Water that is. As the weather heats up so does our risk to dehydration. The human body is 60 to 70 percent water. When a person doesn't drink enough water, it can have negative effects on the body and the way it operates. Not drinking enough water affects your health. According to www.naturodoc.com humans can survive without food for a whopping two months, but can only go without water for a few days before bodily functions are compromised. Among other things, water flushes out toxins in the body and keeps essential organs moist so they can function.
How Much Water Should People Drink per Day?
Most people live in a state of dehydration and don't even know it, according to www.naturodoc.com. However, if people follow the general recommendation to consume eight to ten glasses of water a day, they can stay properly hydrated. This water intake should be spread throughout the day so there isn't the constant urge to head to the bathroom.
Canadians wanting to do something about the environment can start by drinking tap water, environmentalist David Suzuki says.
Key environmental issues with bottled water, Suzuki said, are waste and uncertainty over the long-term health effects created by plastic.
"Not only does bottled water lead to unbelievable pollution — with old bottles lying all over the place — but plastic has chemicals in it," he said.
"Plastics are ubiquitous. I don't believe that plastics are not involved in a great deal of the health problems that we face today."
So by using tap water which is readily available and a stainless steel environmentally friendly water bottle that is BPA free (check out www.otterbottle.ca for many water bottle options) you can stay hydrated, save money and save the environment.
With so many new trends and developments in the “Environmental World” navigating articles and information can be a daunting task. With so many new environmental catch words and phrases, becoming eco-friendly is an ongoing learning process; here are some more words to expand your "Green language".
Of course this is not a complete list but it is enough to get you started as a backseat environmentalist.
Abiotic
Non-living; devoid of life.
Acid Rain
The precipitation of dilute solutions of strong mineral acids, formed by the mixing in the atmosphere of various industrial pollutants (primarily sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides) with naturally occurring oxygen and water vapour.
Agritainment
Farm-based tourism. Includes family style activities, such as corn mazes, haunted hay rides, pick-your-own pumpkins, etc. This growing phenomenon is giving city folk a taste of rural life while helping farmers diversify their revenue stream.
Air Pollution
The presence of contaminants or pollutants substances in the air that interfere with human health or welfare, or produce other harmful environmental effects.
Alternative Energy
Energy that is not popularly used and is usually environmentally sound, such as solar or wind energy (as opposed to fossil fuels).
AncientForest
A forest that is typically older than 200 years with large trees, dense canopies and an abundance of diverse wildlife.
Appropriate Technology
Technology that creates minimal environmental impact while serving basic human needs. Uses the simplest level of technology that can effectively achieve the intended purpose in a particular location.
Aquaculture
The controlled rearing of fish or shellfish by people or corporations who own the harvestable product, often involving the capture of the eggs or young of a species from wild sources, followed by rearing more intensively than possible in nature.
BioAccumulate
Exposure to dangerous chemicals adds up over time. This term refers to just that-the gradual buildup, in an organism, of a substance that is not easily metabolized and eliminated. Toxic chemicals such as dioxins can bioaccumulate in the systems of cattle, fish, and chicken, for example, and enter the systems of humans when they digest these foods. In a human, repeated exposure to toxins considered safe in small amounts can bioaccumulate and may become hazardous to one’s health.
Biodegradable
Waste material composed primarily of naturally-occurring constituent parts, able to be broken down and absorbed into the ecosystem. Wood, for example, is biodegradable while plastics are not.
Biodiesel
An alternative fuel made from virgin vegetable oil or used vegetable oil. Even animal fats like beef tallow and fish oil can be used to make biodiesel fuel. Biodiesel may be blended with conventional diesel to get different blends such as B2 (2 percent biodiesel and 98 percent conventional diesel) or B20 (20 percent biodiesel) or it can be used as 100 percent biodiesel (B100).
Biofuels
Any fuel derived from biomass. Agricultural products specifically grown for conversion to biofuels include corn and soybeans.
Biomass
Any organic material made from plants or animals. Domestic biomass resources include agricultural and forestry residues, municipal solid wastes, industrial wastes, and terrestrial and aquatic crops grown solely for energy purposes.
Check back as I will be adding more catch words and phrases in upcoming blogs with the hopes of getting you to the letter "Z".
Approximately 70% of water used in the shower is hot water. Oxygenics showerheads use less water overall in the shower which means less energy is being used to heat excess water. Whenever you save energy, you not only save money, you also reduce the demand for such fossil fuels as coal, oil, and natural gas. Less burning of fossil fuels also means lower emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary contributor to global warming, and other pollutants.
