---

Healthy Youth Program
HEALTHY EATING
​Session 1

---

Seventy percent (70%) of your brain is made of water, which means if you want to have better focus and improve your academic success, drink water, but not just any water. Drink plenty of high quality filtered or spring water to give your body what it needs for proper functioning and hydration

​Avoid drinking unfiltered tap water. Make a small investment in yourself and purchase a water filter for your home faucet. You can easily find and purchase one of the following simple water filters: Brita, PUR and Zero water, water filters in most drug stores or at Target.

---

BOTTLED WATER GUIDELINES

When drinking bottled water, make sure you check the container. Please remember and follow the guidelines below when you are purchasing “Bottled Water”:

• Not all plastic water bottles are created equal. Look for a triangle shape imprint with a number inside, on the bottom of each plastic bottle.

 

• Make sure all plastic bottles you purchase for water consumption, state that the plastic bottle is BPA FREE. BPA is a toxic industrial chemical.

 

• Plastic bottles containing water for drinking should exhibit a triangle with a number inside on the bottom of the bottle. The triangle and its number will indicate the quality of the plastic used to make the water bottle. If you don’t see a triangle, don’t buy the bottle.

 

• Bottles possessing the number 1, 2, or 3 inside the triangle, should be avoided. Drinking the water from these bottles may be harmful and may contain BPA.

 

• According to the referenced information listed below, the safest numbers in the triangles are numbers 4 and 5. This means the bottles with triangles exhibiting the numbers 6 and 7 should also be avoided.​

 

• Bottles with the numbers 1-7 are never to be reused. These bottles are only for a single use.

 

• Ideally, try to avoid consuming water in plastic bottles. When looking for reusable water containers, research which are the best reusable bottles. Make sure you read the information on the container and use Google to compare and verify your research information.

 These are general guidelines to follow to ensure the bottled water you consume is safe. 

---

RULE OF THUMB
Drink half your body weight in water daily.

---

When you wake up in the morning, immediately drink at least one full 8-ounce glass of quality water. Try to drink one more glass of water before leaving for school.

Each organ in your body, and your skin, must have water to operate effectively. Consuming enough water each day will prevent dehydration and other health problems such as constipation.

Here are some signs you may be dehydrated:
􀀀 Headaches
􀀀 Dry Skin/Dry Lips
􀀀 Fatigue/Lack of Energy
􀀀 Confusion
􀀀 Fainting
􀀀 Muscle Cramps
􀀀 Rapid Heartbeat
􀀀 Feeling Hot
􀀀 Weakened Immune System

Remember, your body must have enough water to function properly. If you starve your organs of water over a period, they can begin to deteriorate.

---

WATER CONTAMINATION CONCERNS

There's a lot of contamination in water systems around the country. Flint, Michigan made national news because of high percentages of lead in the water from contaminated pipes.

Adults and children are still suffering from diseases associated with contaminated water.  Lead poisoning causes diseases and impedes the ability for children and youth to think and causes other life-threatening conditions in children and adults.  There is certain fresh produce that can help the body heal from lead poisoning.

Each day pay attention to your water intake.

Many people go to the emergency room for symptoms that result from dehydration. This can be avoided by using common sense measures.
​

A quick way to re-hydrate your body is to add fresh lemon or lime juice, squeezed into a full glass of filtered or spring water.

---

---

Resources: Vitamins & Minerals from A to Z with Ethno-consciousness, Jewel Pookrum, MD, www.WebMD.com,
True Activist, www.Alphamom.org