We hear it all the time-”Drink more water!” “Stay Hydrated” But WHY? I am so excited to have a guest post by Crystal Springs of Alabama on this topic. Read on… 

It all boils down to one word: Dehydration. We all know that dehydration means our bodies aren’t getting the amounts of fluids they need – we’re not replenishing what we’ve used. The effects of dehydration may surprise you though, and get you to pay attention to the old “eight glass” rule.

Depending on several variables, like weight and activity level, it takes about 60 to 80 ounces of water (7.5 to 10 cups) to replace the fluid the body naturally loses in one day. Water makes each organ in your body run the way it’s supposed to. Think of water in your body as gas for your car (just, not as thick or smelly, hopefully).

The health benefits of drinking plenty of water can’t be denied. Drinking enough water each day can lead to:

• Fewer headaches. Ever get a mild to moderate ache in your cranium that Tylenol just won’t fix? It could be due to a lack of water in your system. Drink up to feel better!

• More energy. When you have enough water working in all the systems of your body, your body functions better and you have more energy.

• Better skin. Healing blemishes or reducing wrinkles from the inside out is a natural way to look better.

• Better breath. Ever been around someone with a raging case of halitosis? It’s not pleasant. Ensure your breath is at its best by drinking enough water daily.

• Weight loss. Having a glass or two of water before meals can help fill your tummy with liquid volume, actually helping you eat less, according to Today.

So what if you’ve got an aversion to drinking glass after glass of the clear stuff? Not to worry. According to the Mayo Clinic, food provides around 20% of your daily water intake on average, especially water-filled fruits and vegetables. And if you just can’t stomach plain ol’ water, take a look at our blog post about the best diet drink alternatives – drinks that hydrate you while giving you a little flavor.

Crystal Springs of Alabama is a home and office water delivery service, providing crisp, clean spring water right to your door. We offer individual bottles and 5- or 3-gallon jugs with coolers. For more information about our services, visit our website.

Since Valentine’s Day is next week, I thought I would share a few of my favorite finds (and splurge recipes) from around blogosphere. What are some of your favorites? I will start with my Cookie Dough Truffles (above).

Sweet Sugar Cookie Bracelets from Food Plus Words 

Chocolate Malt Cake from Dessert First

Valentine Fruit Kabob Dessert from Best Friends for Frosting

Valentine’s Day Trail Mix from Ingredients, Inc.

How To Pipe Lace on Cookies    

The Best Peanut Butter Cookies from Created by Diane

Valentine Printable Treat Bag Toppers from Love from the Oven

Homemade Valentine Cards from Thirty Handmade Days

Valentine’s Day Heart Topiary from Tiny Prints

When I saw this recipe from a past issue of Cooking Light magazine for Peanut Butter Cup Brownies, I knew that I had to make them. I have a weakness for anything peanut butter, but the fact that they are only 153 calories, 20 grams of carbohydrates and 7 grams of fat, I let this one slide. These brownies are so easy to make and make for parties (Super Bowl), Valentines and a great afternoon snack for the kids or dessert, of course. I used the new Reese’s cup minis, which worked perfectly. Enjoy!

So, I am a runner, spinner, tennis player, and I do strength training, but I never know what the true rule is on “to stretch or not to stretch”. I decide to take this question to a pro. I had a talk with Kirk Kaps, a Certified Athletic Trainer at Champion Sports Medicine, who works daily with professional athletes (and small unknown athletes like me.) He told me this, “In the past, we have always heard that is important for us to make sure we stretch our muscles very well before physical activity. Before this could occur, it was told that we must get a good warm-up in order to get a good stretch for the muscle groups when they are considered “cold” muscles. One recent study, performed in 2011, concluded that if you normally stretch and warm up before running, then by all means, continue that. But, if you’re a runner who doesn’t stretch at all, and still gets in a good warm-up, then continue your routine. In essence, each athlete should continue their own routine, but they should continue to get a 3 to 5 minute warm-up before they start their activity.” I hope this helps when you are stumped with this same question.

You can find this study at: http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/news/20110217/stretch-before-running-new-twist-on-old-debate

Photo via Pinterest

Super Bowl Sunday is almost upon us, and so many people have been calling me to purchase my cookbook, “400 Best Sandwiches: From Classics & Burgers to Wraps & Condiments”. (Honestly, I am just looking forward to the commercials and seeing Madonna). Anyway, a friend told me the other day that she is making something really simple: my  Club Sandwich recipe. In honor of Super Bowl 46, I thought I could give away one copy of my latest book filled with 400 Sandwich Recipes. Here are a few more selections from the book.

Ice Cream Sandwich

Lunchbox Sushi

Pear Pecan and Gorgonzola Crostini

To enter, see below. You can leave additional comments for each step. I will draw the winner on Super Bowl Sunday, February 5th at 8 p.m CST. Good luck!

1. Leave a comment below telling me who you are routing for or what you’re making for Super Bowl Sunday.

2. Like Ingredients, Inc on Facebook.

2. Follow me on twitter.

3. Follow me on Pinterest

4. Tweet the following: I just entered @alisonlewis cookbook giveaway for #400BestSandwiches

Recipe excerpted from 400 Best Sandwich Recipes by Alison Lewis © 2011 Robert Rose Inc. www.robertrose.ca Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.

Valentines is almost here, and I thought I would share my latest healthy idea of what you can snack on at home, in the office or at your kids’ class parties. This Valentine Trail Mix is filled with healthy nuts, yogurt covered pretzels and raisins. Feel free to add your favorite nuts and dried fruits. Top it off with a small amount of regular or peanut M & M’s, and you’ll have a winning Valentine’s Day treat that is fairly healthy too.

Super Bowl XLVI is coming up this weekend with the New York Giants and the New England Patriots, and most of us are having or going to Super Bowl parties. I have had so many email requests for easy, healthy ideas for game, so I wanted to share one of our favorite lightened-up football snack recipes. Rosemary Infused Nuts are a tremendous hit! This simple, 20 minute recipe is filled with cashews, almonds and pumpkin seeds. Nuts are a great source of healthy fat, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber and protein. By consuming this type of fat, you’ll feel less hungry, and your sugar cravings will diminish. They are filled with the following power food nuts:

Pumpkin Seeds: I love using pumpkin seeds in this nut mix because they are high in zinc and have been linked to so many benefits including great looking skin and boosting your immunity.

Almonds: Almonds are a power nut high in Vitamin E and potassium and one of the most nutritious nuts.

Cashews: Cashews are also a rich source of iron and zinc, and they have been linked to hair, skin and bone health.

Other Lightened Up Super Bowl Snack Ideas

Chicken Chipotle Dip   

Spinach Dip with Greek Yogurt

Panko Roasted Drumsticks

I have been doing a lot of research, writing and speaking on super-foods, and Kefir is definitely on my list. I am so excited about Frozen Kefir by Lifeway because it has is only 90 calories per 1/2 cup serving, 18 grams of carbohydrates and 4 grams of fiber. It is also 99% lactose free, all natural and gluten-free. In addition, it is packed with 10 probiotics which rev up your immunity and are great for digestion. My kids absolutely went wild over the strawberry, especially in this Strawberry Kefir Smoothie. With only 3 ingredients, you will have a refreshing and healthy smoothie perfect for breakfast, afternoon snack or light dessert.

I get a lot of questions about probiotics. What are they? Probiotics, which literally mean “beneficial to life,” are live cultures that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Most probiotics include the live active cultures often added to foods like yogurt. Researchers have studied bacteria extensively and considerable evidence indicates that there are several strains of essential good-for-you bacteria that have an ability to promote healthy gastrointestinal functions. Lifeway Kefir contains seven to ten billion CFU’s of 10 strains of bacteria, plus ProBoost, an exclusive pair of clinically proven probiotics to balance your body’s ecosystem, support digestive health and immunity. That’s 12 live and active cultures per cup to produce a wide array of health benefits. You can find Lifeway frozen Kefir at Whole Foods.

What is the toughest workout DVD out there? Insanity Workout is a 60-day home-based workout video program designed by the company Beach Body, which also produces other popular workout DVDs such as P90X. Insanity is possibly the most difficult, cardiovascular-based DVD workout program on the market today, due to its strenuous pace. It is a total body, circuit training workout that uses only your body weight as resistance. The plan involves a schedule of six days of exercise per week, and each workout will take approximately 30 to 60 minutes to complete. All that is required to perform each INSANITY workout is a TV, DVD player, a good pair of tennis shoes, and sheer willpower. I am dying to try this!

Photo above via pineterst

Fun news! I am super excited! Today, I am headed to Alt Summit (Altitude Design Summit) in Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s a conference I have been wanting to attend, so I put it on my to-do list a long time ago. If you’re asking yourself, What is Alison talking about?” Read on. If you’re obsessed with lifestyle, food and fashion blogs; fantastic images; smart ideas and great design; this is where you should be. Keynote speakers include Editors of Martha Stewart Living, Apartment Therapy and The Wall Street Journal Magazine as well as Founder of Pinterest and New York Time’s Bestselling Author, Gretchen Rubin. Images above by Freshly Picked, Daniel Staemmler, and Mode:lina

I’ll be learning more about Design. Lifestyle. Photography. Fashion. Events. Styling. Art Direction. Food. Interior Design.