"When you're not hydrated, the body is not working at an optimal level," says Annette Alfieri, nutritionist and owner of Mind Body Whole in Fairfield. When people feel tired or sluggish, they attribute that feeling to hunger rather than thirst, and reach for a sugary snack or a caffeinated drink to perk up. Water intake needs to be increased during exercise, says Nicole Barrato, owner and dietician of Nutrigreene in Westport. (See sidebar.) But where people get in trouble, Barrato says, is when they start drinking sugary sports drinks when they don't need them. Christa Valentine, a nutritionist for Price Chopper, says foods with the highest water content are lettuce, watermelon, broccoli, grapefruit and carrots. Because a lot of people don't like to drink plain water, Valentine says seltzer and flavored waters are perfect substitutes. Annette Alfieri, of Mind Body Whole, says after about an hour of working out, you'll want to start replenishing your electrolytes, which help the body absorb water; the sodium and glucose in them allow your body to soak in the water you're drinking. Though rare, you can drink too much water, flushing out all your electrolytes and causing a decrease in serum sodium concentration (your body's salt levels). According to the National Institutes of Health, "The most common [case of water intoxication] is psychogenic polydipsia (compulsive water drinking), which is sometimes associated with either mental illness or mental handicap." The most common symptoms of too much water consumption, the NIH reports, are changes in mental status, emesis, nausea and seizures.

Under the heading "Ask a Question" you can research information in nine different categories -- including energy, lifestyle, transportation and food -- to see what types of green initiatives are out there. Some of the green initiatives already on GreenTowns include Hydro-Dynamics Inc., a company that provides education on non-toxic, chemical-free cleaning products. Another is the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, which provides free clothing and household pick-up programs to reduce the amount of material placed in landfills. In GreenTown's "lifestyles" category you'll learn about composting, which is a way to break down discarded household materials into an organic matter used for fertilizing. After about six months, I mix this mixture into the top of my vegetable garden beds and also use it around my perennials, Sechi says. By composting, I'm lowering my carbon footprint by fertilizing my garden with soil I made from discarded items I already had in my home. A home energy assessment also includes a duct test to assess air leaks within the ductwork system, and installation of energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs. Some are selling, some are buying, and some are trading information, says Kantor, who lives in a house -- which she built -- that's run completely on alternative energy. The difference in taste between what you buy in the large grocery stores and The Hickories is incredible, Carlson says. "GreenTowns celebrates people who are making a difference in creating sustainable communities across the country," Dixon says. Dickson founded Conscious Decisions in 2007 to help bring people together and provide opportunities, events, websites and resources to provide education on eco-friendly living locally, regionally and nationally.

Lessons on Gardening, and Life, Roach explores the profound connection between her garden and her self. Roach has written other books and essays on gardening, and she was the garden editor and an editorial director for Martha Stewart's magazine for several years before retiring to pursue writing and, of course, gardening. In Backyard Parables, Roach reflects on life lessons and the relationship she has with the soil, the sun, the air and the plants that grow around her. Trading in the Fast Lane for My Own Dirt Road, told the story of her great success in the highly competitive publishing industry, her climb to the top as editorial director for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and her decision to give all of that up for her home and her garden. "[My publishers] said they wanted a garden book but they wanted a memoir, so I started writing it and it felt hollow without the horticultural how-to and what I call `woo-woo,'" she says. There is tangible learning and results but there's also the spiritual, philosophical harvest. The result is garden anecdotes matched with tips for fencing, underplanting, vegetable growing, pruning and more. [...] in one how-to section Roach offers this advice about when to give up and go indoors: "Do your ripening indoors whenever animals, or prolonged cold, threaten to get to the crop before you do," she writes. To choose a style of fence that will work for your garden locale, you need information about the local deer species, their habits and their capabilities (read: how high they can jump, and how low they will go). Almost any green herb will take to being frozen as pesto: garlic scapes, sage, rosemary, chives, cilantro, oregano, marjoram, thyme, chervil. On picking flower bulbs: Because many flower bulbs can be animal bait -- an expensive disappointment -- I recommend species that are resistant to pests such as deer, rabbits and squirrels.

Try these books to help children understand dementia How do you tell young children that Grandma or Grandpa has dementia? "Children are actually very understanding," says Lynn Young, executive director at the Marjorie Doyle Rockwell Center in Cohoes, "And our residents always are joyful when they see young children." -- Alzheimer's Disease by Susan Dudley Gold -- Alzheimer's Disease by Linda Altman -- Fading Memories by the American Health Assistance Foundation

Each kidney has more than a million microscopic blood-processing units called nephrons; each nephron has a filtering group of tiny blood vessels called a glomerulus. Diabetes -- when the body doesn't make enough insulin or can't use it properly -- is the leading cause of kidney disease. Primary kidney cancer, also called renal cell cancer, is a malignant tumor that starts in the kidney. Risk factors for kidney cancer include family history, smoking, high blood pressure, eating a high-fat diet, being overweight, being on long-term dialysis, and exposure to asbestos or cadmium (a metal that can increase the cancer-causing effect of smoking). Genetic testing can be performed to determine whether hereditary factors might increase your risk for kidney cancer.

1/2 cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in tomatoes with their juices, vegetable broth, cilantro, oregano, chipotle, adobo sauce, salt and pepper. Heat oven to 350ºF. Combine refried beans with 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan over medium-low heat and cook, stirring, until heated through. Heat 1 teaspoon of the vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. In the skillet you used to cook tortillas, heat 1/2 tablespoon of the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Cover and cook for 4 minutes, or until whites are cooked and a white film begins to form over the yolk; if you prefer firmer eggs, cook for 1 minute more. 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed according to package directions Heat oil in a large, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add chicken broth and stir, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Return pan to medium-high heat and simmer liquid until thickened, about 16 to 18 minutes. Heat oven to 400ºF. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil; grease with cooking spray. On a lightly floured surface, roll out puff pastry to a 9-by-12-inch rectangle.