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Eliz Greene: Feeling A Little Bound Up From The Holiday Indulging?

 
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As one of my dietitian friends says,

“You can’t float a log down a dry stream!”

Help your digestive system out by drinking water. Your body needs water every day to help move the food you eat through your body, regulate your temperature, and keep your blood flowing.

How much water should you drink? Use this handy hydration calculator from About.com

Here are some tips to get enough water:

* Get a BPA Free water bottle and keep it near you: at your desk, in your car, etc.

* Water is the best source of fluid for you body, herbal tea, sparkling water and water flavored with a small amount of 100% fruit juice is just as beneficial.
* Coffee can act as a diuretic (making you have to urinate more often). Don’t rely on coffee to provide fluid.
* Skim milk and 100% fruit juice provide fluid, but also carry additional calories. Drink these in moderation.
* Avoid pouring powders into your water which contain chemicals, sugar, or artificial sweeteners. Try True Lemon instead.
* Soda, even diet soda, is loaded with sodium. Soda is a treat, do not count soda as part of your fluid intake.

Your body is smart. If you don’t give it enough water it will respond by going into “survival mode.” In survival mode your body slows metabolism, thickens your blood, and holds on to fat. If you are trying to lose weight, manage your blood pressure, or are dealing with digestive issues, pay attention to how much water you are drinking. A small change in the amount of water you drink each day can make a big difference in how you feel.

Wishing you low stress and great success in 2009.

Eliz Greene is the Busy Woman’s Guide to a Health. Drawing on her experience surviving a massive heart attack while seven-months pregnant with twins, struggling to lose the 80 pounds gained during her pregnancy, and her background as an adaptive movement specialist, Eliz developed simple strategies and tips to help other busy women be more active, eat better and manage your stress.

As the Director of the Embrace Your Heart Wellness Initiative, Eliz travels the country energizing and inspiring audiences in keynotes and workshops on women’s heart health. She writes one of the top 100 health and wellness blogs. Find more at www.EmbraceYourHeart.com.

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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