according to Grandjean. “Healthy urine should have some color,” she counsels. Certain vitamins, such as riboflavin (B2


darken urine.


MYTH: Drinking a lot of water suppresses the appetite. TRUTH: While being adequately hydrated helps the metabolism run at its optimal level, drinking vast quantities of water won’t affect the overall amount of food you eat. Because water quickly empties from the stomach, drinking water has little effect on ap- petite, says Barbara Rolls, director of the Laboratory for the Study of Human Ingestive Behavior, at Pennsylvania State University. Eating foods that have a high water content, such as fruits, veg- etables, soups and grains, can help us to feel sated.


MYTH: Bottled water is always better than tap water.


TRUTH: Not necessarily. Be aware that bottled water is often just tap water. A Natural Resources Defense Council report cites government and industry findings that 25 percent of bottled water is plain tap water; sometimes treated, sometimes not. NSF International certification indicates brands that meet federal safety standards.


Catherine Guthrie is an award-winning health and lifestyles journalist in Bloomington, IN. Connect at CatherineGuthrie.com.


), can


Household Water Watch Testing and Filtration Options


by Martin Miron T


he U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets legal limits on contaminants, including chemicals, ani- mal wastes, pesticides and human wastes, in drinking


water nationwide. But tests by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) have found that many communities skirt the line of what’s safe. In 2003, NRDC found that several of the U.S. cities they studied delivered tap water that was suf- ficiently contaminated to pose potential health risks to some consumers; outdated pipes and weak regulations were cited as major factors.


New contaminants are entering water systems all the


time, including traces of pharmaceuticals that have never been tested or regulated. The Water Quality Association (WQA) works with the EPA and universities to catalog the new offend- ers. WQA Executive Director Peter Censky says, “In 10 or 15 years, everyone is going to need filtration devices.” Until then, individuals will want to regularly stay abreast of the status of their tap water. Start by finding out if local municipal water is filtered.


Has New Meaning Food & Drink


Sample Food


Spaghetti (cooked) Apple


Raw carrot Broccoli


Grapefruit


Watermelon Skim milk Lettuce


Coffee or tea


Serving Size


1 cup


1 medium 1 medium ½ cup ½ cup 1 cup 8 oz


½ cup 8 oz


Source: American Dietetic Association


Amount of H2O


3.3 oz 3.5 oz 2.1 oz 2.7 oz 3.4 oz 5.1 oz 7.5 oz 1.8 oz 7.9 oz


Percent by Volume


66 84 87 91 91 92 94 95


99.5


Unfiltered water has a higher risk of containing harmful particles or contaminants. Also, utility lines may contain old plumbing materials, so it is important to check for lead and copper. Home testing kits for metals such as lead are available at most hardware stores, while the types to use for a broader range of biological and chemical contaminants are identified online at Amazon (tinyurl.com/3daw5mg). For public water systems serving more than 100,000 people, information can be found on the EPA website at tinyurl.com/3jbgsxh. Otherwise, contact your local water company directly for an online or printed copy of its Consum- er Confidence Report. Well water should be regularly tested every year or two, especially for farming and rural residents, to check for E. coli and nitrates common in runoff. Local county health depart- ments or university extension offices can direct homeowners to testing labs.


Home filtration systems can range from point-of-use,


often attached to a kitchen faucet and icemaker or under the sink for drinking and cooking purposes, to a whole house system. Even a carbon-filtering water pitcher in the refrigerator can be a cost-effective way to ensure water quality, although it only filters a small amount of water at a time.


Find more information at nsf.org/consumer/drinking_water. Martin Miron is a freelance writer in Naples, FL.


natural awakenings October 2011 25


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48