It is a well known fact that in the 21st century childhood obesity is the number one public health issue we face. We now live in the time of busy life styles and always being on the run that it's suffering our way of life, with poor diets and a vast promotion by junk food advertising.

But what can we do about it. The answer is simple: by replacing take away meals, over processed and junk foods with fresh organic foods and produce, and adopt a change in life style that encourages everyone to keep moving.

Organic foods are a great way to help you balance your diet. Eating organic foods means that your body will receive up to 50% more nutrients, minerals and vitamins. This is even higher if your vegetables are steam.

Pesticides and chemical have been linked to many diseases including:

• Cancer
• Obesity
• Alzheimer's
• Some birth defects

Chemicals, such as pesticides, dyes, pigments, perfumes and flavorings all of which we are exposed on a daily basis may alter metabolic functions. As we all know conventional food contains many of these chemicals. On average fruits and veggies contain up to and even more than 20 different pesticides and your body has the fun challenge to dispose of them in order to avoid poisoning your system. This is the livers reasonability, the very key organ that can make or break your weight loss attempts.

When we cleanse the liver and then eat the right foods, liver metabolism will improve and we start burning fat. As liver function improves, so does energy. With more energy, fitness improves, so we have to be kind to our liver by making sure you are eating enough fibre and limit the intake of toxic chemicals both in the form of food and alcohol.

Dietary fibre is mainly needed to keep the digestive system healthy. It consists of indigestible matter that passes out of your body. This essential function carries with it many of the toxins and waste products from your body that you need to get rid of daily, especially the intake of soluble fibre. So the fact is fibre will help the digestive system quickly process our waste products and will give them less of a chance to be stored as fatty deposits.

If you eat too much foods containing fat, additives, chemicals and pesticides, then you don't give your body much of a chance to dispose of them, causing them to build up in your system and then being stored as fat, for until the body has the time in dealing with them to clear them out.

This can lead to fat deposits all around your body which can lead to a condition called fatty liver which is the build up of excess fat in the liver cells which is namely associated with obesity.

A tired, toxic liver is the number one reason why many people's weight-loss attempts never actually go anywhere.

So as a healthy part of living we have to make sure that our essential organs are operating at 100% of is highest peak efficiency to help in all weight loss attempts and keeping a healthy happy body and hence this means eating good quality food, preferably raw and free of added chemicals, which makes organic food a good choice.

Conventional manufacturers add synthetic chemicals to processed foods to increase their shelf life and pesticides and hormones to farm produce to boost their crop yields.

You don't want to be eating too much conventional foods as the chemicals they contain will affect your liver and digestive system performance, probably making you actually put on weight in the form of the stored fatty deposits.

Organic food can help in that you reduce the number of toxic chemicals entering your body which in turn reduces the stress on your digestive system and its fat production. Leaving you a happier healthy person.

As summer is approaching fast, the more water we will consume, so the quality of water that we drink is a concern to everyone. Major water supplies may be contaminated by pollution, drinking tap water is not recommended, as it has been treated with chemicals (mainly aluminum) and bottled water is not necessarily any healthier than most water taken directly from the tap.

Let's take a look at some of the benefits of drinking water:

• Lubricates your joints and eyes
• Maintains muscle tone
• Moisturises your skin
• Eliminates toxic wastes
• Prevents constipation
• Transports nutrients around your body
• Supports the central nervous system, thus reducing stress
• Allows the brain to properly function
  

Sixty five percent of Australians are dehydrated. We are not big water drinkers and we tend to drink everything else but water. Dehydration can make you lethargic, cause headaches and nausea. The risk of bladder cancer can be halved by drinking lots of water.

A recent study uncovered another benefit of drinking water: A high concentration of silica in drinking water seemed to protect against Alzheimer's disease. Researchers believe silica to be a natural antidote to aluminum, which has been previously linked to the formation of plaque in the brain. Aluminium has been implicated as a possible contributor to Alzheimer's and therefore, silica in drinking water may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's. Additionally, silica works with calcium to maintain bone strength.

In summary silica -

• Stimulates cell metabolism
• Is an integral part of cell formation
• Inhibits the aging process
• Improves the structure and function of connective tissue
• Improves the elasticity and firmness of blood vessels
• Stimulates the immune system
• Aids in the health of hair, skin, nails and bones

Its important to know the test analysis of water, to see what you are actually drinking, so next time you drink a bottle of water, check and compare the label.

Generally health practitioners recommend at least 8 glasses of water every day to assist in optimal health. Remember the right kind of water can cleanse and heal the body, but toxic or polluted water can destroy your health. So be sure you drink enough water everyday but more importantly make sure that the water you drink is of the best quality.

A special note for the ladies. Water is the best moisturiser available on the market and it's cheap too!