All pregnant women are aware that they should take in more calories during their pregnant months, but most don’t consider they should also be drinking enough liquids for two.

Pregnant women typically need between 8 and 12, eight-ounce glasses of water per day. (Sometimes more with warmer weather and a higher activity level).

Find out why fluids are essential for a healthy pregnancy:

• Pregnant women lose 2-3 quarts of water each day.
• Dehydration can cause pregnant women to feel fatigued or irritable.
• When a woman is pregnant, her blood volume increases by forty percent! Water is vital for this process.
• Fluids are necessary to carry nutrients to cells, remove waste products and aid in liver and kidney function for both mom and the baby.
• About one quart of amniotic fluid surrounds the baby and a woman’s body must restore that fluid every two to three hours!
• Fluids help regulate a pregnant woman’s body temperature and aids in digestion.
• Women are more at risk for dehydration during the first trimester. Vomiting due to morning sickness can deprive the body of the fluids and vitamins that are needed to keep the baby healthy and hydrated.
• Low amounts of fluid intake deplete the extra blood fluid levels and can cause bladder infections. In extreme cases, it can produce uterine contractions, which can lead to premature labor or miscarriage. 

So if you are pregnant, grab your Thermos® Intāk™ bottle and drink up! It will be easy to monitor your water consumption each day with the intake meter.

To read more about pregnancy and hydration, check out these links:
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/PEhydration.htmlhttp://www.babiesonline.com/articles/health/dehydration.asp

Share your tips for staying hydrated during pregnancy!

On October 28, 2008, the New York Times reported that there are more cases of kidney stones in children as young as five which are a result of increased salt in their diets and a lack of water. 

Kidney stones are crystallized minerals in the kidney or urinary tract that are primarily produced by low fluid intake or increased fluid loss. 

The stones produce severe pain in the sides, back, stomach and abdomen as they pass through the system. According to the New York Times article, “Younger children may have a more vague pain or stomach ache, making the condition harder to diagnose.” Nausea and fever are other common symptoms to watch out for.  If your family has a history of kidney stones, your child is more likely to develop them. To prevent stones in your children, follow these tips:

• Encourage your child to drink lots of water and give them something fun to drink out of such as a soccer themed FUNtainer™ bottle by Thermos®
• Avoid giving kids soft drinks, which contain sucrose. Sucrose has been linked to an increase in risk of stones.
• Limit saltier foods, which are usually processed and high in fat, such as canned foods, condiments and prepared mixes. According to the American Heart Association, adults should reduce their sodium intake to less than 1 teaspoon per day, even less for kids.
• Serve milk and other dairy products, which have been shown to reduce the risk of stones.
• Educate your kids about the importance of hydration and health.

The Daily Green blog also reported about the story, linking to another story about the increase of kidney stones from climate change. 

charity: water is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing safe water to
people in developing nations. More than 1 billion people don’t have access to clean water. This means that one in six people around the world struggle to find just 5 gallons of water, the daily use of someone in a developing country, compared to the 150 gallons on average Americans use.

charity: water raises awareness about the global water crisis and has already built enough wells to hydrate 250,000 people. As a company devoted to providing hydration solutions for families, Thermos wants to help - so they are partnering with charity: water to build wells in Liberia and Ethiopia.

We want you to get involved too! When you donate $5 or more to charity: water through HydrationForAll.com, Thermos will also make a donation supporting new well construction in two African communities that desperately need clean water.

In addition, as one of the first 1000 donors, you will be able to include a name of your choosing on a  plaque in one of the two communities and on a Google Earth virtual plaque.

Check out the wells and see images of charity: water projects and partners in Uganda, Malawi, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Kenya, Liberia and Tanzania on their website and through Google Earth.

Donate now through HydrationForAll.com and see how close we are to reaching our goal!

Everyday normal occurrences like digestion, elimination, and breathing cause daily hydration loss. But environmental elements can add to the 70-80% of Americans that walk around daily in a state of mild to moderate dehydration.

• Sun Exposure: Though this may be obvious, did you know that dehydration from the sun can continue hours after you take shade?
• Winter: Having your winter fun can cost you some major hydration, too. As soon as you step into the brisk winter air, your lungs act like a dehumidifier trying to inhale the icy oxygen. While wrapped in your winter layers, an average body can lose 2-5 pounds of sweat during mild to moderate exercise. So, whether you’re scraping snow off the car or skiing down a bunny slope, remember to bring a reusable bottle with you for some extra H2O.
• Altitude: At just 6,000 ft. above sea level, like the Traverse Mountain Range in Salt Lake City, Utah, your body will exhale and sweat twice as much as it does at sea level causing you and your family to dehydrate much faster.
• Wind: Whether it is a warm summer wind or cool fall breeze, too much wind dries out your epidermis causing, you guessed it, dehydration! 

Do you have any stories, tips or questions about staying hydrated through the elements? Leave a comment and let us know!

Do you crave caffeine in the morning or get tired mid-afternoon and long for a nap? If so, try drinking a glass of water before stopping at the coffee stand or vending machine. When your body gets dehydrated your blood volume decreases, diminishing blood flow to your organs. This causes fatigue, exhaustion and brain fog that reduce concentration on work or other activities.

Some experts say that a 5% reduction in hydration can cause a 25% overall reduction of energy! Drinking more water, or eating hydrating foods, throughout the day will greatly increase energy and attention levels. Here are a few tips and hydrating food recommendations on adding to your daily H20 intake:

Try eating Cantaloupe, Watermelon or Apples in the afternoon as a snack. Fruits and vegetables high in water content will be processed by the body and used for hydration.

Water is a healthy (and economically friendly) beverage that will provide you with the energy and alertness to make it comfortably through every day.

Has water helped you stay alert? Submit a comment and tell us about it!

Enjoy a fun water day at these activities across the United States; you’ll get thirsty being surrounded by H20 so remember to bring your own supply!

• Niagara Falls –  Spectacular massive waterfalls that are sure to make you thirsty
• New York Waterway – Enjoy a ride on the Hudson River in a ferry boat
• Lincoln Memorial Reflection Pool – Reflect upon hydration in Washington D.C. at the 2,029 feet long pool
• Smoky Mountains Tubing – Relax down a river in North Carolina 
• The Crown Fountain – Two 50-foot glass block towers with video images of Chicago residents spray water from the “mouth” of the images in Millennium Park at each end of a shallow reflecting pool
• Lake Superior – America’s largest lake offers plenty of water for everyone 
• UW Campus Fountain – Take a class break and run through the water in the library mall fountain at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
• River Barge Trip – Experience life on water with a river barge excursion down the Mississippi River 
• Water Skiing Show – Sit back and watch the water action at this water skiing show in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
• Grand Canyon White Water Rafting – Ride the rushing Colorado river for an up-close look at the steep canyon
• Bellagio Fountains – This free Las Vegas attraction entertains with a choreographed display of water, music and light
• Spray Park – Kids will love getting soaked at this fun spray park in Oregon City, Oregon 
• Surfing – Catch a wave on the California swells all along the coast 
• Water Parks – Find a water park near you for some ultimate family water fun 

Where do you go for a refreshing activity?

The spotlight was on proper hydration and healthy living as celebrity mom Alison Sweeney joined Thermos to launch HydrationForAll.com at the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas recently. Mother to a three-year-old son and expecting a girl in January, Alison stays busy keeping her family healthy while starring as host of the popular reality NBC television series “The Biggest Loser” and portraying Sami Brady on the soap opera “Days of our Lives“.

Alison offered her “refreshing perspective” to guests with healthy living tips and information about the site HydrationForAll.com, a new online resource to educate families on how important proper hydration is for overall health and well-being. Here are some of our favorite tips that she shared:

• It’s so much easier - and economical - to take a reusable beverage bottle when you’re on the go. The cost of disposable bottles of water really adds up, both for you and for the environment. I keep mine by my side all day, and it reminds me to take hydration breaks during my hectic schedule.
• When we’re feeling sluggish during the day, our automatic inclination is to grab something with caffeine, like soda. But so many times that fatigue is the result of mild dehydration. Try drinking a glass of water - it’s so much healthier, and it should wake you right up.
• Whether you’re trying to lose weight or simply watching your weight, drinking water could be the key to your success. If you start to feel hungry in between meals, drink some water and see if it goes away. Oftentimes we confuse hunger and thirst.

Check out pictures from the event and see even more tips from Alison on HydrationForAll.com.

Check out the bloggers who have posted about the event:

• The Itsabelly Blog
• About.com Days of our Lives
• Baby Chic 101
• Soaps.com
• Traveling with Kids
• Swell Pregnancy Guide

Did you attend the hydration event and meet Alison? Submit a comment and let us know!

Children need to drink two and a half times more water than adults need (based on body weight). Children need around 50-60 ounces of water per day to be well hydrated.

Kids bodies don’t cool down as efficiently as adults, so parents and caregivers need to encourage them to drink often.

To keep children hydrated, make them drink water before playing and encourage them to drink 5 ounces of water every 20 minutes during physical activity, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. In addition, offer foods with a high water content such as fruits and vegetables, which will contribute to their fluid intake. 

Click here to read more.

Some parents are concerned about Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical found in polycarbonate plastic products such as baby and water bottles and epoxy resin used to line food and beverage containers. The National Toxicology Program indicated there may be possible negative health effects, even at low levels, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

While the FDA released a report last month that concluded BPA is still safe at current levels, others are taking precautionary steps. California is moving toward a bill to ban the chemical in baby products, and at least 11 other states are considering similar bills. Retailers such as Wal-Mart and Toys ‘R’ U have opted to phase out BPA products.

The controversy has been led by online discussions on health sites and parenting blogs such as The Soft Landing, Safe Mama and Celebrity Baby Blog. These blogs and more than 100 other sites have identified Thermos as a brand that offers safe, BPA-free hydration solutions for the whole family. Kid Tested Mommy Approved said the Thermos® Foogo® Sippy Cup is “hands down our favorite among safe sippy cups.” Nature Moms says the FUNtainer™ Bottle is “the BPA free cup option that will appeal to kids” and is her “favorite cup for older kids.”

Thermos also provides several BPA-free adult hydration products, including the new Thermos® Intāk™ Products. All of the Thermos products allow families to stay hydrated and be healthy.

Did you know that if you feel thirsty, you are already moderately dehydrated? If you are dehydrated, you have decreased your mental ability by 10% and are more likely to have trouble concentrating, experience more headaches and become irritable!

Learn why hydration is so important*:

• 75% of the body is made up of water
• 80% of the brain is made up of water
• Regulates body temperature
• Carries nutrients and oxygen to the cells
• Helps convert food into energy
• Protects body organs and tissues

Click here to read more.