Take Action! World Water Day!

“Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it. ”

— Lao Tzu

What does water mean to you? To myself having clean drinking and bathing water is not only essential but a luxury. I am astounded and saddened knowing that in our modern world there are over 2 billion people globally that do not have access to clean water. We need to take action and we can.

Add your voice to the conversation at https://www.worldwaterday.org/ and help shape forthcoming World Water Day campaigns, help bring awareness, and design action steps we can all take towards conservation, cleaning, and sharing our most precious resource.

Our last Masterclass Dr. Gary Lindner, outlined some actionable steps and water filtration products we can all use and share. You can watch that video here.

I encourage you to visit https://www.worldwaterday.org/ and join the global conversation, share on social media, and join the cause. No one should have to go thirsty or question the health of their drinking water.

Be Healthy by Choice

About Heather N. Abbott:

Heather is the COO at “Self Care Awakening.” Heather is an IIN Certified Health Coach. "I create a sacred space for you to become your best self."
Use the Contact/Book Appointment link to book a free consult.

Heather is a founding member of Ladies Leading Ladies a group dedicated to training and empowering current and future Wellness business leaders.

I am an independent Nikken consultant. I work with a team of consultants. I nurture client relationships. I love building new relationships. Let’s connect. I enjoy working from home.

Let's Socialize: @LadySelfCare

Your Wellness WFH Space

“My home is my ‘wellness’ castle.”

What have you learned after working for almost a year from home? How has your at-home classroom transformed in this time? Has your home transformed from a place where you rest your head at night to your sanctuary? What have we learned from this transformation? Perhaps that we all want our homes to be as healthy as they can be? Our WFH office space and makeshift classrooms to be our daily wellness spaces? What would they look like? How would they feel? I hope to paint a picture for you in 7 easy steps.

Breathe of Fresh Air

Air quality is one, if not, the major pathway that toxic chemicals and particulates enter our bodies to cause innumerable health concerns. This is why when we go out we are mandated to wear a mask in public. What about the air quality in our WFH office or classrooms? This is a problematic issue as many times we feel ineffective in helping or improving the problem overall.

One simple solution is air-purifying houseplants. These plants promote air quality as well as beautify your space. Don’t have a green thumb? Try a Golden Pothos or a Snake Plant. These plants are very hardy and easy to propagate.

KenkoAir from Nikken

An air purifying system is an investment in your home and your health that will serve you for years especially when dealing with allergens. Even further, “Cleaning up the air we breathe prevents non-communicable diseases as well as reduces disease risks among women and vulnerable groups, including children and the elderly...”, says Dr. Flavia Bustreo, WHO Assistant Director-General Family, Women, and Children’s Health. 

My recommendation is the Kenko Air Purifier from Nikken. The KenkoAir® Purifier is designed to combat allergy and harmful causing particles and enhance the negative ion content of the air we breathe. The KenkoAir® Purifier utilizes an H3 multi-stage Hepa filtration process that eliminates 99.9% of air particles as small as 0.3 microns. The negative ion generator does not produce ozone as seen with many other air filtration systems on the market. The KenkoAir® Purifier and the replacement filters are recyclable making this a sustainable, conscious choice.

Missing the Water Cooler Chats?

PiMAG Waterfall from Nikken

Think of it this way… sitting for an extended period of time has negative effects on our health. Standing up and taking a quick stroll for a glass of water has innumerable health benefits not just physically but also offer a much-needed mental break.

This is a good time to check in with friends, family, or yourself and of course hydrate. Water is vital for the functioning of all of your organs, and it’s a huge part of keeping your immune system functioning at an optimal level,” says Dr. Jyothi Tirumalasetty, assistant professor of medicine at UCLA Health Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergies.

Good quality water is also imperative. I recommend the PiMAG Waterfall from Nikken for several reasons.

·      You can enjoy clean, filtered, and enhanced drinking water for a fraction of what bottled water costs.

·       The PiMAG Waterfall works without electricity or plumbing, it can be used in any location.

·       The PiMAG Waterfall is 3rd Party Validated

·       The PiMAG Waterfall is constructed of sustainably sourced materials that are 100% recyclable.

Stay Grounded

KenkoGround from Nikken

As I compose this post I can look out my window at the beautiful, sunny, somewhat blustery Northern California day, however, the central and now east coast of the U.S. are being pelted by a huge winter storm so naturally, we are all spending more time indoors losing our connection to Mother Nature. A simple solution is to get outside, barefoot, or at least touch nature in some way, every day to take in vitamin D, detox EMFs, and increase our overall sense of well-being.

When this is impractical the KenkoGround from Nikken serves as an indoor and portable way to reconnect with Mother Nature. Simply plug it into a grounded outlet (does not use electricity) and use it under your feet while working, I use mine on my desk under my bare wrists, on your mattress while you sleep, or even draped around your shoulders. Direct contact with the skin is recommended for the best results.

Stand and Deliver

Bad back, weight gain, incorrect posture … are some of the things we can eliminate by standing up. I recently heard this thing called the 52:17 rule. You work on a project for 52 minutes then take a 17-minute break. I have been trying this since the new year and love it. I bang away at the keyboard for 52 minutes then I spend 17 on my feet. I unload the dishwasher, dust, clean the floors… just walk. Anything that takes me away from the desk and gets’s me mobile.

Feeling Blue? Block it.

While research on blue light blocking glasses is very new and inconclusive I find that they help me greatly reduce eye fatigue. These glasses work if you are wearing contacts and work for precious little peepers attending virtual class. I picked mine up on Amazon for around $50. At that price, they are worth a shot.

Level Up Your Tidiness

I am one of those people that have a place for everything and everything must be in its place otherwise I am less productive. For years I worked with a very untidy person (at least by my standards) but it worked for her. Everything had a pile and that pile made sense to her. Tidiness is bio-individual but necessary for productivity. I use those 17 minutes I mentioned earlier to tidy my WFH office and living space. I also find unique accents that are pretty, novel, travel souvenirs, create a unique workspace that is mindful and meaningful to me.

De-Stress

KenkoTouch from Nikken

De-stress your muscles and ease tension with an effective at-home deep-tissue massage. Massage is an effective way to ease aching muscles. A deep-tissue massage can help loosen tight muscles, ease discomfort and relieve stress. A good massage can produce positive results even for those who enjoy excellent health. The KenkoTouch® is a unique advanced pulsating, system that gives you a heightened magnetic massage experience that you can use on your body in your home.

Respiration, hydration, grounding, movement, protection, organization, and relaxation the bare necessities of a wellness WFH office or classroom. Be Healthy by Choice.

What are your favorite wellness WFH tips or products? Please share in the comments below.

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Drink to Your Health

“Water your roots, so your soul can blossom.”

Life cannot exist without water!

Proper hydration is essential to a healthy life. Water comprises over two-thirds of our body weight and is one of the most essential elements of maintaining well-being. Water is important in every physiological process. Water helps your body with circulation, assimilation, digestion, elimination, and temperature control.

Researchers estimate that about 75% of Americans are chronically dehydration. This can lead to many health issues such as fatigue, joint pain, headaches, weight gain, type 2 diabetes, ulcers, and high blood pressure. Chronic dehydration may affect your organs and lead to kidney stones, cholesterol problems, constipation, and liver and muscle damage.

Water and Immune Function

Proper hydration is essential for a healthy immune system and at this specific point in time concerning the global pandemic it is of paramount importance for us all.

Even mild dehydration can decrease salivary rate and decrease the concentration of salivary immunoglobulin A (s-IgA), which is one of the first lines of defense of the immune function on pathogens.

Maintaining healthy skin is another primary barrier to potential pathogens. In addition to providing a passive physical barrier against infection, the skin also contains elements of the innate and adaptive immune systems which allow it to actively fight infections. Proper hydration is a prerequisite for healthy skin.

Staying hydrated helps the body naturally eliminate toxins and other bacteria that may cause illness. Dehydration reduces the overall volume of blood and lymphatic fluids that are integral to a healthy immune system. 

Lymph flows throughout the body to collect bacteria and waste. It transports collected waste to the lymph nodes which serve as filters. Drinking water works like a waterfall for lymphatic organs. The higher the amount, the stronger the push to the edge. In this scenario, water pushes bodily waste into the lymph nodes where lymphocytes destroy them. Eliminating toxins and waste materials become a difficult task when dehydrated. Not being able to remove this debris, your body is more susceptible to infection. Not staying hydrated diminishes energy levels, leading to a lack of exercise and a weakened immune system.

Water is vital for the functioning of all of your organs, and it’s a huge part of keeping your immune system functioning at an optimal level,” says Dr. Jyothi Tirumalasetty, assistant professor of medicine at UCLA Health Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergies. “We are made of 60 percent water. If we are dehydrated, the whole system of immunity could start breaking down.”

 Water is not just a beverage choice

Water is not just a beverage choice; it is our most essential nutrient. When we think of water in this way it becomes apparent that we must drink enough each day.  We can live for 3 weeks without food, but only 3 days without water!

Be Healthy by Choice.

Global Health Solution; Dehydration

“Water raises your metabolism and has zero calories!”

— Kris J Simpson

Last week we discussed the growing global issue of chronic disease. In the last 100 years, we have transitioned from a world in which infectious diseases were the greatest health challenge to one in which multiple chronic illnesses are the biggest global health threat Over 70% of deaths are attributed to chronic diseases. Although the U.S. leads the world in chronic diseases and pharmaceutical consumption this is a global problem.

Dehydration: A Global Problem

According to a recent study 75% of Americans suffer from chronic dehydration. Meaning most of us are not giving our body the right amount of water it requires daily. It’s not just in the United States, this is a problem seen at varying degrees in Australia (80%) France (75%) and Germany (50%), and the UK (80%).

Dehydration has been called the Mother of all Epidemics and the first step we all need to take in addressing chronic disease.

 Water Matters

Are You Drinking Enough Water?

We lose water everyday through normal physiological processes such as breathing, temperature regulation and excretion. If our water intake doesn’t replenish these losses, we become dehydrated. It takes less than a 1% deficiency to trigger our thirst response. Just a 2.5% percent reduction in our hydration can result in short-term memory loss, trouble with performing basic math, and challenges in focusing. This is estimated as a 25% reduction in energy and efficiency in most people. The most common cause of daytime fatigue is mild dehydration.  Dehydration can often be more of a problem in the hot summer months as we tend to perspire more to regulate our body temperature.  

How Much Water Should We Drink?

 

There is no perfect answer to this question as it depends on your age, health status, level of physical activity, body type and ambient surroundings. Everyone has heard drink eight 8oz glasses of water a day. We lose 10 cups a day on the average. That is 80 ounces of water that needs be replaced. A good rule of thumb is to drink half your body weight in ounces per day of water. So, if you weigh 160 pounds, 10 glasses or 80 ounces per day is a good rule to follow.  For those using the metric system this equals 3.3% of your body weight in kilograms in liters of water per day. Using the same example, 160 pounds is equal to 72.5 kilograms and 3.3% of this equals 2.4 liters of water per day.

                                                            Water Choices

The solution to dehydration and our global water issues and the plastic pollution of our planet is very complex and people often wonder what they can do as individuals to make a positive impact. One thing we all can do is to not to contribute to landfills by filtering tap water rather than purchasing bottled water. In recent blogs we have talked about the pollution problem with bottled water and about how to choose a water filtration system.

I think it’s safe to say, that given the choice we would all choose the healthiest water possible for ourselves and our families. The most cost effective and convenient way to accomplish this is by filtering our tap water.

Our personal choice for water filtration is the Nikken PiMag Waterfall®. Imagine if we could create fresh spring water in our own home or office? This is the strategy behind the Waterfall.  The Nikken Waterfall System is an advanced, technically sophisticated, well designed countertop home filtration system that converts tap water into fresh spring-like water. Using a multi-stage filtration process which cleans, alkalizes, mineralizes, ionizes, energizes and oxygenates the water, the Waterfall produces a light, velvety fresh-tasting water which is highly absorbable and healthy.

Put simply, the Waterfall produces water the way nature intended water to be. Free of contaminants but maintaining an alkaline pH with minerals that are added back after the filtration process. The water is run through a magnetic field that provides a water structure as it occurs in nature.

The PiMag Waterfall® System has a modern, compact profile and fits conveniently into most kitchen environments. All Nikken water products are designed to the highest standards, using non-leaching, and free of BPA and other estrogenic chemicals. With its Gold Seal of Approval from the Water Quality Association, the Waterfall meets rigorous standards for performance, capacity, and integrity, removing a variety of drinking water contaminants. The PiMag Waterfall works without electricity or plumbing, it can be used in any location. Some products on the market using similar filtration technology claim to be equivalent to the PiMag Waterfall but do not perform at a comparable level and fail to meet accepted filtration test standards.

The Nikken Waterfall meets contaminant-reduction specifications of National Sanitary Foundation (NSF) Standards 42 and 53 and reduces objectionable tastes, odors, colors, aesthetic chlorine, chloramines, VOCs and mercury from municipally treated tap water. This is considerably better performance than you'd get with many conventional faucet or pitcher--type or water filters. The filtration efficiency is equivalent to more complex and expensive water filtration systems costing $1000’s of dollars.

The water tank components are bio-degradable plastics that will not leach potentially harmful chemicals into the contents of the tank. Nor will they release these chemicals into the soil.  The Waterfall is environmentally responsible in several ways. It reduces the number of discarded plastic water bottles that become trash in landfills. This also decreases consumption of fossil fuels used in manufacturing those bottles. The waterfall is made with recyclable and biodegradable materials, including a polymer that does not leach chemicals into water as some plastics will. 

                                                            Water on the Go

One easy way to ensure that you stay well hydrated is to carry a water bottle. It serves as a reminder to drink water throughout the day, whether you’re outdoors or sitting at your desk.

Keeping a Nikken Sport Bottle with you always is an excellent way to stay hydrated as part of your Self Care program. Fill it up with tap water or fountain water and the patented microfilter removes sediment, reduces chlorine and lead and other contaminants. The patent pending nano-filtration technology was originally developed for NASA and dramatically increases the filter’s ability to reduce potential contaminants from drinking water, including pathogens and micro-plastics.

PiMag water technology adds natural minerals and adjusts the pH value to 8.5-9.5, an alkaline range that helps counterbalance our acidic environment. In addition to its benefits to us physically, PiMag water is so much less expensive than purchased bottled water and is environmentally responsible. The bottle itself is biodegradable and contains no BPA or other potentially harmful compounds. The filter components are replaceable, further extending the life of the bottle—by using the PiMag® Sport Bottle, you’re helping to reduce the impact on landfill waste caused by disposable water bottles. This choice is good for your health, your wallet and our environment.

The Solution- The Nikken PiMag Waterfall



The ABC’s of Self Care W

“Dehydration is the mother of all epidemics and it is the first step we need to take in addressing chronic disease.”

— Gina Bria, Cultural Anthropologist

A Nikken Wellness Home is designed to address many health concerns, including environmental toxins, contagions, dehydration, poor sleep quality, weight matters and nutrition. In a practical sense, the Wellness Home creates an environment that enables us to make healthier choices every day.

This week our series on the ABC’s of Self Care continues with W. We could blog about the Wellness Home, Weight Matters, being Wealthy by Choice or Water Matters. A recent article in the Epoch Times has prompted this week’s Impetus. The article entitled Dying of Thirst outlines the many reasons that we should stay hydrated. One quote from the article, sums it up, “Dehydration is the mother of all epidemics and it’s the first step we need to take in addressing chronic disease”, so says Gina Bria, cultural anthropologist.

Water Matters

Proper hydration is essential to a healthy life. Water comprises over two-thirds of our body weight and is one of the most essential elements to maintaining well-being. If you consider our composition in terms of molecules, we’re practically all water, nearly 99 percent. 

Water is important in every physiological process. Water helps your body with circulation, assimilation, digestion, elimination and temperature control.

Researchers estimate that about 75% of people in the US have a mild chronic dehydration. This can lead to many health issues such as fatigue, joint pain, weight gain, headaches, ulcers and high blood pressure. Chronic dehydration may affect your organs and lead to kidney stones, cholesterol problems, constipation, and liver and muscle damage.

Water is not just a beverage choice

Water is not just a beverage choice, it is our most essential nutrient. When we think of water in this way it becomes apparent that we must drink enough each day.  We can live for 3 weeks without food, but only 3 days without water!

How Much Water Should We Drink?

There is no perfect answer to this question as it depends on your age, health status, level of physical activity, body type and ambient surroundings.

Everyone has heard drink eight 8oz glasses of water a day. This is insufficient in my opinion for proper hydration for most us. A good rule of thumb is to drink half your body weight in ounces per day of water. So, if you weigh 160 pounds, 10 glasses or 80 ounces per day is a good rule to follow. 

When we hydrate, we are often doing it with compromised water. It’s either full of other chemicals, or, if it’s filtered, it has a loss of minerals which drives the energy inside the water. The body needs to work harder with this water to absorb and utilize it.

Hydration is not just about the quantity of liquid you consume, but about the quality of water and how well your tissues absorb it.

An effective way of providing yourself and your family with healthy water is filtration of tap water. There are many types of systems to accomplish this. Common methods of filtering can remove the chemicals, but it also removes important minerals our bodies need. Guidelines I suggest looking for when comparing systems are advanced filtration that is corroborated and meet or exceed ANSI/NSF standards of 42 and 53.  Look for a system that adds minerals back to the water and creates a slightly alkaline water. I am also a proponent of micro-clustered water that helps with absorption and I suggest getting a system that is easy to use and maintain and cost effective.

What if we could create fresh spring water in our own home or office? The Nikken Waterfall converts tap water into fresh spring-like water. Using a multi-stage process which filters, alkalizes, mineralizes, ionizes, energizes and oxygenates the water, the Waterfall provides great tasting water which is easy to use, affordable and a healthy water choice. Water the way nature intended it.

Last month, Nikken announced the concept of vital Wellness Home Packs to enable anyone to make simple, affordable choices to create a Wellness Home. The Packs address all the areas of self care and help make being Healthy by Choice more convenient than ever.

The Wellness Home Water Pack

Clean water is key to good health. Whether you need clean water at home or on the go, Nikken water products give you access to healthy water. The Water pack comes with replacement filters and the PiMag MicroJet® Shower System to reduce contaminants in the water we bathe in.

Our redesigned Sports bottle is a favorite of ours for healthy water on the go, without the expense of, or pollution associated with bottled waters. The new improved PiMag Sport bottle is not just a state-of-the-art water filter, but also a health product crucial to an Active Wellness lifestyle. The new filter can significantly reduce certain harmful pathogens in potable drinking water. It’s also a green choice; You won’t be adding to landfills and polluting ocean waters with plastic. Instead, you’ll be saving a fortune by not paying for commercially bottled water. 

Empowering individuals to take greater ownership of their health has never been more important. The rising cost of healthcare, the unprecedented increase in chronic disease, and the cost of treating and managing preventable conditions has launched an Awakening to raise Self Care as an essential component of health care. The new Vital Wellness Home Packs are easy, convenient and affordable ways to empower anyone to be Healthy by Choice, not by Chance.