PUR2o's network of Partners-in-Wellness share PUR2o's passion for healthy living. We recently connected with PUR2o Partner-in-Wellness, Ekat from Healthfully Ekat, to learn more about her role as a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) and an AADP Board Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach.
About Ekat
Ekat is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) and an AADP Board Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who helps busy professionals heal their gut, ditch the bloat, tame inflammation and get their energy back so they can live a more fulfilling life during and beyond the work hours. From her virtual practice, she helps clients worldwide get to the root cause of their health challenges so that they can live their life to the fullest by educating and supporting a more balanced life through nutrition, lifestyle changes, functional lab testing and therapeutic supplements if necessary. She believes the body is designed to heal itself and being proactive in maintaining optimal health is a non-negotiable!
With winter quickly approaching, we asked Ekat to share her top three tips to stay healthy throughout the winter and holiday season.
Tip #1 Stay Well Hydrated: During the upcoming colder months, it is important to remain well hydrated by consuming plenty of beverages like high quality filtered water, coconut water, bone broth, and herbal teas. Water makes up about 55-60% of our total body mass, which in an average adult equates to about 10-13 gallons of water as most of the volume of cells and body fluids is in fact water (Popkin, 2010). Therefore, your daily hydration goal should be roughly half your body weight in fluid ounces. For example, if you’re a 140-pound person you should consume around 70 fluid ounces of hydrating beverage per day.
However, drinking more water ≠ better hydrated. Hydrating the body means drinking appropriate amounts of high-quality filtered water for your body weight and activity level while at the same time also obtaining the necessary electrolytes (electrically charged ions of calcium, sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate) to properly get these water molecules into our bodies. Water delivered through the PUR2o Alkaline Plus System is electrolyte water that's ionized for better hydration. If you’re on vacation and away from a source of naturally alkaline, electrolyte water, boost your hydration with this quick and easy DIY electrolyte beverage: add a pinch of unrefined mineral salt and a squeeze of organic lemon (or any citrus) to your glass of filtered water. The Himalayan sea salt carries 84 trace minerals that act as sponges for our cells to absorb the water and the squeeze of lemon is a pop of fresh flavor with a boost of Vitamin C!
Tip #2 Incorporate Cultured Foods in Your Meals: With the absence of many fresh fruits and vegetables in the upcoming colder months, incorporating a serving of fermented foods (kimchi, sauerkraut, yogurt, etc.) with each meal can have remarkable positive effects on our digestive systems.
Our digestive systems are our main route of contact with the external environment. The so called “gut microbiome” is comprised of trillions of bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi and is directly influenced by the foods we consume on a daily basis. Our guts play a crucial role in our immune system homeostasis as specialized gut tissues constitute almost 70% of the entire immune system (Vighi, Marcucci, Sensi, Di Cara, & Frati, 2008).
Modern lifestyle factors like chronic stress, physical inactivity, and diets high in processed foods suppress the growth of beneficial gut bacteria which are crucial for our internal ecosystem. Research has shown that incorporating fermented foods into our busy daily lives can have a dramatic positive effect on our overall health given such a large percentage of the immune system is housed in the gut. Indeed, cultured foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, kombucha and kimchi have for a long time been food staples in many parts of the globe. For generations, many populations around the world have relied on fermentation to preserve vegetables, make cheese, bread and change the tastes of many foods.
Tip #3 Eat Seasonally to Support a Strong Immune System: In our fast-paced, modern world, it's easy to forget the profound connection between what we eat and how we feel. But Mother Nature has always had a way of offering us the best prescription for vitality, right on our plates.
Embracing seasonal eating not only helps to keep things interesting from a culinary perspective but is also a step towards optimizing your health and wellness. Eating produce in its prime season ensures that you're consuming fruits and vegetables at the peak of their nutrient density. As a result, you enjoy a burst of flavor and a richer nutritional profile, providing your body with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Seasonal foods are easier to digest because they complement the body's natural needs for that time of year. For example, light, hydrating foods like watermelon in the summer help keep you cool, while hearty root vegetables in winter provide warmth and sustenance. As the seasons change, so do the types of health challenges we face.
Eating seasonally can give your immune system a boost by providing the nutrients necessary to fend off seasonal ailments. Citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits, which are abundant in the winter, are packed with vitamin C, known for its immune-strengthening properties. By prioritizing seasonal foods, you not only enhance your health and vitality but also contribute to a healthier planet and stronger communities. So, step into the rhythm of the seasons, and let the Earth's bounty be your guide on your journey to wellness!
Why did you select PUR2o for your home?
Growing up in Europe, one of the most important aspects of nutrition was always the quality of the water we consumed on a daily basis (especially given that it makes up 60% of our body mass)! Growing up in a country with abundant mineral water springs made me appreciate the tremendous impact the quality of the water we drink can have on our health. After I moved to NYC I was so surprised to see how no one minded drinking tap water because New York tap is considered "the best". After doing extensive research and water testing, I found out that water delivered through the taps were full of chlorine, harmful contaminants, PFAS, toxins and many other contaminants. My search for the best water filtration system led me to PUR2o and I was excited that it combined the 3 main crucial factors I was looking for in a good water filter: unparalleled purity, high pH and good mineral content. I was impressed that water delivered through a PUR2o Alkaline Plus System goes through a 5-stage filtration and purification process.
Unlike other reverse osmosis filters, PUR2o adds the minerals back to the water which ensures better hydration levels. My body thanks me every day with glowing skin and hair for providing it with the purest most important macronutrient - WATER!
Follow Ekat on IG @healthfully.ekat and check out her website for additional helpful healthful content!
References: Popkin, Barry M, et al. “Water, Hydration, and Health.” Nutrition Reviews, U.S. NationalLibrary of Medicine, Aug. 2010, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2908954 Vighi, G., Marcucci, F., Sensi, L., Di Cara, G., & Frati, F. (2008, September). Allergy and the gastrointestinal system. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2515351/