decomposition ruins the flavour and reduces the beneficial nutrients, such as antioxidants, replacing them with the not so nutritious molecules, free radicals.

Inhaling smoke is never a good idea as well. If your olive oil is smoking, it's not too far away from its 'flash point': it could ignite! Playing with fire? Definite hazard. Unexpected cooking fires in the pan instead of under it? I think we know the answer to this one: health hazard.

Olive oil is full of good things like Omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acids, vitamins E and other antioxidants. Treat your olive oil well, my friends, and don't be afraid to cook with it. Maybe, avoid experimenting with its smoke point and then eating it right after! For very high heat cooking, try using canola, safflower, sesame, coconut or even avocado oil instead.

Now I really feel like eating bread with olive oil and salt! Spanish style...

Click for more information on olive oil and cooking oils and information on smoke points.

Image source: Life 123