I went to my frist appointment, to a 'holistic' theropist ( paid for by the inlaws) to talk about my health.
I was really keen on what she had to say about weight loss.
She told me that drinking water at meals, slows down the body's digestive system, which makes it harder for your body to digest food.
So, she told me to drink water ten mins before I eat and don't drink water during my meal and only drink a cup of water 30 mins after my meal.
This made me worry some, because, I love to drink water.
Have any of you ever heard of this sort of thing?
Also, she told me to read 'Fit for Life' Book, about 'food combining'.
She also said, that fat stores a lot of 'toxins', and in order to get rid of the weight, you must get rid of the toxins.

My mother in law, swears by this person and has been seeing her for over a year now, due to a Candida related illness, which she now has gotten rid of.
Maybe, I'm just too 'cnyical' but... it all just seemed a bit 'strange' to me...
How can water not be good for you?

Any thoughts would be helpful:)
Thanks;)
Hope

hope, i have to agree with you..drinking water is all good..i dont think it matters when you do it..metabolism is basically a chemical reaction that is facilitated by the presence of water..if she is saying it slows down digestion and makes the body work harder to digest food, in my mind that is a good thing because it means you are burning more calories...our bodies naturally get rid of toxins in the digestive process...i think if you want to check with someone, why not ask this same question in the personal dietician forum here at diettalk, maybe the dietician has something to add..i dont think there is anything wrong in food combining..but i dont think there are any magic forumulas..i think the best food combining is just eating a healthy combination of whole foods such as lean protein, high fiber, high quality carbs such as whole grain cereals and breads, fruits, veggies, and non fat dairy, and a small amount of fat..i think you are wise to listen to this person and analyse what she says and pick the things that make sense to you and discard the rest...everyone has to find the way that works best for them...

Beware of any person who tell you to cut something out of your diet or tells you to take a pill.

Not drinking during a meal allows you to eat more I would think.

I have heard this viewpoint before, and have never agreed with it. I too went to a naturopath in an attempt at a magic cure for the weight loss.

Water is good for you, and you need lots of it if you are trying to lose. When I went, the "doc" told me esentially that I only need about 3 cups of water a day. (A cup no more than an hour before a meal.) He told me too much water was hard on the kidneys. I told him that was bull. I think many of these "docs" try to get eveyone to beleive in what worked for them, or the the latest craze, without a mind to what is best for YOU, or what is in the best interest of proper health.

Drink you water, enjoy it, and don't feel guilty about it. :water:

I agree. Water can't be bad for you. How can it be, when our bodies are made up with so much of it?
The only reason that I went to the 'herbalist' was because, my in-laws were paying for it and I am not a person to pass up things that are free:)
When I went in, I was cynical... and when I came out... I was still 'cynical'.
It's just a shame that my mother in law has spent loads of money on this kind of stuff...
Oh well.
The herbalist, did tell me to stop drinking Pepsi Max and I thought I was doing really well, having switched from Pepsi to Pepsi max... and aprtly, Pepsi max is more harmful to you than regualr pepsi...
Danged if I do and Danged if I don't!

Kanga,

Read this post about water from DJ - I found it a few months ago when I first started DT and it stuck. I manage between 96 - 144 oz a day with NO problems, I don't even live in the bathroom anymore.

http://www.diettalk.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23508

The thread helped me to understand that water is just as important as exercise and eating right, you need all three things in order to succeed.

Have a great evening!

:wave:

I agree with what everyone has said here...I really doubt water is a bad thing...I (and my whole family) have been going to a naturopathic dr for 6 years now and i have never heard that before...i'd be a little unsure of that...but my suggestion is to do as much research on the internet as possible...maybe talk to other people about other dr's in your area...hey too my info never hurt anyone...but lack of info certainly can....

good luck and have a great day

Not drinking during a meal allows you to eat more I would think.

I disagree with this, I find I stop eating if I have food on my plate and I'm thirsty because it just doesn't go down as easy. I'll feel full. Then when I get my refill I'm right back at it. That's just my experience though. And I think water is all good. It's quite possible that what this person says is true but I think the difference it makes would be quite minimal and could easily be made up and more by just developing healthy eating habits.

I drink water non stop all day long. I have heard about not drinking during meals (but I still do). The reason I heard is because the acids in your stomach (or wherever) that digest the food get diluted by the water and dont work as good. True or not? who knows!

I have also heard drinking wiith meals, stops you absorbing iron, and other nutrients, I drink water during my meal.

Kanga, I agree with everyone's comments on here. I truly believe that water is very healthy for you and it's essential to losing weight and lots of other things, too. I'm going to be posting some more things on water in the DDDD board in February, so maybe you'd like to join us. I can tell a big difference in how I feel and in my appetite, too, when I am not drinking enough water.

Ultimately, you have to do what you feel best about. If you try what this woman is saying and don't feel good about it, I would adjust..... life is full of adjustments because we are all different!

Take care and let us know how you're doing.....

HOW 8 GLASSES A DAY KEEP FAT AWAY

Incredible as it may seem, water is quite possibly the single most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off. Although most of us take it for granted, water may be the only true "magic potion" for permanent weight loss. Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits. Here’s why: the kidneys can’t function properly without enough water. When they don’t work to capacity, some of their load is dumped into the liver. One of the liver’s primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body. But, if the liver has to do some of the kidney’s work, it can’t operate at full throttle. As a result, it metabolizes less fat, more fat remains stored in the body, and weight loss stops.

Drinking enough water is the best treatment for fluid retention. When the body gets less water, it perceives it as a threat to survival and begins to hold on to every drop. Water is stored in extra-cellular spaces (outside the cells). This shows up as swollen feet, legs, and hands. Diuretics offer a temporary solution at best. They force out stored water along with some essential nutrients. Again, the body perceives a threat and will replace the lost water at the first opportunity. Thus, the condition quickly returns. The best way to overcome the problem of water retention is to give your body what it needs - plenty of water. Only then will stored water be released. If you have a constant problem with water retention, excess salt may be to blame. Your body will tolerate sodium only in a certain concentration. The more salt you eat, the more water your system retains to dilute it. But getting rid of unneeded salt is easy - just drink more water. As it’s forced through the kidneys, it takes away excess sodium.

The overweight person needs more water than the thin one. Larger people have metabolic loads. Since we know that water is the key to fat metabolism, it follows that the overweight person needs more water. Water helps to maintain proper muscle tone by giving muscles their natural ability to contract and by preventing dehydration. It also helps to prevent the sagging skin that usually follows weight loss - shrinking cells are buoyed by water, which plumps the skin and leaves it clear, healthy and resilient. Water helps rid the body of waste. During weight loss, the body has a lot more waste to get rid of - all that metabolized fat must be shed. Again, adequate water helps flush out the waste. Water can help relieve constipation. When the body gets too little water, it siphons what it needs from internal sources. The colon is one primary source. Result? Constipation. But, when a person drinks enough water, normal bowel function usually returns. So far, we’ve discovered some remarkable truths about water and weight loss:
§ The body will not function properly without enough water and can’t metabolize stored fat efficiently.
§ Retained water shows up as excess weight.
§ To get rid of excess water you must drink more water.
§ Drinking water is essential to weight loss.

How much water is enough? On the average, a person should drink eight 8-ounce glasses every day. That’s about 2 quarts. However, the overweight person needs one additional glass for every 25 pounds of excess weight. The amount you drink also should be increased if you exercise briskly or if the weather is hot and dry. Water should preferably be cold - it’s absorbed into the system more quickly than warm water. And some evidence suggests that drinking cold water can actually help burn calories. To utilize water more efficiently during weight loss, follow this schedule:

Morning: 1 quart consumed over a 30-minute period

Noon: 1 quart consumed over a 30-minute period

Evening: 1 quart consumed between five and six o’clock

When the body gets the water it needs to function optimally, its fluids are perfectly balanced. When this happens, you have reached the "breakthrough point". What does this mean?
- Endocrine-gland function improves.
- Fluid retention is alleviated, as stored water is lost.
- More fat used as fuel because the liver is free to metabolize stored fat.
- Natural thirst returns.

There is a loss of hunger almost overnight. If you stop drinking enough water, your body fluids will be thrown out of balance again, and you may experience fluid retention, unexplained weight gain, and loss of thirst. To remedy the situation you'll have to go back and force another "breakthrough".

____________________________

Too Much Water?

Q: " I drink more than a gallon and a half of water a day. My co-worker says it's dangerous to drink that much. But I have a partial dental plate in my mouth and need to keep it wet because it really bothers me. "

-- Anonymous



(Published 04/25/2001)

Yes, it's possible to drink too much water, but even though you're consuming a lot, I don't think you're likely to run into trouble. Drinking lots of water in a short period of time-say, the length of time it would take to run a marathon-can lead to "water intoxication," which can be quite dangerous if not treated promptly and properly.
Consuming too much water can cause sodium levels in the blood to drop, excess water to be absorbed into the blood, and fluid to collect in the brain and the lungs, a potentially fatal scenario. Symptoms of water intoxication can include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and confusion. Ironically, these same symptoms can occur with dehydration, sometimes making diagnosis difficult. Emergency room medical personnel may assume that dehydration is to blame if a patient is a runner who has been competing in a marathon or some other endurance event. If dehydration is suspected, patients may be given fluids rather than the appropriate treatment (an immediate injection of sodium that acts as a diuretic). A safe amount of water to drink while competing in endurance events is between eight and 16 ounces (1 to 2 glasses) per hour. You're probably not in danger of water intoxication if you're sipping throughout the day, despite your high intake. Our kidneys are capable of processing about 60 glasses of water a day-that adds up to almost four gallons.

And here's another one from WebMD..


Too Much Water?

Q: I hear about the health benefits of drinking water, but is there such a thing as drinking too much water? I drink approximately 96 ounces a day, and I’m afraid I may be “washing away” essential vitamins and minerals. I exercise daily and have a small build.

A: Drinking 3 quarts of water daily won’t harm you, but you may find the frequent trips to the bathroom an inconvenience.

Assuming you are drinking your fluids throughout the day there's no worry about "washing away" vitamins, minerals or any other substances, since your kidneys do a great job of holding on to what the body needs. Also, any excess water not needed is easily passed out as urine within a few hours.

You only run a risk with too much water if you guzzle an excessive amount, such as your 96 ounces, all at once. This could cause a very rare event called water intoxication and can be life threatening if not treated. An overdose of water overwhelms the body's cells, in part by diluting the electrolytes, sodium and potassium. This causes the cells to balloon up and disrupt normal body functioning. In the brain, swelling occurs, causing disorientation and even death.

But, unlike you, most people are more likely to fall short on meeting their water needs. They don't realize water is top on the list of essential nutrients. Water makes up most of your body composition (an average 150-pound person contains 42 quarts of water); it's the medium in which chemical reactions occur in your body; it's a lubricant for muscles and joints; and it serves as a vehicle to rid your body of unwanted metabolites and wastes through urine.

You need about 1 milliliter of water for every calorie you consume. Translated to cups, you require about 8 cups (2 quarts) if you consume 2,000 calories a day. This figure rises if you exercise heavily, since you'll lose water through sweat. Depending upon your sweat rate, you lose anywhere from 1 to 2 quarts of sweat an hour, especially in warm weather.

Not counting beer, other alcoholic beverages, and coffee and sodas with caffeine, all of which boost urine production and fluid loss, you should be reaching for 2 to 4 quarts of water and other fluids throughout the day. Your urine color, which serves as a good gauge of your hydration status, should be pale yellow. Dark urine suggests you are not drinking enough fluid. (Your urine will be a bright yellow color after taking a vitamin pill due to the excretion of the B vitamin called riboflavin.)

Keep fluid handy by taking along a bike bottle of water while traveling, at work and during workouts. And to keep your drinking water safe from bacteria contamination, wash out your water bottle daily.