Environment
Few people think seriously about the overall effect of the environment on health. We take water, sunlight and fresh air more or less for granted. We even fail to understand the full impact of our immediate surroundings on our mood, productivity, and discomfort. Everything in our environment effects us one way or another.
Importance of Adequate Water Intake
Water is also one of life’s greatest blessings (Ludington & Diehl). It is important to use … adequate amounts of pure drinking water each day (White). Water is essential for the completion of all of life’s processes. It is required for the digestion and absorption of foods, and in the transportation and use of these nutrients.
Water makes up about 70% of the body’s fat free mass. In order to function properly and prevent dehydration the body requires between one and seven liters of water daily. The exact amount required depends on ones level of activity, the temperature, humidity and certain other factors.
Benefits of Adequate Water Intake
Benefits include decreased risk of kidney and bladder disease, decreased risk of heart attacks for men drinking five or more glasses of water daily, and lower risk of death from heart disease for women drinking more water (Chan). Water is a great energy booster. Drinking adequate amounts of water can prevent headaches, relieve constipation, and also assist in weight loss.
If you are concerned about the quality of your drinking water you could install a water filter, a reverse osmosis system, or a steam distiller to improve its quality. Jupiter’s Latest Alkaline Water Ionizer – the Aquarius
When clean water is no longer enough is another system than can provide you with good quality water.
Hydrotherapy 
The use of water as a treatment agent is well known. The word spa means salus per aqua or health through water. White noted that there was great efficacy for healing in the proper use of water. Thrash & Thrash acknowledged that hydrotherapy appropriately utilized can facilitate healing from infections. Hydrotherapy is also beneficial for stress reduction, rest, relaxation, fitness, exercise, pampering and beauty. Water is also a great first aid tool, promotes healing, and is effective in disease prevention.
Dehydration
As little as a two percent decrease in the body’s water requirements can trigger physiological and performance responses. Individuals can experience trouble completing basic math problems, have difficulty focusing, and have unclear short-term memory.
Dehydration of the red blood cells also increases risk of clot formation.
Sunlight
The body’s exposure to sunlight is its primary means of making vitamin D. Vitamin D facilitates the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the intestines and decreases the risk of osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, and muscle weakness (Arnott). Vitamin D also modifies the immune system which helps to decrease the risk of lupus and diabetes. Findings from a Harvard study found that adequate levels of vitamin D level in the blood decreased cancer risk by 30%. Researchers from the National Cancer Institute found lower deaths from prostate, ovarian, breast, and colon cancers in sunny climates. Vitamin D slows the rate of cell division and facilitates cell maturation which helps to prevent prostate, breast, ovarian and colon cancer.
Influence of Sunlight on Health
Adequate exposure to sunlight has been demonstrated to decrease behavioral symptoms and improve certain aspects of activity disturbances among individuals with severe dementia. Increased exposure to sunlight also supports sleep and strengthens circadian rhythms in patients with severe alzheimer’s.
Bright light may contribute to hormonal balance. It may increase testosterone and may also facilitate ovulation by increasing luteinizing hormone (Yoon & Elliot).
Sunlight is a key ingredient in emotional well-being. It boost neurotransmitters in the brain increasing serotonin levels which protects against depression. In addition it helps reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder (Weil).
Exposure to sunlight also reduces use of analgesics. Postoperative patients with greater exposure to sunlight during hospitalization required almost 25% less analgesics than patients with less exposure to sunlight.
Moderate exposure to sunlight helps to reduce jaundice in newborns; converts cholesterol into vitamin D (essential for good bone health); and destroys bacteria.
How Much is Enough
For fairer skinned individuals the recommended dose of direct sunlight without sunscreen, is approximately 15 minutes to face, hand, and arms daily or at least three times a week. Individuals who spend most of their time indoors or have darker skin may need to spend more time in the sun, and must pay attention to their vitamin D intake.
Fresh Air
Outdoor activities revitalizes mind and body, and restores health. Life in the open air is good for mind and body (White). The benefits of negatively charged fresh air as provided by plants and water include improved well-being; improved function of the lung’s protective cilia; a lower resting heart rate; decreased ability for bacteria and viruses to survive and improved ability to learn.
Threats to Adequate Fresh Air
Tightly sealed buildings contribute to poor ventilation, and possible accumulation of air pollutants such as formaldehyde, dust molds, fungi and air mites (Ludington & Diehl). Lack of ventilation in homes is a major source of indoor air pollution. According to the Environmental Protection Agency indoor air pollution is 2 – 5 times worse than outdoor air pollution.
Exposure to diesel exhaust contributes to myocardial ischemia and inhibits the body’s ability to dispel blood clots. Poor air quality is associated with adverse cardiovascular events.
How to Improve Indoor Air Quality
Whether at home or at work surround yourself with plants. One household plant for every 100 square feet. Plants have the ability to clean and purify the air while increasing energy boosting negative ions (Ludington & Diehl). Plant-filled rooms contain 50 – 60% fewer airborne molds and bacteria than rooms without (Wood).
Open windows and air out rooms. This decreases the amount of rebreathed air.
Sleep with windows open if it does not pose a safety risk.
Set heating systems and air conditioners to bring in a minimum of 20 – 30% fresh air.
Invest in an Oreck air purifier
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