How do you tell when meat is done? What is the proper internal temperature of chicken?
What is the proper internal temperature of pork? What is the proper internal temperature for a steak?

Using a meat thermometer is the most accurate way to tell if your chicken or other meat is done. There are minimum temperatures which must be reached in order for the meat to be safe.

Following is a chart of the proper minimum recommended internal temperature for chicken and other meats.

Make sure to always insert the meat thermometer into the center of the thickest part of the meat.

Recommended Internal Temperatures:

For more information on cooking foods properly visit FDA.

To find out how long cooked chicken remains good, visit our how long does chicken last page.
To find out how long other foods are good for, please visit the Dairy, Drinks, Fruits, Grains, Proteins, Vegetables and Other sections of Eat By Date or search below.

A post from: www.EatByDate.com

Question:
How do you read your tables for OPENED products?
Are the times listed for opened products from the printed date or from the opening date?

Answer:
We’ve been getting several emails on this topic, so will try to explain our tables in a little more detail. The answer to the second question depends on the product type, thus the table sub-headings vary.
Unless otherwise noted on the individual page, time periods listed for “Opened” products refer to the time that has elapsed since breaking the seal on the product. The tables for these products look like this:

For opened products, sometimes the printed date does not matter as much… It’s all about the time that has elapsed since you broke the seal and opened the product. This is often the case, and for these products the sub-column headings in our tables will read “After Opening” if emphasis is needed for that product or be without any sub-heading. Products in this category generally use a “best-by” or a best before date, but not always. Some products that come to mind in this category are spaghetti sauce, salsa and canned frosting. The date that matters is when you open the jar.

TIP: If you don’t use this type of product all at once then it’s handy to keep a permanent marker at the spot where you open jars to jot down the date on the lid as you open the jar before placing the remainder in the refrigerator.

When the Printed Date is still the Reference Date

In contrast, there are other products where the printed date is still used as a reference regardless of when it was opened. These products are more dependent on elapsed time since the printed date than the actual opening date. Although opening products usually does decrease their shelf life somewhat, it is not a major factor in these instances. For these products, the sub-column headings in our tables will read “past printed date“.

Products in this category are generally the ones that use a “sell-by” or “use-by date”, but not always. Products in this category include milk and salad dressings, where all variables being perfect, you can pretty much look at the printed dates and then add the time listed on the EatByDate charts… But remember, refrigerator temperatures vary along with many other factors so also keep your eye (or in this case, nose) on your product to help decide if it has gone bad.

Our table for each product is designed to tell you how long the product remains “good” beyond the date that the manufacturer has stamped on it. It’s the number of days beyond a “sell-by” date, “use-by” date, “best-by” date, best before date, production date or purchase date. When product is vacuum sealed at the factory these dates are fairly solid and can be counted on as long as they are manufactured and stored properly. When you open the product, it becomes exposed to many more variables. When you open a product and expose it to air, you are unknowingly exposing it to a wide variety of possible food contaminants.

And remember, because there are so many variables with food handling, always read our section within each product page on “how to tell if it has gone bad” for clues to look for in case you have no date references or something else has gone wrong with the product.

To find out how long foods are good, please visit the Dairy, Drinks, Fruits, Grains, Proteins, Vegetables and Other sections of Eat By Date or search below.

A post from: www.EatByDate.com

Food contaminants are everywhere – in the air, in the water and in the ground.
Food contaminants are defined as any substance that makes food unfit for consumption. Proper food handling can keep your foods from making you sick. According to government estimates,
one in six Americans becomes ill from eating contaminated food each year. Most of them recover fairly quickly from food poisoning, but roughly 130,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die each year.

Food contamination articles appear regularly in the news.
The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) provides guidance, regulations and recently the proposal of stricter rules to producers and retailers in an attempt to prevent illnesses, yet they still end up reporting outbreaks.
As consumers, we need to remain aware.

Types of Food Contaminants

There are basically three types of contamination and all three can effect your food and make it contaminated which in turn can make you sick:
1) There is biological contamination through bacteria, virus, fungus or molds. This type of contamination is generally associated with unsanitary conditions or improper hygiene.
2) Chemical contamination occurs from food additives, pesticides used in growing the food, cleaning solvents, various metals like mercury in the water supply, or even dust in the air.
3) Physical contamination occurs from light, temperature or electricity.

Helping to Prevent Food Contamination

So, prevent food contamination as much as possible in your own kitchen. You know to always wash your hands before handling food, but here are a few more that you may not have considered:
1) Store your food properly in airtight containers.
2) Store chemicals completely separate from foods.
3) Store foods at their recommended temperatures and away from direct sunlight.
4) Always wash fresh fruits and vegetables.
5) Use clean utensils.
6) Use separate cutting boards for raw meats. Have one that is only used for raw meats and wash it in the dishwasher when finished.
7) Cook foods to their recommended temperatures.
8) Don’t use foods if the seal is broken, the can is bulged, it has a foul odor or appearance.
9) Wear gloves if your hands have any cuts or rashes.
10) Prevent pet access.
11) Keep clean floors, tables, etc. in the surrounding areas.

What Routes Can Food Contaminants Take?

This is a simplified picture.

credit: www.emcom.ca/science/exposure.shtml

Does Snapware keep food fresher?

Do Snacks Stay Fresh?

Snapware Plastic Pasta Container

• Snapware Plastic Pasta Canister

Model	Pasta Canister
Plastic	BPA Free Polypropylene	Refrigerator and Freezer Safe
Weight	empty
Dimensions	11.5″H x 4.5″W x 4.5″D with a flat back
Manufactured	U.S.A.
Warranty	Lifetime
Wash	Hand Wash Only
Airtight	Yes
Seal	Silicone
Variety	Many

What we liked?

Since these containers are airtight, they do keep food fresher. These containers are lightweight yet strong and provide a tight seal, much of what is needed to keep food fresh for a longer amount of time. We like that the latches are easy to use and are secure. A big plus is also how the square containers can stack into one another – since a neatly stacked cupboard is not only efficient, but also impressive should your company see your stash! And we like how the pasta container fits nicely on the along the wall of the counter.

Any complaints?

Since air contains many contaminants, we prefer seals where you can “burp” or press as much air out as possible whenever sealing food, although there is no way to eliminate all the air without vacuum sealing. The containers are slightly thinner than some of the other brands, we place them mid-range on the sturdiness tests as there are also many containers which are thinner. As with any plastic container, beware of microwaving as the product can melt into the sides of the container causing an interior roughness in the plastic.

Need More Information about Snapware?

Check out the Snapware website for lots of deals and specials.

A post from: www.EatByDate.com

Fancy chocolates are a always a hit for any occasion. Chocolate fountains are sure to entertain and impress, but since they take up a lot of storage space for very limited use we’re going to talk about making and using much smaller quantities of dipping chocolate. Chocolate dipped strawberries, among the top on my list, are very expensive to purchase but so economical (as long as strawberries are in season) and easy to make at home. Chocolate candies, either tailored to individual tastes or to individual shapes and sizes are equally easy to make in almost no time at all. Decorating with dipping chocolate is also fun to do and an easy way to express your feelings. At our house, anything dipped in chocolate is an immediate hit and I have never had to worry about storing my chocolate, unless it is to hide it for a special occasion! But, dipping chocolates are not just for dipping.
The days of standing over a double boiler and melting chocolate with oil or cream are fading, thanks to new chocolate products that are made especially for melting and dipping. I found this huge 2.5 pound Ghirardelli dipping chocolate bar at the Ghirardelli outlet for $5. The clerk told me that they just arrived at the store so, of course I had to try out a new bargain. I was very glad I did, I’ve used it a few times already and still have more left. It melts quickly and tastes smooth and creamy without any waxy taste. There are lots of brands of dipping chocolates now available.

How To Melt Chocolate For Dipping:

Process small batches at a time when melting chocolate for dipping, it will not only melt quicker but also be easier to handle. A cup or chocolate goes a long way in decorating, so don’t fill your bowl more than halfway with dipping chocolate when preparing to melt.
There’s really just one step to melting dipping chocolate, but since melted chocolate does again harden rather quickly there is a little preparation involved and some cautions of which you should be aware.

1) Preparing to melt chocolate:
You need to work quickly once the chocolate has melted. So, before you begin make sure to have everything you need ready:
A) Have wax paper (cut-rite) laid on top of a baking pan and ready to support your finished product. Melted chocolate will not stick to wax paper and having a tray underneath will allow for transport afterwards.
B) Have a small rubber scraper ready, it’s the best tool to help in the whole process once the dipping chocolate has been melted.
C) If you are mixing in ingredients to make candy, make sure the ad ins are all on the counter ready to go. If you are using strawberries, make sure they have been washed and dried and are sitting on some waxed paper ready to go. If you’re using nuts, have them roasted for extra flavor. If you are writing with your melted chocolate, have the tip already secured in a plastic bag (see more information below).

2) Actually Melting Dipping Chocolate:
Just pop a bowl of the chocolate sections or pieces into the microwave for about 30-40 seconds, give it a good stir and then give them another 10-20 seconds of microwave time and stir them again. A small bowl should be done with those two amounts of time but since microwaves and amounts vary please read on. Continue with successive small amounts of time if they are not all melted yet. But stir well between each cooking time, you will find that if there are a few small lumps of chocolate left they will disappear when stirring and your chocolate has been successfully melted. Microwaves do vary in temperature, so you may need to experiment with yours and even use a lower temperature if your oven allows.

Note: If your chocolate hardens before you are done, it can be re-heated to soften. Just give it another short time in the microwave, maybe 20 seconds and then stir.

3) Cautions when melting chocolate:
While Melting Chocolate be very careful to give them a shorter amount of time with each successive turn because chocolate burns very easily and very badly. If it starts to burn you will see a darker area that looks a bit like bubbles that froze halfway through popping and it will smell bad. You will want to toss that melted chocolate and begin again.

Ideas Of What To Do With Dipping Chocolate:

Being a firm believer that most anything is better if dipped in chocolate, the possibilities are endless. The process of melting dipping chocolate remains the same, so go ahead and melt chocolate and dip whatever you like. Wilton has many different molds that can be used to make chocolates in different shapes and you can buy colored chocolate pieces from them too to make professional looking chocolates for all sorts of occasions. You can of course dip fresh or dried fruits, pretzels, cookies, candies, cakes, crackers, whatever.

Writing With Dipping Chocolate

I like to write with chocolate and leave special messages for people. They can then eat the evidence so the note is never traceable (ha)!










To do this, it is best to have a plastic pastry bag or just a baggie works great actually since disposable is best because the bag is hard to clean. If you use a baggie, but make sure it is a good quality one since the chocolate is warm and you do need to squeeze hard (the brand names that I tried all worked fine). I use a fine circular tip within a coupler in order to get uniform writing. Cut the tip off from one corner of the baggie and insert the metal tip and inside piece of the coupler. Then screw the sealing piece of the coupler over the outside of the baggie. Fill the baggie with melted chocolate, over a piece of wax paper since the chocolate will start dripping out the tip (or plug the tip first with a piece of saran wrap). Then seal the baggie and begin writing or drawing away while squeezing one hand firmly around the baggie just above the chocolate and the other guiding your writing. When finished writing, place the tray into the refrigerator for about 10-15 minutes for quick hardening. Again, writing onto wax paper placed over a tray works best so you can practice, perfect and then later transfer your work. You can write whatever you want onto the waxed paper and after refrigeration even whole words will lift right off the paper without a problem.



Make a lot of letters of the alphabet on mini-cupcakes and challenge your kids that if they take one, they must leave a message behind by re-arranging the cupcakes into different full words. It is interesting to see what other words pop up when a letter is removed. Chocolate writing also works well on pies, like pecan or fruit pies that are otherwise sometimes hard to decorate. Melted dipping chocolate also works well on whipped cream topped desserts for that extra expression. Be creative, a little dip can go a long way!

After Making Dipping Chocolates:

Storage of Chocolate Dipped Fruits, Cookies or Candy: If you can’t wait to consume your dipped chocolate fruit or dipped chocolate cookies or homemade candy and want them to harden right away then you will want to put the tray into the refrigerator. If a tray of melted dipping chocolate is placed in the refrigerator it will harden in about 30 minutes. If left on the counter to harden, it will take at least an hour of course depending on the temperature of your kitchen. Once hardened, they can be stored in an airtight container on the counter. For fresh fruits, you will want to store them in the refrigerator if they are not consumed the same day. Fresh fruit will begin to leak liquid so their shelf life does decline rather quickly.

Clean-up after dipping chocolates: Although melted chocolate does not cling to wax paper or cut-rite, it clings like crazy to plates and utensils. So, be sure to wash your plates or bowls immediately after using and before the chocolate dries. Otherwise, you need extremely hot water to again melt that chocolate and release it off your plate. P.S. Licking also works!

To find out how long your dipping chocolate lasts, visit our how long does chocolate last page.
To find out how long other foods are good for, please visit the Dairy, Drinks, Fruits, Grains, Proteins, Vegetables and Other sections of Eat By Date or search below.

A post from: www.EatByDate.com

Question:
What to do with stale bread?
My loaf of bread has become hard, is there anything that can be done to make bread soft again?

Answer:
There isn’t much that can compare to freshly baked bread right out of the oven, so soft and light that it’s hard to know when to stop. But when your fresh loaf of bread sits in the paper bag that it often comes in, it is usually fairly hard to the touch by the next day after purchase and the next day after that you can usually use it as a hammer! But wait, don’t toss it just because you can’t squeeze it – that would be a big waste!
By stale bread, we mean a loaf that is a few days old and has lost some freshness.
Instead, check our table below for suggestions on what to do with stale bread:

What to do with stale bread:

* Recommended

Caution:
If you see mold anywhere on your loaf, toss the entire loaf. These ideas are NOT for spoiled bread!

Recommended Steps of What to do with Stale Bread:

The recommended way to freshen a stale loaf of bread is to sprinkle it with water all over and then bake at 350°, directly on the oven rack, for about 10 minutes. The loaf will be crispy on the outside yet soft and fresh on the inside. You will never know that the bread had been stale!

For details and variations on making croutons, see our blog post on how to make croutons.

Hope this answered your questions on what to do with stale bread.
// ]]>To find out how long bread lasts, visit our how long does bread last page.
To find out how long other foods are good for, please visit the Dairy, Drinks, Fruits, Grains, Proteins, Vegetables and Other sections of Eat By Date or search below.

Steps to Boil Corn on the Cob:

Note: We listed 1-10 minutes in the chart for time to boil corn because many people like their corn almost raw and take it out of the water right after it boils, while others like it cooked longer until very soft. But pretty much everyone agrees that corn boiled for any longer than 10 minutes is usually tough, and even sometimes dry and flavorless.
What we recommend is turning off the heat just after the corn boils as follows:

1) Fill a large pot about half full of water and bring to a boil. For details, see our FAQ on how to boil water.

2) Husk your ears of corn. Use a damp kitchen towel to remove any stubborn hair.

3) Carefully add the ears of corn to the boiling water. Use tongs or place the ears on a flexible cutting board that you can use to protect your hands and body from any splash that will occur as the ears of corn hit the water.

4) Allow the water to return to a boil. This should take about 3-5 minutes.

5) Once the water again reaches a full rolling boil put a lid on the pot and turn off the heat, leaving the pot on the burner. Add a few tablespoons of granulated sugar, if desired, to ensure that the corn is sweet.

6) Set the timer for 10 minutes.

7) Be sure to use tongs to remove the cooked corn on the cob from the pot as they will be hot.

Most people like to roll their corn on the cob into a stick of butter and then sprinkle with salt, but these ears should be sweet enough to eat straight from the pot.

That’s the answer to how long to boil corn!

A great way to boil corn on the cob, and other fruits and vegetables, is to use a Stainless Steel Muti-Cookware Set pot with a strainer insert and a lid. These pots are great to use because you can quickly submerge your corn on the cob all at once with less chance of getting burned and then just as easily remove your corn on the cob without having to fish around for each ear of corn.

To find out how long your cooked corn lasts, visit our how long does corn last page.
To find out how long other foods are good for, please visit the Dairy, Drinks, Fruits, Grains, Proteins, Vegetables and Other sections of Eat By Date or search below.

A post from: www.EatByDate.com

Vitamix 5200 System Features:

Vitamix’s Wet Blade Liquids Container

The container that comes with the Vitamix 5200 is meant for liquids, but you do not have to add any liquid at all!
Here’s a few things we tried in this container that you wouldn’t consider liquid:
1) Just put in a container of dry roasted peanuts and in minutes you’ve got the freshest, creamiest, tastiest peanut butter ever.
2) Put in ice, a couple of oranges (or any single fruit) and a touch of honey and you’ve got a smooth refreshing sorbet that’s eaten with a spoon.
3) Here’s a recipe called “Cindy’s Midday Green Smoothie”, this makes a thick liquid but has no liquid ingredients. Place an apple, orange, spinach, carrots, pineapple, banana, frozen strawberries and ice into the container for a refreshing drink. Totally healthy and totally delicious! Get all your fruit and vegetable servings quick and easy first thing in the morning and you’re getting your day off to a much better start than with most any other breakfast. Watch this recipe in action as fruits transform to a smoothie in this video:

Vitamix’s Dry Grains Container

We also tried the dry grains container, an optional 32 ounce container. The dry grains container is 9.8 inches tall and is constructed of BPA-free Eastman Tritan® co-polyester. The blades are laser-cut, stainless-steel dry blades measuring 2.8 inches and specifically designed for efficient processing of dry grains into flour.

The difference between the dry grains container and the liquids container, besides the shape and size of the container, is the blade. The blades point upward for the dry grains and downward for liquids.

With this container you can begin with natural seeds (no matter how hard) and end up with a lovely bread dough (which you will have to then bake). You can also use it to grind a massive amount of coffee beans, instead of standing in the store and spilling beans all over the place at the industrial grinder.

Watch the Vitamix 5200 turn hard solid kernels into dust …




Check out the results. Here we ground (left to right) white corn, red wheat berries and white rice to make uniformly smooth flours. No seed goes untouched with the Vitamix!

Does The Vitamix Help Save Money?

We believe it does in many ways. If you are a fan of Jamba Juice and make your own instead of stopping there, you can probably save enough money in a year to pay back the purchase price of the Vitamix. We buy large bags of frozen fruit and then “throw it in the Vitamix” with whatever fresh fruit is in season. We throw whatever we have into the Vitamix and I mean throw – you do not have to skin your apples, you do not have to core your pineapples, you don’t even have to remove the white peel from your oranges. The only thing you really need to do is peel your bananas, how hard is that?
Your fruit does not even have to be the freshest or most beautiful (but please don’t use items past their eat by date – throw garbage in the disposal). And the great thing about smoothies is that you can secretly make them healthy – unless the kids see you do it, they will never know you’ve added in vegetables like carrots and cabbage. It’s a healthy way to eat – fresh and natural.

The reason we love the Vitamix 5200 so much is because it fits the recurring theme in our website – saving time and money. You can make an entire meal, each course in a matter of minutes. Go Mexican one night and start with frozen margaritas and some salsa, have a steaming bowl of chicken tortilla soup and then end with an ice cold fruit sorbet. You read that right – you can make a frozen drink, then hot soup and then turn right around and make a frozen dessert to eat with a spoon! No stove, no freezer – just your Vitamix 5200. Wham, bam and best of all.. NO pots or pans! (well, provided you had some cooked chicken on hand for the soup before starting) All these recipes and many more are contained in the cookbook which comes with every Vitamix 5200.

Is The Vitamix 5200 Easy To Use?

Yes! Gotta love a machine that just plugs in and is ready to go! You can’t miss with anything. The switches are right there in front and flip very easily. The containers each have a hole in the middle to either add ingredients without having to take the lid off or to insert the tamper. Having the tamper in place makes it so you can properly mix all ingredients without ever having to stir anything. Hands free cooking – gotta love it! One word of caution though – always use the lid of the vitamix and just remove the center piece to insert the tamper. If you try to use the tamper without having the lid in place, the Vitamix will indeed eat the tamper. The blades are extremely sharp.

Cleaning the Vitamix

To wash the Vitamix – Add one drop of dish liquid, that’s right just one drop of soap with water will fill the container with suds. Run the Vitamix on high for a minute or so and your Vitamix will be sparkling clean. Just rinse it out and it’s ready for your your next creation.

Any Complaints About The Vitamix 5200 Blender?

Our only complaint is the noise, it is a little loud but this new model is quieter than it used to be.

Our Final Opinion?

Overall, we gave our product review of the Vitamix 5200 a 5/5 star rating.
I should note that most of us are not new to Vitamix, I have a Vitamix 5000 that I’ve been using and enjoying for about 10 years. Prior to purchasing the Vitamix, I would buy a new blender about every 6 months (a year if I was lucky) because I would always put something in there (usually ice) that would burn out the motor. To fix this, the Vitamix has an auto shut off mode that kicks in if it is getting too hot. It knows enough to shut off before it overheats and then you can turn it on again after it has cooled down. This happened to me just a couple of times over the years, it’s not a regular thing but a much needed precaution mechanism.

We love the Vitamix 5200 and suggest you check it out if you are in the market for a blender, but you want more than just an ordinary blender!

Need More Information About Vitamix?

Check out the Vitamix website for more information including great recipes, tips and frequently asked questions.

To Purchase The Vitamix 5200: Vitamix 5200 with 7 YR WARRANTY from Vitamix
OR
they carry the Vitamix 5200 at Costco warehouses and if you don’t believe our review you should try and catch the Vitamix roadshow which stops at Costco from time to time and makes their recipes for delicious sampling.

A post from: www.EatByDate.com

Question:
You mention that ham is the traditional Easter dinner. How do I cook a whole ham? How do I cook a honey baked ham?

Answer:
A ham is actually one of the easiest “roasts” or main meat dishes that you can make. Almost all hams in the U.S. are actually cured or smoked (which means they are cooked) before you purchase them. So all you are actually doing is heating it up. The key is to heat the ham for the proper amount of time so that your cooked ham is warm, but still moist and not dried out.



First a few terms that you should know before you begin to cook a ham. A whole ham is the entire hind leg of a hog, so it normally weighs at least 15 pounds. Your ham is most likely a half ham from the shank end of the leg, making it meatier and tenderer than the butt end which contains more muscle and fat. There are also “country” hams (dry and salty) and “city” hams (tender and juicy). For your Easter dinner, the city ham is recommended. It should be labeled either “fully cooked” or “partially cooked”, both hams are baked in the same way.

Steps To Bake A Ham

1) Turn the oven to 300°.
2) Remove all packaging from the ham, including the little plastic tab on the cut side of the ham.
3) To make your ham look pretty and allow the flavors to penetrate, you will first want to score your ham. Using the tip of a sharp knife cut parallel lines into the skin of the ham. These should be about 1/4 inch deep and about 1 inch apart. Then turn the ham and cut parallel lines in the opposite direction making a diamond pattern on the ham. Some people like to place whole cloves in between the squares of skin, adding both decor and flavor.
4) Place the ham with the cut side down onto a roasting pan or baking pan with sides, as there will be juices as it cooks. Lining the pan with aluminum foil helps greatly with clean up.
5) Tent the ham with aluminum foil. This means to fold a large piece of foil in half (so it looks like a tent) and then place the foil loosely over the ham.
6) Bake the ham according to the table below.
To glaze the ham, remove the ham from the oven and then remove the tin foil and brush with a glaze then return to the oven for another 15-20 minutes. For more on glazes, see our blog post on ham glazes.

Hams are usually thick, so it takes about 15 minutes per pound of meat to penetrate and cook through the entire roast. See the chart below for cooking times of a ham.

Baking Times for Ham:

If you have a meat thermometer, the internal temperature of the ham should be a minimum of 145°F (max 160°F).

How To Bake A Honey Baked Ham?

One of the tastiest hams around, the Honey Baked Ham, is actually best eaten chilled or at room temperature. The Honey Baked Ham instructions actually recommend not re-baking the ham as the crunchy coating will soften and become sticky.

The USDA actually has a lot to say about hams: read their
ham facts for more information about all types of hams.

See our shelf life page for ham to see how long ham lasts. And don’t forget to check our blog page after Easter dinner is over to see our suggestions on what to do with your leftover ham.

A post from: www.EatByDate.com

A great question we were asked is “How much water should I drink a day?” The answer, although it may surprise you, is that you should drink eight glasses of water every day, meaning your body needs 64 ounces of water a day. For some people that’s a lot of water. Yet, doctors seem to agree that everyone needs to drink 8 eight-ounce glasses of water each and every day. If you understand why you need so much water and the benefits of drinking water, it seems to go down easier.

Why Does A Body Need Water? – The Benefits of Drinking Water

Since 60% of our body weight is water and you constantly loose water through perspiration and urination, among other ways including just breathing, the body must constantly be replenished to stay in balance. Every system in the body depends on water. Water flushes toxins from our vital organs, carries nutrients to our cells and provides a moist environment for the ear, nose and throat tissues. One of the major benefits of drinking water is that it will steer you clear of dehydration.

How to Tell if You Are Dehydrated – Urine Color

A lack of water replenishment provides a risk of dehydration, which can be a very serious condition. The first sign of dehydration is a dry mouth and having a thirst, next you will notice a darker urine color when you use the bathroom or be unable to urinate at all. Urine becomes darker the more you get dehydrated because urine has a high concentration of toxins and chemicals, so when you are dehydrated there is less water to dilute the color. If your urine is dark yellow, amber or brownish colored it can be a sign of serious dehydration, see a helpful chart here. If you are drinking enough water your urine should be clear to a very light yellow in color. So if you are ever wondering how much water should you drink in a day, think 8 cups!

Can you Drink too Much Water?

Yes, you can drink too much water. However, if you are asking yourself how much water you should drink a day because you are afraid of drinking too much,then you probably have little to worry about if you are not forcing it down. Drinking more water than necessary can be dangerous to your health because it increases the total blood volume in your closed circulatory system. This increase in volume can put unnecessary strains on your blood vessels and heart, causing them to work harder. However, in everyday life, very few people ever suffer from drinking too many cups of water. When somebody does suffer damage from drinking too much water it is usually because of individuals who attempt to drink an insane amount of water, such as college kids in fraternity initiations where individuals are forced to drink gallons of water.

Adjustments to How Much Water Should You Drink a Day

Although eight eight ounce glasses of water per day is the recommended intake of water, that’s a recommendation and sometimes we need more:
- Water intake should be adjusted for activity level and men generally require more water than women.
- Adjustments should also be made for climate, more water is needed in a hotter dryer climate.
- Your health status also affects how much water is needed – if you have fever, vomiting or diarrhea you are loosing more water and therefore need to drink more.
- Also if you are drinking for two, as in pregnant or breast feeding, you need more than the basic 8 glasses of water.
- Drinking Gatorade is a good way to replenish your fluids. Another good source of water with a little more substance is Jello.

All fluids count for water intake

Remember that foods are about 20% liquid, especially if you consume fruits and vegetables like you should, so the answer to how much water you should drink a day might depend on how much you have eaten. Other liquids count too, but water is really best because it is calorie free, inexpensive and readily available. Some people drink water bottles, some people use the tap, some use a filtered container system, some have a spout in the fridge, some have large containers of bottled water delivered, but it is all the same – water! It doesn’t matter so much how you get it, just that you do get it each and every day and remember that 8 cups is the answer to how much water should I drink a day.

A post from: www.EatByDate.com