Salt Your Watermelon!

A mouthwatering hydration suggestion during this Extreme Heat 

Salt your watermelon!

Can I just say YUM!!

My mother prompted me to try this. Truly I thought she ruined a perfectly good slice of watermelon ~ that is until I bit into heaven! Talk about an explosion of flavors. 

Adding salt took the sweet, sour and bitter usual, and morphed it into monumental sweetness. (Apparently salt knocks down any bitterness.) 

This has become a staple in my house. With today’s dangerously high heat index, I cannot think of a more yummy way to stay hydrated. 

In case you need more reasons to try this tasty treat:

1 cup of watermelon offers many nutrients, including Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Potassium, Magnesium, Vitamin B1, B5, and B6  

Even though watermelon has a high water content, fluids need the presence of sodium to cause water to be absorbed into the cells of the body. Natural salts - Celtic Sea Salt and Himalayan Salt - are loaded with mineral nutrition that the body needs. (Stay away from iodized or bleached processed salt.) (Of course, keep your personal health requirements in mind. If you have high blood pressure, this may not be the treat for you.) 

Salted watermelon is actually a great post-workout snack. 

Kids may fight you when it comes to drinking water to stay hydrated... But they won’t when it comes to eating salted watermelon! 

(Ok... maybe they’ll still fight... but this time it will be for another piece!)

Are You Dehydrated?

1st Obvious Signs: You’re thirsty, your tongue, mouth and lips are dry. You have a headache, or are lightheaded, dizzy, even weak and lethargic. Your urine is dark.

The adverse effects and symptoms only gets worse from here...

Focusing on tasks become difficult. Concentration and alertness wain, mood is effected due to fatigue and confusion. That fatigue and confusion impairs physical performance - further reducing motivation and endurance. To add to all this, your body temperature increases. 

Health consequences to dehydration are of particular concern for the elderly and very young. 

When it comes to metabolic processing, balancing electrolytes, regulating temperature, and the ability to lubricate internal organs and joints - making sure we are well hydrated is a big deal!

There is much to factor in: environmental conditions, your level of physical activity, dietary intake, age. Think input verses output. 

🍷🍸🍹Alcohol and Caffeine Increase Water Loss 🍺🍻

Read more here ⇛ Causes of Dehydration and Dehydration Symptoms

Your Stress Affects Your Children

Many years ago, I listened to my Professor explain that the constitution of a child, at the very moment of conception, was determined by the health and well-being of the parents. Like a recipe that starts with quality ingredients, that precious embryo was best served by parents that were mentally, emotionally, and physically well. 

The subject was initially broached concerning drugs, alcohol, and/or poor diet - but as the Professor continued, it became clear the moment of conception went far beyond the obvious... 

Today, there is plenty of evidence, research and studies to back up what might have been controversial 27+ years ago. (yeesh ... I am outing my age... )

How Dad’s Stresses Get Passed Along to Offspring explains intercellular communication passing paternal experiences to their children. 

“A stressed-out and traumatized father can leave scars in his children. New research suggests this happens because sperm “learn” paternal experiences via a mysterious mode of intercellular communication in which small blebs break off one cell and fuse with another.”

It’s not just the Dad’s... 

The Effects of Prenatal Stress on Child Behavioural and Cognitive Outcomes Start at the Beginning

"It is now clear that environmental effects on fetal development are important with respect to emotional, behavioural and cognitive outcomes too." 

Bottom line - >  Your stress affects your children - from day one. 

Make sure to take care of all aspects of YOU. 

Dr.'s Writing Prescriptions for Art!

"We've been fostering a culture that's popping pills and Prozac, when what we should be doing is more prevention and perspiration." - British Health Secretary, Matt Hancock

I could not agree more!! Creativity, Art, Music, Dance, Singing... and form of authentic expression is essential for health and well-being. Mental, emotional AND physical. (Physical, because given that stress is the #1 modern killer, we need to be proactive. If we wait until we have pain, it's too late. Any method you have that reduces stress, is a step towards positivity.)

How perfect is this!! -> British Doctors May Soon Prescribe Art, Music, Dance, Singing Lessons

Lift Heavy Boxes with Your Brain

Before setting out to lift a heavy box, a piece of equipment, etc., lift it with your brain. Size it up and ask yourself if lifting this object by yourself is worth an aching back. 

If you decide you can manage a heavy object by yourself, follow these back saving guidelines:

1.  Stand as close to the object as possible. 

2.  Bend your knees (don't bend your waist). 

3.  Concentrate on lifting with your thigh muscles (not your back muscles). If your thigh muscles aren't up to the job, get someone to help you lift the thing. 

4.  While you're lifting, keep the object as close to your body as possible. 

5.  Don't twist your waist while you're carrying the object; if you must turn, turn with your feet. 

Remember that pushing a heavy object is easier on your back than pulling.