Feeling thirsty PGX'ers? Drink water!

Skip the sugary drinks!

When you are really thirsty, what better drink to quench that thirst but water? As delicious as juices and sodas can be, they are almost always loaded with sugar. Check out this visual comparison! From left to right: soda, fruit nectar, sports drinks, orange drinks, juice punch, and water!

Muscles cramping after your workout? Drink more water?

Just the other day, my dad mentioned to me how he woke up in the middle of the night with a severe leg cramp. It didn't sound like a lovely way to wake up and roll over for a new comfortable spot on the pillow, that's for sure! Why did this happen? Well, here's a little back story to the midnight muscle cramp episode...

My dad exercises regularly and like any good workout, it leads to a healthy sweat. Post workout, he, like anyone else who exercises, feels thirsty; that need to replenish the water and electrolytes the body looses. He would satisfy that thirst with water and cue end of workout session. So what went wrong? Why did that severe muscle cramp happen? I suggested to him that he was short on electrolytes in his system due to his vigorous exercise routine and needed to replenish them. As excellent as it is for you, water just isn't enough when you need electrolytes.

What can you do to get more electrolytes? There is the usual option of sports drinks such as Gatorade. But these drinks, as our visual diagram shows, are full of sugar. If you want to replenish your electrolytes without all the excess sugar of sports drinks, try to get them through nutrition! Make sure you are getting enough potassium (banana's anyone?), calcium and magnesium by eating the right foods.

For potassium, try eating bananas. Potassium is an excellent mineral, promoting a healthier metabolism, balanced blood pressure and better nerve health! Since my father increased his potassium intake by adding more bananas to his diet, he has been able to avoid episode two of severe muscle cramps without affecting his exercise routine! Did you know that baked potatoes can be a good source of potassium as well?

Calcium and magnesium-rich foods are also useful in restoring your electrolytes and can be included in your diet by drinking milk and by eating more leafy green vegetables, cheese, kale, broccoli, nuts, and avocados (just a few examples).

Want to learn more about restoring your electrolytes the natural, less sugar-laden way? Check out LIVESTRONG's article, How to Restore Electrolytes in My Body Naturally.

Image found on Tumblr. Original source unknown.

Check out PGX's posts from the past!

It's been a while since we've shown these articles some love. Rewind and read on for some great content!

Whether you are a new fan or a long time PGX'er, I thought it would be fun to reminisce and do a rewind post! Remember the days of mood rings and scrunchies, dial up internet, Will Smith as the Fresh Prince, cassette tapes and boomboxes? Let's rewind! Okay, maybe we won't be rewinding that far back. Let's just head back a few months into 2011.

Here are five posts from the past...

Sprouted-grains, whole grains, white, 12 grain... What's the difference? If you're memory is like mine, refresh it and read, Getting the Scoop on Sprouted-Grains.

Looking for a fun way to exercise? Relive your childhood and whip out your hula hoops! Hula Hooping Your Way to Health

Whether it's a rising trend or not, Interested in Barefoot Running? Take Baby Steps.

Body oddities! They happen people: hiccups, brain freeze, yawning... Read all about them in Brain Freeze and Other Body Oddities.

Apples with peanut butter is my favourite snack! Spruce it up with Williams-Sonoma's Fancy Apple Sandwiches!

That's all from our mini blast to the past. Stay tuned for more awesome content in the future!

Image source: www.gethatched.ca

PGX can help you on the road to health. Do you know your ideal weight?

Calculate the healthy numbers for you!

I'm sure for many of us there has been a moment when we decide: "That's it. I'm changing my eating habits. I'm going to lose weight and stay trim and fit! I want to be a healthier me."

So, we start avidly reading more about where to begin. We purchase new workout clothes and gear, make our plans and set our goals. Are you setting the right goals for you?

You may have an ideal body weight in mind but is it healthy? Try this "Ideal Body Weight Calculator" from SELF Magazine. 

I tried this calculator and got a wide range of ideal weights acording to height and gender. Remember that this is just an estimate and the ideal healthy weight varies from person to person. I aim for somewhere in the middle of my weight range.

Stay healthy my friends!

Image source: vaxa.com

PGX is looking at designing and lifestyle duo, Steven & Chris' investigation of common medical myths!

I'm sure you've heard these medical myths before. It's time we get and share the facts on these...

Does turkey make you sleepy? I crack my knuckles... and back and knees (although they seem to do that a lot on their own) and toes. Does that mean I'm going to be in serious arthritic pain when I'm old? If I eat a ton of carrots everyday can I get my 20/20 vision of pre-glasses years back (how I would love to have perfect vision again!)?

Canada's Steven and Chris decided to set the myths straight and consulted an expert to give us the answers.

Image sources: the99percent.com and Bradley Realty LLC

Brain freeze, hiccups and yawning: Steven and Chris get to the bottom of these body oddity mysteries.

So what is a brain freeze? What's happening when you've got the hiccups and how do you get rid of them? Why is yawning contagious? Steven and Chris talked to Dr. Kylie Bosman to get some answers about our bodies' common idiosyncrasies.

You're eating your ice cream as fast you can. Why? Because you are in a race against the heat that threatens to melt your chilly treat before you can enjoy it, and then: brain freeze! That brief brain pain that causes you to squeeze and scrunch up your face, put your hands to your head and announce: "Ahh! Brain freeze!" Your companions knowingly nod their heads in sympathy.

What about the hiccups? In my case, I eat something too dry or drink soda too quickly and I'm unwillingly (and loudly) keeping time like a metronome. Our bodies can do some pretty amazing things, but there are a few things that we've all experienced that carry an air of mystery.

Steven and Chris did the digging for us and got some answers from Dr. Kylie Bosman.

Image sources: Less Known Facts and garfield.nfshost.com