Drink Up!

Hello Everyone!  Now it's about time to get started sharing 

some health tips I've found tremendously useful.  

To begin, I wanted to start out with something extremely SIMPLE, yet so challenging!  Okay, think back within the past couple of hours...how much pure water did you drink?  Hopefully, you answered an amount greater than none!  In general, there are many reputable sources that say we should drink half of our body weight in ounces. This is definitely a good place to begin - especially if you aren't even close.  Once you reach this level of hydration, consider if you potentially need more based on your environment or lifestyle.

Here are some useful ideas to help you increase hydration in your body:
1) Drink some of your required daily water in-take as soon as you get up in the morning.  It will help arouse your digestive system.
2) Rehydrate each time after you use the restroom.  Since we lead such hectic lives, it's easy to forget to drink water (especially if you're engrossed in certain tasks).  Just drink more of your daily water requirement each time you use the restroom so essentially your bladder and bowels will help you remember.
3) Finally, try to drink about 1-2 cups of water 15-30 minutes before you eat each meal.  Not only does this strategy aid digestion, but it also helps most people eat less food!  What an easy & affordable weight loss strategy!

There are oodles of benefits to drinking sufficient water.  For example, water aids in toxin excretion, digestion, hydration of skin & mucus membranes, clarity of thought, & many chemical reactions throughout the body.  The roles and benefits of water in the body are quite numerous so let's drink up!

*Please avoid drinking salt water...just a pretty picture I took this summer... :o)

Find an ND near you!

Tip: To find a licensed naturopathic doctor in your area, go to the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians page (www.naturopathic.org) and click on the "Find a Doctor" link!

Welcome!

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to my new blog!  As a naturopathic medical student at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, I'd like to let more people know about naturopathic medicine.  Currently across the U.S., there is an increasing interest in healthy lifestyles and other options in health care.

The following states have licensing laws for naturopathic physicians:

• Alaska
• Arizona
• California
• Connecticut
• District of Columbia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Kansas
• Maine
• Minnesota
• Montana
• New Hampshire
• Oregon
• Utah
• Vermont
• Washington
• United States Territories: Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands

If you live in one of these states, you can conveniently visit a local ND in your area. Thus, living outside of these states (particularly in the southeastern U.S.) limits your healthcare options!  Now that I'm about to enter my 3rd year of medical school, I've been amazed by countless stories from my instructors about successes they've had with patients who were frustrated with our current medical system.

Based on the current state of healthcare in our country, it's time for citizens to make wise choices and take responsibility for their own health.  Naturopathic medicine primarily focuses on prevention and stimulating the body's natural ability to heal when there's imbalance.  By caring for yourself now, you decrease risks of being diagnosed with something later.  Let's follow the traditions of natural medicine that have been practiced around the world for thousands of years with obvious success.

If you're interested in learning more, please sign up for my blog.  Since I am not a licensed professional yet, the information I share will be absolutely FREE! However, I also must state that the information I share has not been approved by the FDA and you must think for yourself!  Also, as all drug commercials state, talk with your doctor before trying anything here!   :o)