Drinking Water during Pregnancy

In the same way you need to eat more while pregnant, you also need more water. The Institute of Medicine recommends about 10 8-oz glasses of water (or the equivalent) a day, and more in a hot place like Hong Kong.

There are many reasons why it’s important to get enough water while you’re pregnant. Here are just a few:

  • Water is how nutrients are passed to your baby
  • Prevents urinary tract infections, constipation and hemorrhoids, which are all more common among pregnant women
  • Dehydration in the last trimester can lead to pre-term labor
  • Staying hydrated can prevent swelling and preeclampsia

It’s not always easy to get water in your system during pregnancy. Between morning sickness, the constant need to use the toilet, and feelings of bloating, drinking more water may be the last thing on your mind. Try infusing lemon or lime in your water to help with nausea and make drinking water more appetizing.

While you increase your water intake for both you and your baby, remember the importance of drinking and using healthy, filtered water.

Dr. Mira Aubuchon, MD, an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine commented in a Babble article: “Yes, there are chlorinated by-products in tap water that in some small studies have had some negative effects [on the health of the baby]…” These potentially harmful by-products are not absorbed simply from drinking water, but can be inhaled, such as when you’re in the shower, or through skin contact, like when you wash your hands.

Our water filters use a special carbon block technology that filters out more contaminants than any other filtration technology. Find out more!

VOCs – Hazardous Compounds in Your Air & Water

There’s a good chance you’ve never heard of VOCs. And yet, they’re found in the air you breathe and the water you drink.

What are VOCs?

VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds, are chemicals that occur as vapors at ordinary air temperatures. That means they are floating in the air you breathe as you read this article. Though they are mostly found in air, the chemicals that VOCs are associated with can soak into the ground and thus find its way into the city water supply.

Where do VOCs come from?

Some VOCs come from natural sources like plants. However, other non-natural products like paints, ink, cleaning & disinfencting supplies, pesticides, cosmetics, petrol, and more, can release VOCs.

What are the effects of breathing air or drinking water contaminated with VOCs?

The Environmental Protection Agency believes that VOCs can cause various negative health effects such as eye, nose and respiratory irritation, headaches, nausea and potentially damage to organs like your kidneys, liver and central nervous system. It is also a possible cause of cancer.

What can I do to reduce VOCs?

In a city like Hong Kong where there tend to be high levels of air pollution, it is especially important to protect your home from hazardous VOCs. The best way to reduce these contaminants is to use air and water filters.

We carry a wide range of products that reduce contaminants in the air. Find out more on our website.

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Sources:

Volatile Organic Compounds. American Water Works Association: http://www.drinktap.org/home/water-information/water-quality/ucmr3/volatile-organic-compounds.aspx

An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). EPA: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html

Indoor Environmental Quality, Chemicals and Odors. CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/indoorenv/ChemicalsOdors.html

Why Filter Your Shower?

Many people understand the benefits of drinking filtered water, but why filter the water we shower in? Just as there are many reasons to filter the water you drink, there are equally important reasons to purify the water you wash in.

To understand this, we must first realize that the health of our skin is an important part of our whole body health. In fact, the skin is the largest organ of our body! It does amazing things like creating and synthesizing Vitamin D, and has its own unique microbiome made of good healthy bacteria. The skin also has the ability to absorb things it comes in contact with, which is why it’s important to make sure the things it touches is healthy.

In the same way that we wouldn’t touch harsh cleaning chemicals like bleach so that it doesn’t get absorbed by our skin (we’d recommend using natural Soapnut Republic cleaners instead!), we want to make sure the water we wash in is filtered of contaminants like chlorine.

Studies have shown that showering in chlorinated water can actually cause our body to absorb more chlorine than drinking that same water. This is because when we shower in warm water, our skin absorbs a greater amount of what it’s coming in contact with.

Additionally, the steam from the shower causes us to inhale the chemicals in the water including chlorine, chloramine (a mixture of chlorine & ammonia) and trihalomethanes (such as chloroform).

Lastly all these harsh chemicals in shower water can harm the microbiome that lives on our skin. Without these protective bacteria, our skin can suffer from irritation, and potentially even cause chronic dry skin or eczema.

So how can you protect your skin and body? Get an easy to install shower filter system and replace the filter every six months. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Source: https://wellnessmama.com/119128/shower-filter/

The Benefits of Drinking Infused Water

We’re excited to start sharing some fruit and herb infused water recipes! But first, we want to explain what all the buzz surrounding infused water is about.

What is infused water?

You can make infused water simply by taking fruits, vegetables or herbs and adding them to an amount of water (a cup, a bottle, a jug, etc.). Then allowing the ingredients to sit for an extended amount of time and permeate into the water.

Why infused water?

Everyone knows that water is essential to a healthy lifestyle – our body needs water, and we often don’t drink enough throughout our busy days.

Infused water is a great way to get ourselves to drink more water by adding some delicious flavor combinations, and it’s much healthier than juices and sodas.

Not only that, but when fruits or herbs soak in the water, its natural nutrition can permeate into the water that you drink. For example, Vitamins B & C, which are water-soluble, can transfer to the water from the ingredients you use.

Some tips to infuse water

Infusing water is not difficult, but there are some little starter tips to keep in mind.

  • Use filtered water to ensure the water you drink is clean, pure and healthy. For more information on water water filtration system would work best for you, visit www.waterchef.com.hk
  • Buy organic & wash your ingredients well – we recommend using Soapnut Republic’s Fruit & Veggie Wash to make sure any contaminants on the surface of your fruits & vegetables are cleaned off.
  • Don’t let citrus with peels sit for more than 4 hours or they will get bitter
  • Slice harder fruits & vegetables (like apples & carrots) thinly because they tend to take longer to infuse. Softer fruits & vegetables (strawberries, orange slices, etc.) infuse much more quickly so can be added in large pieces.
  • Crush or tear herbs (mint, basil) and roots (ginger). If you have lots of herby leafs, use a tea infuser to contain them.
  • Infused water can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, just strain out the ingredients after the first day to prevent bacterial growth.

Easy Starter Recipe – Cucumber Strawberry Mint

For one glass of delicious infused water with cucumber, strawberry & mint, follow these proportions:

1 Glass Filtered Water (ice optional)

5 Mint Leaves, tear each in half by hand

2 Strawberries, sliced

3 Slices Cucumber

Combine all the ingredients in a glass, let sit for 10 minutes or more, and enjoy! Note: if you are making a larger jug of infused water, let sit for at least 30 minutes.

Stay tuned for more infused water recipes to come!

Protect Your Family from Harmful Toxins in Your Water

Many of us are unaware of the hazards in the tap water that comes from our kitchen sinks and bathroom faucets. We think that just because the government regulates water, it is safe for us to drink and use. However, there are many toxins that do not get filtered out and can still make their way into your home.

“Filtering your tap water is the first step to protecting your family from toxins on a daily basis, whether it’s for drinking, showering or cooking,” said Amy Myers, MD, an Austin-based physician specializing in functional medicine. “Government regulations focus on protecting us from the big health risks like waterborne bacterial diseases. The long-term health effects of chronic exposures to trace elements of contaminants in our drinking water are something we all need to take personal responsibility for.”

These are some of the common contaminants found in tap water, all of which are filtered by our water filters:

Lead

Corrosion of pipes often lead to lead being in the water.

Chlorine

Municipal water systems are known to add chlorine to control other contaminants. However it can be damaging to your hair and skin.

Chloramines

Used as a secondary disinfectant, chloramine is created from ammonia and chlorine together. It has been shown in laboratory testing to potentially cause cancer.

Pesticides & Herbicides

These contaminants enter the water system through run off from pesticide & herbicide treated soil. The consumption of these chemicals are untested and could pose serious health threats.

Cysts

A parasite found in lakes and rivers, cysts enter the water system and are often resistant to water disinfection.

Petroleum Contaminants

An example of petroleum contaminants is MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) which is used for cars to reduce carbon monoxide. However, the run-off can contaminate public water and be hazardous to our health.

To protect yourself and your family, make sure to invest in a premium water filtration solution. To find out more about the drinking water and shower filter products we distribute in Hong Kong, shop on our website or contact us.

Source: http://livehealthy.aquasana.com/2014/01/top-ten-worst-contaminants-found-in-tap-water/

Easy Tips to Stay Hydrated and Drink more Water

As the humidity in the air gets lower, it is important to drink at least 10 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. Does 10 glasses of water sound like a lot to you? Even knowing about the many benefits of drinking water—increased fat burning, healthier skin, more energy, better digestion, fewer cravings—doesn’t make drinking it any less of a struggle for many of us.

If you feel like you’re barely treading water when it comes to drinking your water, don’t despair. There are lots of little secrets to transform yourself into an H2O-guzzling machine.

  1. Spice up plain old water by adding fresh mint leaves.
  2. Every time you pass a water cooler stop and take a sip.
  3. If you’re feeling hungry and you’ve eaten recently, drink a cold glass of water, and wait a minute or two. You could just be dehydrated.
  4. Make your water more interesting by infusing your water with fruits, vegetables, or herbs.
  5. Add ice cubes to your water – this helps to burn calories when your body brings the water temperature up.
  6. Make it a morning ritual. Start your day by drinking one or two glasses of water. Start early, feel better, set the trend for the day.
  7. Have a big glass of water at every transitional point of the day: When you first get up, before you leave the house, when you sit down to work, when you go to lunch.
  8. Invest in a water bottle that you’ll actually use and keep it close. Ideally one that is made of glass as glass is not reactive unlike plastic or aluminum.
  9. After each trip to the restroom, drink some water to replenish your system.
  10. Track it. Make a chart and tick it off each time you drink a glass. Do a chart for 30 days and you will have made drinking water a part of your routine.
  11. Instead of spending a fortune on bottled water. Save your money and the environment by investing in a quality filter for your home. Make sure it is efficient in filtering out nasty contaminants whilst healthy minerals are maintained to achieve maximum hydration.
  12. Freeze little bits of peeled lemons, limes and oranges and use them in place of ice cubes — it’s refreshing and helps get in a serving of fruit.

Sources :

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1014
http://www.canadianliving.com/health/nutrition/34_tips_for_drinking_more_water.php

What is in your Bottled Water?

The common and convenient practice of drinking water and other beverages from plastic bottles comes with downsides. You already know that buying a bottle of water costs more than filling a glass or reusable bottle at the tap. Using plastic drinking bottles also produces negative effects on health and the environment.

Harmful Chemicals

Many studies show that polycarbonate plastic, a type of plastic used in many household and food products, gradually leaches a chemical called bisphenol-A (BPA) into foods and liquids that are stored in containers made from this material.

According to healthnews.org, the chemical compounds released by these plastics can alter hormones and have other potential human health effects. Animals, including more than 180 species of which have been documented to ingest plastic debris, are also affected by the chemicals and can be permanently injured or die as a result of the poison.

Environmental Impact

Bottled water is destructive to the environment. It is a fact that 67 million water bottles are thrown away each day.

That’s a staggering amount of waste considering only 10 percent of these water bottles are ever recycled. Despite the good reputation recycling has, this practice is not always best for the ecosystem as it is labor-intensive, costly and burns natural resources. Also, just because you are throwing your used water bottles into the recycling bin, it does not necessarily mean they are able to be recycled.

During the production most bottled water is packaged in PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottles which are derived from crude oil. It can take up to 3L of water to produce 1L of water.

Another problem with bottled water is the incredible amount of fuel needed to transport these heavy loads of plastic (and sometimes glass) bottles to your local supermarket, home or office.

Who regulates it?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates tap water, which is considered a public utility, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled water, which is deemed a food product.

The Safe Drinking Water Act requires FDA regulations for bottled water to be at least as stringent as those imposed by the EPA for tap water, and bottled water must be tested for the same contaminants as tap water. The bottled water industry touts bottled water as one of the most regulated food products in the country. Bottlers must adhere to the FDA’s Quality Standards, Standards of Identity (Labeling Regulations) and Good Manufacturing Practices.

The Natural Resources Defense Council asserts that bottled water regulations are inadequate to assure consumers of purity or safety. The NRDC claims that bottled water is subject to less rigorous testing and purity standards than those required of city tap water. The NRDC notes that bottled water is required to be tested less frequently than city tap water for bacteria and chemical contaminants, and that bottled water rules allow for some contamination by E. coli or fecal coliform while tap water rules prohibit any contamination with these bacteria.

Bottled water is expensive

Americans spent $10.6 billion on bottled water in 2013 and paid up to 1,000 times the cost of tap water. And almost half of all bottled water (48.7 percent) came from municipal tap water supplies in 2013. A growing share of bottled water is now coming from tap water.

Alternatives

When you’re on the go, carry water with you in metal bottles, which are safer than plastic, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Metal drinking bottles can be filled—and refilled—with tap water; the metal won’t leach chemicals into your water. If you dislike the taste of your tap water, use a filter to remove bad-tasting minerals. Although water filters cost money, you will save in the long run if you filter water at home rather than purchasing bottled water as your main source of drinking water.

Sources :
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/bolivia/waterbottle.html

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/01/15/dangers-of-drinking-water-from-a-plastic-bottle.aspx

http://www.cleanup.org.au/au/Whatelsewesupport/avoid-bottled-water.html

https://www.banthebottle.net/articles/plastic-water-bottles-impose-health-and-environmental-risks/

http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/water/bottled/bottled-water-bad-for-people-and-the-environment/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/norm-schriever/post_5218_b_3613577.html

http://www.livestrong.com/article/183101-the-negative-effects-of-using-plastic-drinking-bottles/

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/dangers-of-plastic

4 Ways to Healthier Skin and Hair

Living in a big city like Hong Kong can cause damage to our skin & hair in many ways. Stress, pollution, and harsh water can strip the nutrients needed to maintain that healthy glow.

Here are four simple ways we recommend to achieve better skin & hair.

1. Drink more water

Our skin cells contain a lot of water, and the more hydrated we are, the better the cells appear. According to WebMD, “Dehydration makes your skin look more dry and wrinkled, which can be improved with proper hydration…”

Want to know a trick to make sure you stay hydrated? Get a large water bottle and make marks on the outside of how much water you aim to drink by different times throughout the day. Make sure you meet those goals.

And of course, when drinking water, make sure it is the healthiest form of it. Tap water contains many unwanted minerals and chemicals that can be filtered out with a simple filter like these WaterChef and Aquasana drinking water filters.

2. Use a shower filter

Water with lots of minerals and chemicals (like chlorine) can damage your skin, and make your hair rough and more likely to be dry and tangled.

Using a shower filter such as the Aquasana Premium Shower Filter or the WaterChef Premium Shower Filtration System will drastically improve how your hair and skin look and feel.

3. Choose a sensitive, natural soap

Many soaps and shampoos nowadays contain harsh ingredients that will dry out and hurt your skin and hair. Read the ingredients and opt for natural, safe ones.

For example, our favourite hand soap is the Soapnut Republic foaming hand soap, which comes in three different scents.

4. Take your Vitamins

What goes into your body also effects what your skin and hair will look like. According to Reader’s Digest Health, make sure to take Vitamins A, B complex, C, E and K to help your body look great from the outside. Other than taking supplements, here are some foods that are rich in each of those vitamins:

Vitamin A – Dark leafy greens, sweet potatoes, carrots, fish

Vitamin B – Cereals, legumes, dark leafy greens, chicken, fish

Vitamin E – Dark leafy greens, nuts, avocados, shellfish

Vitamin K – Dark leafy greens, asparagus, soybeans, dried fruit

As you can see, dark leafy greens appears in every category, so you can bet that if you eat a lot of healthy vegetables, you will see it impact your skin and hair.