During hot, humid weather, your horse may not drink enough water to keep up with fluid loss. When that happens, dehydration can occur.

Horse dehydration is more common in the summer, but it can happen at other times of the year, too. Intense activity in hot, humid weather is the most common cause, but an inactive horse in a hot, poorly ventilated stall or without access to sufficient water (think frozen water buckets!) can become dehydrated, too.

There are some simple things you can do to get your horse to drink more water.

1. Make sure he has enough water. An idle horse needs a minimum of ten gallons of water a day and an active horse in hot weather can suck up 25 gallons.

2. Make sure the water is clean, clean, clean and easy to access. Tipped over, leaky or funky water buckets won’t encourage your horse to drink any more than they’d entice you.

3. Soak hay before feeding to increase its hydrating capability. One wet-down flake of hay can absorb 1-2 gallons of water. If you feed your horse well-soaked hay, you can make a real impact on his fluid consumption.

4. Offer fresh grass, watery bran mash and moisture rich treats such as carrots, apples or watermelon.

5. Allow your horse access to a clean salt block.

6. Combine 1 teaspoon salt with 2 tablespoons of applesauce. Put it in a syringe or de-worming tube and shoot it in her mouth. The salt should stimulate thirst.

7. Try squirting 1 tablespoon of corn syrup into her mouth. It will coat her tongue and compel her to drink.

8. If her water is very cold, try adding some warm water to the bucket.

9. Some horses don’t like “different” water. If you’re going on the road and can bring enough water from home, do so. If not, try to add a little apple juice, sugar beet water or apple cider vinegar to the water a few days prior to travel. It may help to disguise the “new” flavor.

10. Go for a ride! A 15-minute walk or a light ride will stimulate thirst. Check with your vet before exercising if your horse is recovering from dehydration.

Exercising your horse after he consumes water will not make him colic. The horse’s stomach empties very rapidly in response to a water ingestion.

Moderate dehydration can be reversed by allowing the horse unlimited access to water and electrolyte supplementation

Severe and dangerous dehydration can best be reversed by giving electrolyte fluid intravenously. Contact your vet if your horse is severely dehydrated.

Carrots are root vegetables usually orange in color but there are other varieties in purple, red and white. This vegetable is not just a Bugs Bunny favorite but carrots can also provide numerous health benefits. The carrot, known for its Beta-carotene content, can also be a juice where the said nutrient can be maximized.

To make a nutritious drink out of carrots, wash a piece of the vegetable along with one apple and one potato. Blend them together and add one-fourth teaspoon of fresh ginger. You may add lemon juice to increase the taste. Drinking this juice can increase the carrots’ health benefits because you can only get 3% of beta-carotene when it’s taken raw.

The carrot juice is not just refreshing. The carrots’ health benefits include being good for the eyesight. Beta-carotene protects the vision and can eliminate tired and dry eyes. When beta-carotene is changed into vitamin A in the liver, it goes to the retina where it is then converted into rhodopsin. Rhodopsin is a purple pigment that helps us in our night vision. Beta-carotene which is abundant in carrots can also prevent macular degeneration or visual impairment.

Preventing the development of cancer cells and being an effective anti-oxidant are also carrots’ health benefits. Research shows that eating or drinking at least 2.7 milligrams of carrots a day can reduce the risk of lung cancer. Vitamin A that is present in carrots can greatly fight lung problems like emphysema. Carrots can also strengthen the lungs and prevent high blood pressure. It was also find out that fiber rich carrots can lessen the risk of colon cancer. Carrots contain a phytonutrient called falcarinol that prevents colon cancer.

One of carrots’ health benefits is that they prevent heart attack. The level of cholesterol, which is a major reason for heart diseases, reduces by 11% when carrot is taken daily. The soluble fiber is the main factors in carrots that reduce the bad cholesterol. Carrots can also strengthen the immune system because of its carotenoid contents. Carotenoids, which are usually found in bright yellow and orange vegetables, can enhance the function of the immune system. When your immune system is in good condition, you can absolutely avoid having sicknesses.

Other carrots’ health benefits are being an aid to weight loss, lessen menstrual pain and help eliminate muscle pain from physical exhaustion. Carrots are rich in fiber and fiber is low in calories and fat. Fiber also helps in losing weight because the body does not digest it but simply pass through the body.

Drink the carrot juice or include carrots in your daily food consumption and see the difference in your energy in just three weeks. You can drink the juice twice a day to see the wonderful difference. Share the carrots’ health benefits with others and they will thank you for it.

Ganoderma coffee is known as gano healthy coffee because it combines the effects of normal coffee with the health benefits offered by Ganoderma Lucidum, a fungus of the mushroom family that is grown in China and Korea. Also known as Reishi and lingzhi, this fungus offers a large number of health benefits, and people drink it for exactly that reason.

There are a number of species of ganoderma that have been used in traditional Chinese and other Asian traditional medicine for many centuries, although it is on the Ganoderma Lucidum species that we are focusing on here in its specific usage with coffee to form the drink known as ‘Gano healthy coffee’.

Reishi contains a number of terpenoids antioxidants along with polysaccharides and the trace mineral organic germanium, and the coffee it is used in as a delivery system contains a lower level of caffeine than standard ground coffee. In addition to its strong antioxidant properties, it is highly supportive of your immune system, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antidiabetic and helps to lower your blood pressure and reduce your blood cholesterol levels.

Add to that the strong antioxidant properties of regular coffee, and you have a potent healthy drink that thoroughly deserves the name bestowed on it of ‘gano healthy coffee’. The fungus is generally accepted as one of the most highly respected medicinal mushrooms and is believed to be the oldest mushroom used in traditional medicine. It has been subject to many scientific analyses to determine its constituents, and also tested for its effectiveness in treating the medical conditions for which it has been widely acclaimed throughout the Orient.

Germanium is a mineral that enhances the oxygen uptake of your blood by over 50%, and it not only improves your circulation, but has been used to prevent pains in the legs and extremities during exercise. Healthy coffee with added Ganoderma offers an energy boost several times that of ginseng and similar herbs. People drink Ganoderma coffee for that and a number of other reasons. By combining low caffeine Brazilian coffee beans and Ganoderma Lucidum, you end up with a drink that offers all the benefits of real coffee without the side-effects of caffeine, along with the added benefits of Reishi.

Gano healthy coffee is one of the healthiest drinks you can consume, and the ideal solution for coffee drinkers that want all the health benefits without drinking excessive caffeine. You can give yourself a great energy boost without getting hooked and lying awake half the night and getting the caffeine shakes in the morning. The negatives of coffee are largely removed and replaced with the benefits of the Chinese magic mushroom!

The benefits of gano healthy coffee to your circulation and heart were briefly touched upon above but let’s look at these in more detail. One of the properties of a strong antioxidant is its ability to destroy free radicals. These are small highly reactive oxidizing agents that are generated during the body’s metabolism and cellular respiration, and also from exposure to pollutants such as traffic and industrial emissions, tobacco smoke and also to strong sunlight.

These free radicals, such as hydrogen peroxide and superoxide, oxidize the LDL cholesterol in your blood that then deposits on your arterial walls to form plaques of cholesterol that gradually build up to block your arteries. This causes strokes and heart attacks, each of which can be fatal. The antioxidants contained in coffee beans and in Ganoderma Lucidum destroy these free radicals and prevent this from happening. They can also lower your overall cholesterol levels, and the anti-inflammatory properties of gano healthy coffee help to overcome the inflammation that can lead to serious conditions such as some cancers, serious allergies and asthma.

The polysaccharides and triterpenes in Ganoderma help your liver to rid your body of toxins, and coffee drinkers in general have been found to suffer fewer liver problems that those that do not drink it. Your liver is your body’s main detox plant, and the combination of the Reishi and coffee is a very powerful one in keeping your blood pure and free from unwanted toxins.

While both coffee and Ganoderma Lucidum are very powerful antioxidants, antitoxins and anti-inflammatories in their own rights, when combined they present a powerful cocktail of health-giving substances that has long been recognized as second to none in its effect on your liver, heart, blood and many other organs of the body.

Few would disagree that people drink Ganoderma coffee – the so-called gano healthy coffee – to help them live healthier and longer and the science of today certainly appears to support them in that use.

Scientists have known for years that coffee has chemical properties that prevent tooth decay. This finding seems to fly in the face of common sense. After all, doesn’t coffee stain one’s teeth? To be fair, yes, coffee can stain a person’s teeth or dentures. The pigment in coffee is dark and can stain many porous surfaces. Those who brush their teeth regularly (two to three time per day) should have no reason to worry about coffee staining their teeth.

As a coffee distributor, I have done my own fair share of research on the world’s second favorite beverage (water comes in at #1). And as a longtime coffee drinker myself, I can honestly say that my teeth feel cleaner when I swish my coffee around my mouth — especially after eating. So how does coffee actually protect teeth from decay? According to a 2002 study from the American Chemical Society (Coffee May Help Prevent Cavities), coffee fights cavities in two ways. First, roasted beans have antibacterial properties that protect against some destructive microorganisms, including Streptococcus mutans, found on teeth. Coffee can neutralize these microorganisms by as much as 98 percent.

And that’s just the beginning. Coffee contains anti-adhesive properties, too. This means the ability for microorganisms to adhere to teeth is diminished. Combine the two properties, and teeth are less susceptible to cavity-causing threats. In fact, many of coffee’s rivals are responsible for cavity causing activity. Carbonated beverages and any others that contain sugar can spell disaster for teeth over time. This includes most of those popular sports and energy drinks. Bacteria in the mouth turn sugar into acids that destroy enamel.

Does this suggest that the more coffee you drink, the more cavity protection you’ll enjoy? Even if that were the case, my tip to you is to enjoy coffee without abusing it. Unless you have heart trouble or are pregnant, you can safely drink several cups each day and enjoy all kinds of benefits. For instance, I’ve read that having six or more cups of coffee per day can reduce a person’s risk of diabetes by an average of 42 percent. I recommend you drink most of your coffee shortly after waking, and at least four hours before bedtime to make sure the caffeine is out of your system. And to maximize the cavity protective properties, give your brew a good swish around the mouth.

Food and drink spills are among the toughest cleaning problems to deal with for rug owners. It is a common occurrence yet some still do not know the right way to approach cleaning up this kind of mess. Not knowing the basics of cleaning up food and drink spills can really put rug owners at a disadvantage and their carpets at serious risk of long-term damage.

Whether you are having a party at your home or are just eating in the living room, spills can happen without a moment’s notice. This is why learning how to properly clean them up is essential. Here are some basic rug cleaning tips for food and drink spills, which you can use the next time, you are in this kind of situation.

• Immediately Pick Up or Scoop Up the Spilled Item – Whether it is liquid or solid, it is important that you pick up or scoop up the excess spillage as much as possible to avoid making the problem worse. If you are dealing with liquid food or drink spills, get a clean sponge and absorb as much of the excess liquid as you can. For solid food spills, carefully pick up the loose particles using your hands.
• Blot the Spilled Area – After removing the excess food or drink spilled on the rug, the next basic step that you need to do is to blot the area with a clean white cloth or paper towels. This will help remove the excess moisture and to lessen the chances of it staining the rug. Pouring some warm water onto the stain before blotting will help get you better results in removing the spill or stain.
• Detergent Cleaning Solutions Work Great with Food and Drink Stains – When faced with food and drink spills or stains, using a cleaning solution made out of a solution of one teaspoon of laundry detergent (non-bleach) and a cup of warm water. This will be sure to get rid of any stains and spills coming from food and drinks. Apply this to the stain and blot using a clean, white cloth and you’ll get your rug clean in a matter of a few tries.

These three tips can be of great help for those who are unfamiliar with cleaning food and drink spills on their rugs. Remember this useful advice to properly clean up any food or drink spill on your beautiful rug.

When it comes to whey proteins everyone knows that it is a food that has no taste. To make it more palatable you need to add something to enhance the taste. Since whey protein is not a medication, you don’t need to drink it like medicine. You must enjoy drinking it. The best ingredient to add to enhance the taste is cocoa powder. Since it is also is a natural ingredient it will not spoil the reputation of the product. Cocoa taste is one that most people like and also it is able to mask any off taste the natural whey protein could produce. As a result, chocolate protein drink becomes a more palatable protein drink.

From the point of view of nutrition this product is similar to the whey protein powder with the only difference that it is flavored with chocolate. The active ingredients of the product are the whey proteins. Most often these cocoa flavored products are added with flavor in addition to cocoa to enhance the cocoa taste. There are many brands of chocolate protein drink in the market. Almost all have the same ingredients with slight differences between them.

The most frequent use of the product is for athletes and for body builders as a protein supplement. Since the whey proteins are readily soluble in water they could be used as a drink when athletes and body builders are going through their workouts. When the drink is taken it is absorbed into the blood stream in minutes and it goes to the muscles where the proteins are utilized to repair them. Other proteins take several hours to reach where it is utilized. As a result chocolate protein drink is a good option for athletes.

Though it is the athletes who use this product mainly it is good for any one as it has a lot of essential amino acids. Whenever anyone needs quick protein he or she could use it for good effect. Though anyone could buy it from a super market shelf it is better to use it on your doctor’s advice.

In the manufacturing process the whey separated from milk is heated to only low temperatures to avoid denaturing of the proteins. The only heating process is the pasteurization which is the step where harmful bacteria are eliminated from the product. This process is called the low heat pasteurization. After the pasteurization the product is spray dried to convert into powder. To manufacture the chocolate protein drink cocoa powder added.

Whey proteins are able to increase the blood flow by suppressing the activity of some of the enzymes that make the blood vessels to contract. This is also one of the advantages of taking a glass of chocolate protein drink before a work out and during it. Not only that whey proteins are able to go to the site where they are necessary but also they could go quicker by keeping the blood vessels open to enable them to make better blood flow to the site where it is needed.

Warnings about the dangers of soft drink consumption came to us in 1942 when the American Medical Association’s (AMA) Council on Food and Nutrition made the following noble statement:

“From the health point of view it is desirable especially to have restriction of such use of sugar as is represented by consumption of sweetened carbonated beverages and forms of candy which are of low nutritional value. The Council believes it would be in the interest of the public health for all practical means to be taken to limit consumption of sugar in any form in which it fails to be combined with substantial proportions of other foods of high nutritive quality.”

Colossal increases in soft drink consumption have not happened by chance, they are due to intense marketing efforts by soft drink corporations. To soft drink marketing the adult market is stagnant so kids are the target. Soft drink companies spend billions on advertising. Much of these marketing efforts are aimed at children through playgrounds, toys, cartoons, movies, videos, charities and amusement parks; and through contests, sweepstakes, games and clubs via television, radio, magazines and the internet. Their efforts have paid off.

In 1998 the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) warned the public that soft drink companies were beginning to infiltrate our schools and kid clubs. While our children are exposed to unrelieved publicity for soft drinks, evidence of their dangers accumulates. The consumption of soft drinks is riddled with hazards. We as practitioners and advocates of a healthy life-style recognize that consuming even as little as one or two sodas per day is undeniably connected to a myriad of pathologies.

The most commonly associated health risks are obesity, diabetes and other blood sugar disorders, tooth decay, osteoporosis and bone fractures, nutritional deficiencies, heart disease, food addictions and eating disorders, neurotransmitter dysfunction from chemical sweeteners, and neurological and adrenal disorders from excessive caffeine.

One common problem I have seen over the years, especially in teenagers, is general gastrointestinal (GI) distress. This includes increased stomach acid levels requiring acid inhibitors and moderate to severe gastric inflammation with possible stomach lining erosion. The common complaint I hear is chronic “stomach ache.” In almost every case, when the client successfully abstains from sodas and caffeine, the symptoms will go away. Another problem with sodas is that they act as dehydrating diuretics, much like tea, coffee and alcohol. All of these drinks can inhibit proper digestive function. It is much healthier to consume herbal teas, nutritional soups and broths, naturally beverages and water to supply our daily fluid needs. These fluids support, not inhibit, digestion.

Ingredients

• Aspartame, used in diet sodas, is a potent neurotoxin and endocrine disrupter.

• Caffeine stimulates the adrenal gland without providing nourishment. In large amounts, caffeine can lead to adrenal exhaustion, especially in children.

• Phosphoric acid, added to give soft drinks “bite,” is associated with calcium loss.

• Citric acid often contains traces of MSG, a neurotoxin.

• Artificial Flavors may also contain traces of MSG.

• Water may contain high amounts of fluoride and other contaminants.

Soft Drinks and Violence

According to an article published in The Lancet, December 2000, the Irish government ordered “urgent research” into the effects of so-called “functional energy” or stimulant soft drinks after the death of an 18-year-old who died while playing basketball. He had consumed three cans of “Red Bull,” a stimulant soft drink. The article noted there have been reports of a rise in aggressive late-night violence occurring when people switch to these drinks while drowsy from too much alcohol. The resulting violence was so pervasive that some establishments in Ireland have refused to sell stimulant drinks.

Students are now being given “electrolyte” drinks called “ergogenic aids” to replace electrolytes that are allegedly depleted during workouts. There are three problems with using these drinks as a rehydration solution. First, most soft drinks are diuretics, meaning they squeeze liquids out of the body, thus exacerbating dehydration instead of correcting it. Second, most people actually lose few electrolytes during exercise. After exercise the body is usually in an electrolyte load having lost more fluids than electrolytes.

Fruit Juices

Consumers often drink commercial fruit juices in the belief that they are healthier than soft drinks. However, the manufacture of fruit juices is a highly industrialized process. Fruit juices are very high in sugar and have actually been more detrimental to the teeth of test animals than sodas!

If you want to drink fruit juice, buy a juicer and make your own with organic fruit. It’s best to dilute a small amount of fruit juice with water. Makes a delicious and refreshing drink. In restaurants, order mineral water and some pieces of fresh lemon or lime.

Only about 150 years ago, chocolate became a modern look. Prior to that 3000 years it existed only in the form of a drink. Everyone knows that the pioneers of chocolate were Indian tribes of the Maya and Aztec. Priests in churches prayed and sacrificed to his powerful patron – god of cocoa. In the language of the Aztec drink, which is prepared from cocoa beans, called “cacahuatle”, and the Maya called him “xocolatl”, which translated means “foamy water”.

The recipe was simple: cocoa beans, grind into powder and mixed with cold water. Cocoa beans themselves are very bitter, so you might guess, representing the taste”drink of the gods”. However, for the nobility beverage prepared by the more complicated recipes, including spices – vanilla, cinnamon and even chili peppers. And absolutely exclusive method of cooking there for the Aztec ruler Montezuma – roasted cocoa beans were ground together with grains of corn milk, add honey and boiled sweet juice of the agave to reduce bitterness. Then all this flavored vanilla. Apparently, at that time were already known to the exciting properties of cocoa, as Montezuma drank a cup of medicinal drink, before entering into his extensive harem.

In 1517 in America, arrived Spaniard Cortes. Bitter taste of strange dark fluid caused delight conquistadors, but nevertheless, they paid tribute to its specific aroma and appreciate the tonic effect. Without thinking twice, they named a drink “Theobroma cacao”, which means “food of the gods” and taken to Europe their discovery. In the chocolate began to add cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar, and drink now serve hot. These changes were for the benefit of chocolate, and he soon became a fashionable drink of the Spanish aristocracy. The Spaniard kept strictly recipe of chocolate a secret, but it did not last long – in the 17 th century Chocolate is famous all over Europe.

Higher clergy will not remain indifferent to the exotic drink. Most of the Catholic Church were concerned, can I eat chocolate during Lent. The bishops came to the conclusion that the deal with this in a state of only the Pope himself. Having tasted this strange, dark, bitter drink, Pope Pius V expressed as follows: “Chocolate does not violate the post. It can not bring this crap to someone fun!”. Because cocoa was officially allowed to use.

Strong and bitter chocolate has long been considered an exclusively male drink. Then, to cocoa were added various spices – vanilla, nutmeg, cloves, anise, almonds, and even rosewater. At first the milk came up with the British to prepare a drink, and added to a glass of Madeira and raw eggs. In England, the famous chocolate houses became so popular that even eclipsed tea and coffee shops.

Amazing ability to hot chocolate to improve mood and increase vitality has long been seen by people. And when it drew the attention of scientists, discovered that biologically active substances in cocoa, make the human brain to produce a cascade of hormones that bring pleasure and reduce any pain.

It is part of my daily routine to start off by consuming a 16 ounce glass of purified water with the juice of half an organic lemon squeezed into it. It is a simple way to get my digestive system revved up and ready for the other foods consumed throughout the day.

It also works as a detoxifier for my liver and gives it a kick start for the day. Many doctors recommend this tonic in order to cleanse your kidneys and help to prevent the formation of kidney stones.

I drink water the lemon throughout the day. It is not only a refreshing drink that is alkalizing, but by adding this simple drink to my daily regime, I am doing so many good things for my health. As an alkalizing agent, lemon juice, although acidic going in, turns alkaline when it hits your digestive system. It can help you to maintain an alkaline state in your body. When your system is more alkaline than acidic, it can more effectively ward off inflammation which causes disease, such as cancer. If your body is able to fight off inflammation, it lies to reason that it will better be equipped to ward off chronic illness. A strong immune system is better able to fight disease and keep you healthy.

Eliminating processed foods will also improve the alkalinity in your system and build your immune system. Processed foods are detrimental to our health and do not create an environment in your system that will assist in the ability to fight disease.

By consuming a lemon detox drink, you will also be taking in a good amount of vitamin C. Our bodies need vitamin C in order to stay strong. For convenience, purchase a bag of organic lemons. I typically will go through a bag a week and purchasing a bagful ensures that I always have them on hand.

My favorite salad dressing is a light simple recipe that includes lots of freshly squeezed lemon. To make it, crush a clove of garlic into a small bowl, add Himalayan sea salt and black pepper to taste. Squeeze the juice of half of an organic lemon into the mixture along with 3 tablespoons of olive oil (adjust to taste) and a tablespoon of balsamic or apple cider vinegar. Mix to intermingle all of the ingredients and then pour over salad. This salad dressing is light, refreshing and full of potent antioxidants.

On a cold day, you may wish to exchange the cold water in your lemon detox drink for warm water. A lemon detox drink in a mug full of warm water will keep you cozy on a cold winter day.

For a natural lemonade in the summer, add some ice and a little stevia extract to sweeten. Fresh, delicious lemonade! This simple lemon detox drink is one of the many ways that we can assist our bodies with detoxification. As a part of our daily regimes, it can improve health and create a more alkaline you!

There are few things lovelier than a fresh blanket of snow and frozen ponds. Looks like a winter wonderland and very picturesque. Perhaps after you have enjoyed the view for awhile your mind may have turned to the furry critters who have to live outdoors on these cold days. And maybe you have asked the question, what are all the animals going to drink if everything is frozen? Do they eat snow? We know humans can freeze to death if they eat snow, so what about birds? The answer is yes, they can eat snow. But it takes a lot more energy for them to thaw the snow, and for their bodies to bring the freezing temperatures of the snow to their body temperature, than if they were to drink water that is not frozen. Water is just as crucial for animals as it is for humans. Actually starvation (which is always a concern for birds) can be less of a threat than dehydration. Birds often get their water supply from melting icicles, and puddles. When it is severely cold and there is no water to drink, they do eat snow.

But refrain from running outside and placing bowls of warm water out for your feathered friends. Though not common, birds have been known to bathe in warm water when it was very cold outside. And resulted in their feathers getting coated in ice and were unable to fly. Heated bird baths are a wonderful source of water for birds in freezing weather. But be sure to put rocks or sticks across the top of your to prevent them from bathing.

Water is especially important for birds to stay warm in the winter. Because water helps birds keep their feathers preened. Preened feathers are important to birds because it keeps feathers properly positioned and aligned. If they are not in alignment, the cold can seep in the gaps of their insulation. Which causes them to lose their body heat faster. When there is no water to bathe in the birds will take snow baths. This helps preening and fluff up their feathers to make a insulating layer. Each feather is controlled by a small group of muscles. When birds fluff their feathers, they create many tiny air pockets that drastically reduce heat loss. This is why down coats are so cozy in the cold. On cold nights birds bury their beaks and feet into their feathers, which helps reduce heat loss further.

Winter is lovely, but can be a trying time for the animals who live out in it. You can help alleviate their hardships by providing a reliable water source. And don’t be fooled with the old myth that if you start feeding and providing water for the birds they will starve if you stop. Nonsense! They will no more die of thirst or hunger than you will if you favorite restaurant goes out of town! You may be miffed but you certainly wouldn’t die! Providing a haven for your feathered friends with bird feeders and heated bird baths will not only help the them out, but in return, birds are so fun to watch. And will offer you many hours of amusement and entertainment.