Category Archives: Drinking Water

5 Reasons to Drink Lots Of Water This Holiday Season

Reasons To Drink More Water

It’s the holiday season and everyone is busy shopping, spending time with loved ones and enjoying the holiday cheer. When the temperature drops, drinking water often isn’t our primary concern as it’s cold out and we don’t sweat as much as we do in the summer months.

No matter the weather or how busy you are, it’s critical to your body and mind to make sure you’re drinking enough water.

Here are 5 reasons to drink lots of water this holiday season! 

1 – Helps to reduce weight

Drinking water reduces appetite and raises your body’s metabolism because it has zero calories. Drinking water first thing in the morning is a great way to kick start your day. 

 2 – Boosts immune system

Water boosts your immune system and helps you fight against illness, disease other ailments. 

3 – Prevents headaches

Water helps in relieving and preventing headaches like migraines & back pains, which are commonly caused by dehydration.

4 – Good for skin

Consuming plenty of water improves your skin and gives you a noticeable “glow.” It’s the cheapest and most effective remedy for good skin.

5 – Suppresses appetite

Water decreases your appetite as it acts as a filler in your stomach, thereby helping you reduce your weight.

How Pharmaceuticals in Your Tap Water Are Affecting You

Pharmaceuticals In Drinking Water

Pharmaceuticals – the wide range of medications prescribed for any number of ailments and conditions – may have some dangerous side effects that aren’t listed in the fine print.

A vast array of pharmaceuticals including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans, an Associated Press investigation shows.

Water providers rarely disclose results of pharmaceutical screenings, unless pressed, the AP found. For example, the head of a group representing major California suppliers said the public “doesn’t know how to interpret the information” and might be unduly alarmed.

The issue here is that water utilities do not yet have the infrastructure to adequately test and filter these “emerging contaminants,” but recent studies have shown some glaring concerns that suggest we might want to tackle this issue soon.

Blog Post: Shampoo, Narcotics and Birth Control: Things You Didn’t Know You Were Drinking

How do the pharmaceuticals get in our drinking water?

  1. People take pills.
  2. Their bodies absorb some of the medication, but the rest of it passes through and is flushed down the toilet.
  3. The wastewater is treated before it is discharged into reservoirs, rivers or lakes.
  4. Then, some of the water is cleansed again at drinking water treatment plants and piped to consumers. But most treatments do not remove all drug residue.

 

And while researchers do not yet understand the exact risks from decades of persistent exposure to random combinations of low levels of pharmaceuticals, recent studies which have gone virtually unnoticed by the general public have found alarming effects on human cells and wildlife.

In several cases, officials at municipal or regional water providers told the AP that pharmaceuticals had not been detected, but the AP obtained the results of tests conducted by independent researchers that showed otherwise.

For example, water department officials in New Orleans said their water had not been tested for pharmaceuticals, but a Tulane University researcher and his students have published a study that found the pain reliever naproxen, the sex hormone estrone and the anti-cholesterol drug byproduct clofibric acid in treated drinking water.

In the United States, the problem isn’t confined to surface waters.

Pharmaceuticals also permeate aquifers deep underground, source of 40 percent of the nation’s water supply.

Federal scientists who drew water in 24 states from aquifers near contaminant sources such as landfills and animal feed lots found minuscule levels of hormones, antibiotics and other drugs.

Some drugs, including widely used cholesterol fighters, tranquilizers and anti-epileptic medications, resist modern drinking water and wastewater treatment processes. Plus, the EPA says there are no sewage treatment systems specifically engineered to remove pharmaceuticals.

Our bodies may shrug off a relatively big one-time dose, yet suffer from a smaller amount delivered continuously over a half century, perhaps subtly stirring allergies or nerve damage. Pregnant women, the elderly and the very ill might be more sensitive.

And while drugs are tested to be safe for humans, the timeframe is usually over a matter of months, not a lifetime. Pharmaceuticals also can produce side effects and interact with other drugs at normal medical doses. That’s why aside from therapeutic doses of fluoride injected into potable water supplies pharmaceuticals are prescribed to people who need them, not delivered to everyone in their drinking water.

Sources:

  1. http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/pharmawater_site/day1_01.html

Laughing Out Loud Is Healthy!

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Looking for a great natural, healthy remedy? Try laughing!

Laughter might be the best natural remedy, and quite a few people think its also contagious! I know that if I am with a group of people laughing, I cant help but start chucking myself.

While it’s great for your face muscles to have a chuckle, its also great for quite a few other things.

  • Laughter Boosts The Immune System

    • Laughter has been shown to decrease stress hormones and increase immune cells and infection fighting antibodies. This all leads to improving your bodies health, and its resistance to disease!

  • Laughter Reduces Depression

    • Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural good feeling chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of feeling good, and can temporarily relieve pain!

  • Laughter Relaxes The Body

    • While laughing it might not feel super relaxing, but theres a ton of work going on. A good laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed after.

  • Laughter Protects Your Cardiovascular System

    • Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow around your heart. This can help prevent a heart attack and other problems.

Laughter is a good thing, so go out and have a chuckle today! While laughing, hopefully you’ll start a domino effect for other people!

 

How the Drought is Poisoning California’s Drinking Water

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As California struggles through the fourth year of its historic drought, the effects are starting to hit a little closer to home… and our health.

The results of a 10-year study of California groundwater quality showed some disturbing findings.

Normally, Californians get about 30% of their drinking water from aquifers, but the drought has forced Californians to rely on these aquifers for more than 60% of our water needs.

The study found that roughly 20% of our groundwater is contaminated with high concentrations of dangerous substances like arsenic, uranium and nitrates. And it’s not getting any better…

As groundwater keeps getting lower, our drinking water will become more and more unsafe.

The longer the drought continues, the more we will rely on groundwater. You can probably see how this is quite the vicious cycle. But is there an answer? In order to understand that, we have to know what caused this quality issue.

 

Where do the contaminants come from?

Contaminants enter California’s water artificially – through heavy use of nitrogen-based fertilizers on farms – and naturally – through erosion of natural deposits.

Heavy reliance on nitrogen fertilizers (and animal waste) has led to increased levels of nitrates in the water. At levels above 10 ppm (parts per million), nitrates can impede the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, leading to birth defects and cancers of the ovaries and thyroid.

Agriculture alone isn’t the only source of contamination; arsenic – which is not used on farms – turned up more than nitrates. The study also found an alarming amount of aquifers poisoned with uranium, which is a contaminant not used in farms, but which has been pushed further into the water table (5-10 feet per year) by irrigation.

According to Kenneth Belitz, the study’s lead author and chief of the USGS’s National Water Quality Assessment Program, the process of contaminants slowly moving further down into the water table affects all areas of California.

Former agricultural areas that have evolved into suburban (Santa Ana, for example) will start to see the effects of years-old nitrates sinking into their water tables. Today’s farming hotspots – especially the San Joaquin Valley (where San Diego gets a portion of its water) – could be slowly building up nitrate levels year by year that could lead to much higher nitrate levels in well water.

 

How is the drought making it worse?

This heart-wrenching video from High Country News depicts how the drought is exacerbating the level of contaminants in California’s water. It shows the situation in East Orosi, one of the areas hit hardest by the drought.

Chad Fischer, East Orosi District Engineer, explains how landowners are digging a higher level of wells, putting more stress on the aquifers:

“It’s simple, drill a lot of wells, produce a lot of water. The water tables are going to drop and the level of contaminants is going to go up.”

As groundwater levels drop and the level of contaminants stays the same, the concentration of nitrates in groundwater supply will continue to increase.

Think of it as a small amount of poison that’s diluted by a large amount of water. The poison is relatively harmless as long as the water level stays high enough. But when the water level decreases, there’s not as much to dilute the poison, making it much more dangerous.

This issue is hitting areas of California at different times. East Orosi is getting the worst of it now. Residents use five-gallon plastic jugs for drinking, cleaning, brushing teeth, making tea and coffee, making soup and cleaning fruits and vegetables.

East Orosi’s situation serves as a stark warning to the rest of the state about the dangers of the drought on water quality. Hopefully it serves as a canary in the coal mine demonstrating that serious actions need to be taken for the health and safety of the people.

When will it end?

That’s the bad news. According to NASA Analysis, California’s aquifers are extremely depleted (by 11 trillion gallons, to be exact). Lower rainfall in the coming years and steady or increased farming will only continue to diminish these sources, therefore raising contaminant concentration.

As the drought continues, it’s imperative that California residents continue to monitor their local drinking water quality. Every municipality is required to send out a Water Quality Report (or CCR) annually, detailing local contaminant levels.

As always, the safest solution for your water’s safety is to install water filter systems in your home to ensure the highest quality clean water in your home regardless of outside circumstances. See your home water filter options HERE.

 

More information: Mother Jones on California’s Drinking Water

 

3 Tips For A Healthier 4th of July!

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Whether your heading to the beach, the lake, or anywhere in between, the 4th of july is a great opportunity to spend quality time with friends and family. As an American company, we’re proud to be able to provide healthy drinking water to members of our community.

As great as the 4th is, its not inherently the healthiest holiday. Typically BBQ food, alcoholic beverages, and lounging next to a body of water are involved.

Check out these three tips to make sure your holiday is both emotionally and physically healthy!

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Get Out An Exercise Early!

Starting your day with something active is great because it gets the blood flowing, and helps you feel great throughout the day!

A great way to get started this year is the Scripps Ranch 4th of July Run & Ride! Enjoy the race itself, get a cool race shirt, and enjoy a cold beverage after your race. Also, make sure to take plenty of pictures to post on social media to let everyone know who’s having a healthy 4th!

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Stay Hydrated

The 4th is typically very hot, so drinking plenty of water is critical. I know we here at Evolution Healthworks will have our Drink Safes with us and be constantly drinking water.

If you are going to drink Alcohol heres a couple tips

  • Never drink on an empty stomach
  • Alternate one drink for a water
  • Be mindful of mixers, and always try to use a splash of soda with your favorite juice
  • Move around while drinking, this helps burn those calories!

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Color Up Your Meal

Try to consume as many naturally vibrant and nutritionally colored foods as possible. Try Kale, Mangoes, Cayenne Peppers, and Blueberries!

Looking for a Patriotic Platter, make it red white and blue! Our favorite is Eggplant, Blueberries and Strawberries!

We hope everyone has a safe, and fun 4th of July! 

 

What’s the Difference Between Water Softeners & Water Conditioners?

Aura H2O-Ion Final

As a new homeowner, you’ll likely face a common question: do I need a water softener? After some research, you’ll likely come across some info about a similar piece of equipment called a water conditioner. The differences between the two can be confusing, but making the right choice can have a significant impact on you and your family’s health and your home’s appearance and value. 

Many areas across the country – especially Southern California – have “hard water,” which means your tap water has exceptionally high mineral content.

Hard water is not particularly unhealthy, but it’s capable of causing some costly problems for your home. The most costly issues include scaling, pipe blockage and even pipe leaks. 

Your Home’s Health

Scaling is the buildup of minerals to form a deposit called lime scale. Hard water mixed with soap forms nasty soap scum, which leaves a bathtub ring on your surfaces. 

hard vs soft water

The difference in scaling between a showerhead with hard water and soft water is obvious.

Excessive scaling can lead to clogged pipes, which decrease water flow rate to your faucets and showerheads and can even affect the life of toilet flushing units.

hard water damage

A pipe clogged with hardness minerals.

Eventually, the scaling in your pipes will allow less water to flow through. Showerheads will dribble instead of spraying and faucets will deliver a weak stream of water. Buildup in your faucets can also lead to faulty shutoff mechanisms and dripping faucets.

The third costly effect of hard water is when dissolved minerals eat through pipes causing leaks and water damage in your home. It’s important to realize this potential issue early, because there are water pipes throughout your home and even a small hole can result in VERY costly damage.

hard water pipe damage

Pipe with a significant leak due to hard water.

 

Your Health and Happiness (and Sanity)

The effects of hard water are not limited to your home and plumbing fixtures; it can also affect your quality of life. Hard water requires more soap or detergent and water for showering and laundry.

åAdditionally, mixing soap and hard water on the body can cause what’s referred to as a “curd,” which can remain on the skin after rinsing, clogging pores. This serves as a breeding ground for bacteria, rashes and dry skin irritations.

Hard water also leads to mineral deposits in your hair, making it harder to untangle post-shower.

So What’s the Solution?

Now that you understand the multitude of issues surrounding hard water, let’s discuss the best way to get rid of hard water in your home. A water softener may be the more popular option, but I’m going to explain to you why a water conditioner is the better option for your home, your health and your wallet.

Water Softeners vs. Water Conditioners

Both water softeners and water conditioners solve the problems associated with hard water. The two are significantly different, though, in 3 main ways:

  1. Water Quality
  2. Simplicity
  3. Price

Water Quality

The biggest difference between water softeners and water conditioners is water quality. The reason is pretty simple: water softeners DO NOT filter your water and water conditioners do.

Water softeners use what’s called “ion exchange,” which swaps hardness mineral ions for sodium, reducing the water’s hardness. The problem is that softeners only focus on hardness, not contaminants such as chlorine and carcinogenic disinfectant byproducts like chloroform. 

Chlorine is generally the most noticeable contaminant in tap water (due to the large amount added in at a municipal level in order to disinfect water). It is also quite dangerous and damaging to your health and beauty. Chlorine can cause cancer over time when ingested and is notorious for drying out skin and hair. In addition to being dangerous to the body, chlorine can contribute to pinhole leaks in your pipes.

Without a conditioner, you will not be able to remove chlorine and other dangerous contaminants – you will simply have softer, dirty water.

Simplicity

As I mentioned above, water softeners use a process called “ion exchange,” which is about as complicated as it sounds. It requires electricity (which drives up cost of operation) and maintenance such as buying, hauling and adding salt periodically. In addition to being physically trying and time-consuming, adding salt also requires upwards of $200 per year.

Ion exchange is also not eco-friendly in any way. The process requires waste water to be expelled through a special drain. Research showed that this briny waste water was actually affecting area water supplies, leading to the recent ban of salt-based water softeners in cities such as San Diego and Los Angeles. That’s right: if you live in Southern California, you are likely outlawed from even purchasing a salt-based water softener.

Water conditioners do not use any electricity, saving your energy bill. They also create zero wastewater and require no maintenance aside from annual filter changes. Additionally, water conditioners use significantly less floor space in your garage and make no noise.

On an aesthetic level, conditioners produce water that mixes well with soaps and detergents, allowing you to use less of each, saving you even more money. Conditioned water also feels better in the shower, whereas softened water leaves a distinct “slippery” feel on the skin. 

Price

Of course, one of the most important aspects of any home improvement purchase is the price. What is it worth for you to have clean water and fortified investments in your kitchen and bathroom fixtures? Obviously, many companies will use this argument to justify ridiculously-priced items. But water conditioners are actually priced significantly below water softeners.

The Evolution Whole Home Water Conditioner starts at only $795, compared with softeners in the thousands of dollars, plus maintenance costs. Conditioners also save you from the electricity and water costs associated with a complicated softener. 

Most importantly, though, a Water Conditioner preserves the health of you and your family, as you can be sure the dangerous contaminants found increasingly in tap water supplies will be eradicated at the source. 

Call 619-356-3766 or email info@evolutionhealthworks.com today for more info about how a Water Conditioner can help improve your life and the value of your home!

We’ve Been Featured in Sandiegoville.com!

Our project at Casa De Esperanza with Illuminate Juice has been featured in Sandiegoville.com magazine!

Check out the story below:

Local small businesses Evolution Healthworks and Illuminate Juice have teamed up to raise funds to create an organic garden at the Casa de la Esperanza Orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico. The project looks to bring healthy fruits and vegetables in a sustainable form to the residents of the orphanage, which sits on the outskirts of Tijuana and is home to over 70 orphans and full-time caretakers

As of now, the primary diet for the children is rice and beans supplemented by donations. The proposed garden will provide fruits and vegetables as a healthy complement to the orphans’ diets. The garden will also urge the children to play a part in its upkeep and choose how to expand and maintain it in the future. 
“We’re looking for a way to not just donate something to the orphange, but build a project that can provide a healthy option to them for years” said Jackson Dargan of Evolution Healthworks.Both companies have spent the past two months gathering the necessary supplies and starting work on the garden with in anticipation of completion in June. Additionally, both companies have pledged financial support. Illuminate’s “Juice For A Cause” campaign delivers 50% of proceeds from their Berry Almond Mylks to the project. Evolution Healthworks has pledged to donate a portion of proceeds on its Alkaline Water Systems. No matter the amount, any support for the garden project would be instrumental in improving the quality of life for the children at Casa de la Esperanza.  

Anyone looking to donate can do so via the fundraising site on Teambank.org.
Check Out the article HERE:

3 Reasons to Quit Your Water Delivery Service

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The 5-gallon water jug has become a staple of offices and homes across the country. Many businesses and home owners feel that water delivery services provide them with an easy, healthy and cheap alternative to water straight from the tap.

However, these ideas aren’t totally valid. In fact, there are some pretty negative effects from using these water delivery services on your health, your wallet and the environment.

Check out these reasons why you should ditch the water cooler!

Price

While cheaper than bottled water (Americans spend $1.45 per bottle on average), a home delivery service is still expensive. We took a look at two prominent companies in the San Diego area. If you purchase three 5-gallon jugs for your home or office each month (the most common option) you’re looking at $22.49 per month with Sparklett’s. If go with Arrowhead (owned by Nestle), you’ll shell out $3.75 per 5 gallon jug, but also need to rent the water cooler, with a total that comes out to $22.47 monthly with delivery.

Doing some simple math, that means that the average consumer is paying $1.49 per gallon. Thats a pretty steep price considering the Aura H20 water system can give you higher quality water at your tap for only 20 cents per gallon your first year, and then 8 cents a gallon every year after.

Water Quality

The water quality from home delivery is roughly equivalent to that of bottled water. Most bottled water isn’t from a spring or mountain. In fact, a recent study showed that around 25% of bottled water is simply tap water. Additional studies have shown this leads to things like mold, microbes, benzene, tri-halomethanes, and even arsenic in your bottled water.

Moreover, even if your water is clean and pure, you’re still putting yourself at risk by using the bottle. Plastic bottles pose the risk of containing BPA in them, which can leach into your water and be cancerous.

Using an in-home filtration system eliminates all of these issues.

Plastic Pollutes the Environment

As much as companies want to tell you plastic bottles are sustainable, they are not. Vast quantities of fossil fuels and water go into creating these bottles, which are then filled and shipped around the globe. Bottles aren’t biodegradable either, meaning that they can stick around for a long time!

An under-counter filtration system eliminates the extensive carbon footprint of plastic production and shipping involved in home water delivery services.

The Solution

The best solution is to install a water filtration system in your home or office. Evolution Healthworks systems are less expensive than bottled water, produce higher-quality water and are better for the environment.

Check out our products TODAY!  Or give us a call at 619-356-3766

 

2 Easy Juice Blend Recipes to Detox this Weekend!

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What better time than the weekend to cleanse our bodies of all the toxins that we consume during the week?

Head out for an early morning workout this weekend, and finish it up with one of these delicious blends…

The Green Machine

  • 25% Spinach
  • 25% Dark Green Kale
  • 1 Head of Broccoli
  • Stalk of Celery
  • 1 Cup of Chilled Match Tea and made with Evolution Alkaline Water

You can add frozen mangoes for some added flavor! 

Green Dream

  • 25% Celery
  • 1 Green Apple
  • 1/2 Cucumber
  • 25% Spinach
  • 1 Teaspoon of Spirulina
  • Fill With Evolution Alkaline Water

Enjoy!

Why is LA’s Water Dirty?

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It’s not quite as bad as San Diego’s water, but Los Angeles’ water quality ranks among the lowest of U.S. cities (83rd out of the top 100, to be exact).

This lackluster ranking comes as a result of a harmful cocktail of chemicals in the water that combine to be 4 times more than the recommended number of chemical pollutants.

“Looking at the data, we’re definitely concerned about water quality in Southern California. We recommend utilities really look at their processing. There’s much room for improvement,” said Olga Naidenko, a senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit environmental watchdog based in Washington, D.C.

“We recommend residents get water filters“

“The nation’s tap water has been compromised by weak federal safeguards and pitiful protection of drinking water supplies,” said Jane Houlihan, senior vice president for research at Environmental Working Group, in a statement.

What exactly is so dangerous in Los Angeles’ water?

The Main Dangers In Your Water

1. Trihalomethanes

Trihalomethanes are a group of 4 carcinogenic (cancer-causing) chemicals created as byproducts of the chlorine and other disinfectants used to treat bacteria in drinking water. These exceed the federal health standards in Los Angeles.

2. Arsenic

Heavy metal that enters the water supply via mining runoff, erosion, pesticides and emission from glass production. Arsenic has also been shown to cause cancer and often contains radioactive elements.

3. Perchlorate

Perchlorate is a component of rocket fuel associated with thyroid illness.

4. Manganese

Naturally occuring elemtn released from mineral products and industrial use. Shown to negatively effect the nervous system and function as a carcinogen

We recommend getting a water filter immediately. Check out our products today!

Why You Should Avoid Distilled Water

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Many consumers don’t understand the difference between the “distilled water” and “drinking water,” you see on the shelf at the grocery store. The difference, though, can have a serious effect on your health.

Distilled water is created by boiling tap water until it evaporates, then condensing the vapor back into liquid. While this process removes most contaminants in your tap water, it also has some less attractive effects.

Distillation removes all the beneficial minerals from your water. The process also dissolves carbon dioxide from the air into the new liquid, making your water acidic (according to the EPA).

This is why certain water at the grocery store is labeled “drinking water” instead of distilled: because the water meant for drinking is actually filtered and remineralized for your health.

Water distillation was popular in the 1960s, when demand for clean water exceeded supply. Some people still used distillers today, but consumption has dropped as studies reveal the health dangers tied to drinking distilled water.

 

What Are The Main Health Risks Of Drinking Distilled Water? 

Mineral Deficiencies 

Drinking distilled water disrupts your body’s mineral balance. In fact, studies have shown that drinking distilled or demineralized water can leach minerals from your body.

Mineral loss in the body puts you at risk for an array of issues including osteoporosis, hypertension, coronary artery disease and premature aging.

Tooth Decay 

Because distilled water leaches minerals from your body, dentists are seeing an increase in cavities in children who consume distilled water. The water can damage your teeth because it is readily looking to absorb nutrients and minerals from your body both internally and topically.

Electrolyte Imbalance

Numerous studies, including one done by the World Health Organization have shown that because distilled water can cause an electrolyte imbalance in your body. Your body will leach electrolytes from your tissues in order to add them to the mineral-free water you are drinking.

So what kind of water SHOULD I drink? 

We at Evolution Healthworks encourage you to be drinking clean, mineralized water. There are numerous benefits to drinking your minerals. Check out our PRODUCT OPTIONS HERE