Give Your Drinking Water a Natural Flavor Burst

Cucumber-Orange Water Recipe

By Adela Jung

Not all of us like soda and flavored drinks, but plain old water can get boring after a while. Here, the clean flavors of cucumber and orange steep in water for a refreshing twist.


This recipe was featured as part chow.com Post-Holiday Recovery Menu

INGREDIENTS

• 6 cups cold water
• 6 thin slices English cucumber
• 5 thin slices orange

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Serve.
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Cities Question Water Fluoridation Benefits vs. Cost

Phoenix set to reassess fluoridation

by Lynh Bui - Jun. 10, 2012 10:55 PM
The Republic | azcentral.com

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention proclaimed it one of the 10 greatest public-health achievements of the 20th century.

Every U.S. surgeon general since the 1950s has endorsed the practice. And the American Dental Association calls it the "single most effective public-health measure to prevent tooth decay."

But despite overwhelming support from the government and medical professionals, the debate over fluoridating public water systems, which largely subsided after the Cold War, has resurfaced.

Phoenix has become the latest Valley city to reassess the controversial cavity-fighting policy as several City Council members are proposing to save money or limit government's reach by discontinuing water fluoridation in the nation's sixth-largest city.

The City Council Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee is scheduled to decide Tuesday whether the entire council should vote to suspend the city's use of fluoride in city water. A change would affect the more than 1.4 million Phoenix residents who use the city's fluoridated tap water for drinking, bathing and brushing their teeth.

Anti-fluoride activists have continued to rally against municipal fluoridation of water for decades, worried that overdoses could lead to weight gain and muscle pains from thyroid problems, discoloration of teeth and other yet-to-be-discovered side effects. They also worry that ingesting too much fluoride could damage bones the same way it has been found to eat away at tooth enamel.

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Water and Its Significant Role in Your Workout Regime

Stay Safe When Working Out in Summer Heat

Juan Villa | Visalia Time-Delta

Workouts don't need to be put aside simply because the hot weather has arrived. By making a few simple changes, those heading outdoors for their regular workouts can stay safe while doing so.

Three Central Valley natives share some tips for staying safe while working out in the hot weather.

Stay hydrated

When it comes to taking care of the body while exercising in hot weather, local experts agree that staying hydrated is foremost.

And staying hydrated doesn't mean just drinking water or Gatorade during the actual workout. Staying hydrated before working out is just as important.

"If say they only drink in the morning, then by the time their competition or workout comes around they will have lost that hydration significantly," said Janelle Myers, Redwood High School athletic trainer. "Not all of it but a lot of it will have been lost. The most important thing is to stay hydrated before and during practice."

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