Here at Sport and Health we love to drink water.
But we thought we would do some research on what the benefits of drinking water are. This is what they found out:
First we decided to learn about water and the function of it in our human body, the benefits were that it transports nutrients
and oxygen into cells, helping the body metabolism, protecting vital organs, moister the air in lungs, regulating body temperature and detoxifying the body.
Also we learnt that muscles consist of 75% water, brain has 90% of water, bone consists of 22% and blood has 83%. We felt these were already great benefits for our body.
But we still wanted to know what the benefits of drinking water were for our health.
Here’s what we found – top 10 benefits of drinking water.
1. Skin looks healthier and younger
By being hydrated your skin looks automatically younger and also by drinking water it replenishes skin tissues, it moisturizes skin and also increases skin elasticity.
2. Lose Weight
By drinking water it flushes down the by-products of fat breakdown. So this reduces hunger, which means you’ll eat less.
3. Can help relieve headaches
Because if you’re not use to drinking water you may suffer from dehydration so by drinking water this can help.
4. Relieves Fatigue
Water flushes out toxins and waste products from the body.
5. Improves Digestion and Constipation
Drinking water raises the metabolism so this aids digestion and by eating fibre and drinking water you will have a daily bowel movement.
6. Better Mood
Your body will feel good and so this will make you feel good.
7. Relieves Tiredness
Drinking water will help flush out waste products and toxins from the body.
8. Benefits the Brain
Drinking water will make your brain work efficiently and so it will help you think clearer.
9. Reduced Cramps and Strains
By being hydrated this will keep muscles and joints lubricated.
10. Vital for Pregnancy
By being pregnant your body will need more water to support the growing body and blood supply. If you also breastfeed you should drink plenty of water because you may get dehydrated.
One last question we wanted to solve was how much water should we drink?
We found out that it was between 7 to 10 averaged sized glasses of water. But it also depends on size and height because everyone is different so it just comes down to thinking about it for your own body.
Filed under Benefits of Drinking Water by on Mar 1st, 2011. Comment. 
Health Benefits for Lentils
Sport and Health recommend eating lentils as they contain protein. And protein is an important food group for your body. They are also iron-rich, and have good amounts of B complex vitamins making it a nutritious and flavourful food to eat.
Types of Lentils Nutrition
There are so many different types of lentils so here are a few for you:
Brown Lentils:
Brown Lentils are the most common type of lentils; they have a mild flavour and can be used for different recipes.
Green Lentils:
These give a delicate flavour, they are a brownish green type of lentil but don’t turn as mushy as the other types of lentils.
Split Red Lentils:
Split Red Lentils tend to turn golden when cooked, they cook really fast so are a favourite for soups.
Yellow Lentils:
This type of lentil gives a mild flavour and in India, they often use the yellow lentils for flour.
How to eat Lentils for nutrition?
You can eat lentils in a variety of ways, this includes, soups, salads, casseroles and stews. There are many different recipes online whether you are a vegetarian or a meat eater.
So why should you eat lentils?
Lentils cook very fast and they need little time to prepare them. They help bulk up your food making it nourishing and hearty but they aren’t very expensive but the best thing is they also give you lasting benefits for your body. Hopefully what you have read will make you interested in lentils.
Filed under Lentils Nutrition by on Mar 4th, 2011. Comment.
Here at Sport and Health we like our vegetables, so we thought we would list the different types of vegetables you can eat following the alphabet.
Avocado is potassium rich so it can help depression, fatigue and poor digestion. It also has vitamin A, B, C and E.
Beetroot has lots of minerals and vitamins. It has lots of iron so it helps with blood pressure.
By eating one Carrot a day it will supply all your Vitamin A you need in one day. And it also gives you more energy.
Dandelion Leaf helps if you have liver, circulatory, digestive problems. It also contains vitamin A, C, beta-carotene and chlorophyll.
Endive is a great veg if you want to lose weight as it stimulates the appetite. It also is a light laxative.
Fennel can help anaemia, menstrual problems, constipation, indigestion and respiratory disorders.
Garlic is the best healing herb. It helps with cancer, heart problems, infectious diseases and joints. It also is a great antibacterial and can heal wounds.
Horse Radish is great for bronchitis, rheumatism, anemia, flu and other breathing disorders.
Jerusal em Artichoke helps digestive problems, can lower blood pressure, prevent heart disease and also help protect liver from damage.
Kale can l 
ower cholesterol and can even lower the risk of cancer. It also is a great vegetable for your bodies’ detoxification system.
Leeks are rich in potassium; they also help if you have respiratory problems and are a great cleanser for your body.
Mushroom s can lower cholesterol levels, help prevent breast cancer, prostrate cancer, and diabetes. But they also help weight loss and boost the immune system.
New Potatoes have lots of vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium, copper, manganese, and have plenty of fibre. Also they help lower blood pressure.
Onions are great if you suffer from anaemia, asthma, bronchitis and ageing. Also they can help prevent cancer and lower blood cholesterol.
Peppers very versatile, they have lots of vitamin C, A, K, iron, potassium and beta-carotene. They help decrease blood cholesterol and boost immunity system.
Radishes are very good for the liver and stomach. They also help with cancer, weight loss and skin disorders.
Spinach helps improve eye sight, reduce blood pressure, strengths muscles, has anti-cancerous properties and is protein 
rich.
Turnips have lots of potassium, magnesium and are a good source of vitamin B6. They can help prevent from asthma, cancer and skin problems.
Watercress help protect the eyes, it evens cholesterol and blood pressure, it also helps improve memory. It also has lots of vitamins.
Zucchini has lots of vitamin C, can cure asthma, and has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
Check out the other article for the alphabet of Types of Fruit.
Filed under Types of Vegetables by on Mar 7th, 2011. Comment.
A to Z: Types of Fruit
Here at Sport and Health we like our fruit, so we thought we would list the different types of fruit you can eat following the alphabet.
Apricots have lots of beta-carotene and also supplies iron.
Blackcurrants have lots of vitamin C and are a vital preservative from cancer and heart disease.
Cranberries are high in vitamin C, iron, potassium and vitamin A.
Dates give lots of energy and are very nourishing, they also help with constipation.
Elderberries help lower cholesterol, improve vision, improve heart health and immue system.
Figs are very nourishing as well, they are rich in fibre, iron, potassium and calcium.
Grapefruits have also a high level of vitamin C and lots of potassium. It also helps if you have circulatory or digestive problems.
Honeydew Melon is stimulating for the kidneys and is also a mild laxative.
Jujube can help wi
th stress and can act as an anti-inflammatory and also it can help heal wounds.
Kiwi contains lots of vitamin C and vitamin E, it also has lots of potassium.
Lychee is a nice tropical fruit. It also helps naturally increase the energy of the body.
Mango has high iron, so it is the perfect fruit for pregnant women who may suffer from anaemia.
Nectarines are high in vitamin C, vitamin A and Potassium.
Oranges are very high in vitamin C but can also help prevent cancer, constipation, high blood pressure and make your skin look beautiful.
Pineapples help with you have digestive problems. It is also high in anti-oxidants meaning again it is another fruit with lots of vitamin C.
Quince is a great fruit if you want to lose weight and have a healthy body.
Raspberries have lots of calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium and vitamin C. It also helps if you suffer from heart problems, fatigue and depression.
Strawberries can help if you suffer from high blood pressure, and they can also help if you have kidney stones. They are also rich in iron helping with anaemia and fatigue.
Tangerine has lots of vitamin C and has plenty of beta-carotene. It also helps Obesity, Pneumonia, Arthritis and Asthma.
The Ugli helps fight cardio vascular disease and promotes healthy gums. It also has lots of vitamin B and vitamin C.
Watermelon helps reduce dehydration. Also it is packed with lots of antioxidants and has vitamin C and A.
Yellow Lemons are known as the healing fruit. They can help with a variety of things like arthritis, colds, sore throats, rheumatism, urinary tract infections and many more.
Filed under Types of Fruit by on Mar 7th, 2011. Comment.
