Food myths

[TheFifthElement]

Recently I've become quite aware of how little I know or understand about food. The problem is there's so much reported in the media, so much passed down as 'urban myth' that it's difficult to separate the 'facts' from the 'fiction'. This morning, watching the BBC, there was a segment on water consumption which was really interesting, and it made me think, can Lit-net separate the fact from the fiction? Let's share our food myths here!

The segment on the BBC was about water consumption. We are all advised to drink 2 litres of water a day, and people go through their days diligently sipping on a cup of water, probably bottled (not very environmentally conscious...oops, different debate). But here's the thing every type of fluid you drink counts towards your 2 litres. That includes tea, coffee, fruit juice, carbonated drinks, milk, etc. You also get approximately 1/3 of your daily requirement from food, more perhaps if you eat a lot of fruit. I've always been told that tea and coffee are diuretics, so don't count. This is also a myth, if you drink a large latte then you're going to need to pee later, it's volume that causes it, not the 'affect' of something in the coffee.

Information here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/humanbody/truthaboutfood/young/water.shtml

So I say to you - drink what you like!

it so happens I like water, but I like tea more :)

Share your food myths here - free us, Lit-net, from food anxiety!

[quasimodo1]

Dear Elemental: I'm taking the fifth on "drink what you want": had to quit. Other than that...your nutritional points are understood. q1

[NikolaiI]

I do not drink coffee because I'm under the impression that being so caffeinated, it actually dehydrates you. Like caffeinated, sugar beverages. They have water in them, but coca-cola does not hydrate you. Alcohol dehydrates you too, right? Beer, other alcohol drinks, all included?
So towards the 2 litres-- is it to keep the body hydrated? In that case the question for me becomes, do coffee, tea, and carbonated drinks hydrate or dehydrate the body?

[B-Mental]

Actually, the drier the climate, the more water you need. There is also a relationship to elevation. When I was in Montana recently, I needed to hydrate constantly, as your breath contains moisture. It leaves your body. Also, the dry air would literally suck the moisture off of your skin. Drinking a lot of water was a great way to replenish your energy. Also not showering regularly to keep your natural oils on your skin helps unless you are sweating a lot. The salt breaks down some of your bodies oils. In the mountains, I would finish a summer hike to some peak, and there were salt crystals all over my body and clothes.

[B-Mental]

I think I read that beverages hydrate you with caffeine. It was contrary to popular belief, but apparently gaining support.

[TheFifthElement]

According to the dietician this morning drinking caffeinated drinks does hydrate you. She also said to trust your body, if you feel thirsty it's because you need to drink, if you don't feel thirsty you probably don't.

[papayahed]

Chocolate causes acne.

[NikolaiI]

Milk is actually considered a food...

[vheissu]

According to the dietician this morning drinking caffeinated drinks does hydrate you. She also said to trust your body, if you feel thirsty it's because you need to drink, if you don't feel thirsty you probably don't.

That's what I usually do: I don't drink water because I have to, but because I need to.
Additionally, this 2 litre rule, does it really take into account how tall you are, how much you weight, etc.?


I do feel bad though when I see my 2 flatmates stocking up on water bottles every morning...and saying that I need to drink more. hmmm...

I'm amazed to read that caffeineted drinks actually hydrate you...don't feel as bad, with all the coffee I drink every single day!!! :p

[rachel_bookworm]

Often if you feel hungry, it is actually thirst in disguise...

[Niamh]

Food myth in away...
eating lots of insoluble fibre is good for you digestive system.
Reason why i've put this here is because it is not good for you if you suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome. it has the opposite effect. (learnt that the hard way.)

[dramasnot6]

There are many,many other sources of iron and protein that are not meat(or even meat products like egg and dairy).

[PeterL]

Recently I've become quite aware of how little I know or understand about food. The problem is there's so much reported in the media, so much passed down as 'urban myth' that it's difficult to separate the 'facts' from the 'fiction'. This morning, watching the BBC, there was a segment on water consumption which was really interesting, and it made me think, can Lit-net separate the fact from the fiction?

The whole matter of how much one should drink is fiction. Drink as much or as little, as you like. I wrote a blog about it last year, elsewhere. I'll repost that here for your information.

I have posted that blog here. I hope that it helps someone.

http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blogs/viewblog.php?userid=4509&entry=5088

[NikolaiI]

The whole matter of how much one should drink is fiction. Drink as much or as little, as you like. I wrote a blog about it last year, elsewhere. I'll repost that here for your information.

I have posted that blog here. I hope that it helps someone.

http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blogs/viewblog.php?userid=4509&entry=5088

Really? The body is always depleting of water. So if you don't give it water to use, then you become dehydrated. So if "as little as you like" is no water at all, you'll become dehydrated, and actually be sick quite often. If you drink a coffee or something then, it will do a number on your stomach. Hydration is very important, and if you are dehydrated your body takes the water from your organs, your brain and liver going first. But if you keep well hydrated it improves basic functions of the brain, such as memory, logic, math.

And of course, it depends on body size and other factors, it is different for everyone. We all need to drink water.

[TheFifthElement]

Really? The body is always depleting of water. So if you don't give it water to use, then you become dehydrated. So if "as little as you like" is no water at all, you'll become dehydrated, and actually be sick quite often. If you drink a coffee or something then, it will do a number on your stomach. Hydration is very important, and if you are dehydrated your body takes the water from your organs, your brain and liver going first. But if you keep well hydrated it improves basic functions of the brain, such as memory, logic, math.

And of course, it depends on body size and other factors, it is different for everyone. We all need to drink water.

If you become dehydrated don't you feel thirsty? So drinking as much or as little as you like means, surely, drink when you're thirsty. Doesn't matter if it's water, or coffee, or tea, or milk - all of these contain water, and will hydrate you.

[PeterL]

Really? The body is always depleting of water. So if you don't give it water to use, then you become dehydrated. So if "as little as you like" is no water at all, you'll become dehydrated, and actually be sick quite often. If you drink a coffee or something then, it will do a number on your stomach. Hydration is very important, and if you are dehydrated your body takes the water from your organs, your brain and liver going first. But if you keep well hydrated it improves basic functions of the brain, such as memory, logic, math.

And of course, it depends on body size and other factors, it is different for everyone. We all need to drink water.


Normal hydration is enough for anyone. "As little as you like" means as little as one feels like drinking. It is true that dehydration is unpleasant and dangerous, but, as I pointed out in the blog, and some of the articles linked noted, the water can come from any source. The thing about drinking a half gallon, two liters, of water a day was a marketting campaign by bottled water companies; there is no science to back it up. Look at medical opinions and you will find that they say drink when you are thirsty.

[PeterL]

If you become dehydrated don't you feel thirsty? So drinking as much or as little as you like means, surely, drink when you're thirsty. Doesn't matter if it's water, or coffee, or tea, or milk - all of these contain water, and will hydrate you.

Or beer or mead or wine

[djy78usa]

I agree that, for the average person, there is no need to consume that much water during a normal day. You only need to drink when you feel thirsty, that's why your body is making you feel that way. However, if you are involved in some strenuous physical activity, or even just in an extreme environment, it is important to hydrate regularly throughout the day. If you wait until you are thristy, you run the risk of drinking too much in one sitting and possibly suffering from hyponatremia. When you have too much water in your system, it depletes your sodium levels which causes your cells to swell as they try to regain the correct balance. In his blog, PeterL mentioned that too much water can cause kidney damage, but in extreme cases it can actually be fatal.

[Niamh]

generally speaking from what i am aware of, when it comes to drinking water and fluids to kep yourself hydrated, its usually advised to not let yourself get thirty before you decide to have a drink. Thats why its advised to drink lots of water a day to prevent you from having to thirst for it.

[PeterL]

generally speaking from what i am aware of, when it comes to drinking water and fluids to kep yourself hydrated, its usually advised to not let yourself get thirty before you decide to have a drink. Thats why its advised to drink lots of water a day to prevent you from having to thirst for it.

That's part of the myth. "its usually advised to not let yourself get thirty before you decide to have a drink." yes, it is advised by people who sell water. Medical sources say that you should drink when your body says its thirsty. Pay attention to your body, and it will tell you when you need to drink.

[NikolaiI]

PeterL, you are misinformed about alcohol; alcohol dehydrates you. I also agree with Niamh that you need to drink water before you get thirsty-- not a gallon, just a few small drinks of it-- whatever feels right. And thirst is not our only indication that we need water, we can have subtler perception of our bodies needs than thirst. In fact, one reason I think it's important to drink plenty of water is that I can feel that it's good for me. I would be concerned if I could discern no difference between drinking a glass of water, drinking 5, and drinking 9, and in general the tendency is to drink less than I need; but when I drink a little more water, my body thanks me for it.

[NikolaiI]

If you become dehydrated don't you feel thirsty? So drinking as much or as little as you like means, surely, drink when you're thirsty. Doesn't matter if it's water, or coffee, or tea, or milk - all of these contain water, and will hydrate you.

Yes but after you become dehydrated. Why get dehydrated in the first place?

[NikolaiI]

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/which-drinks-hydrate-which-dont.html

[TheFifthElement]

Yes but after you become dehydrated. Why get dehydrated in the first place?

I think this is all part of the myth Nikolai - that we think psychologically that we know better what the body needs than the body does. Thirst is a mechanism of the body to tell you when to drink - one must learn to trust it - if the body needed fluid intake before 'thirst' appeared, to avoid 'damage' wouldn't there be a mechanism to tell you? Otherwise it would seem that the body is a flawed mechanism, and it's a wonder that we got as far as publishing and mass advertising to tell us otherwise!

More information about caffeinated drinks here : http://www.beverageinstitute.org/healthcare_professionals/pdf/LayingTheCaffeine-DehydrationMythToRest.pdf

Perhaps the mistake is to associate thirst with dehydration. Based on current medical science it would appear now accepted that thirst occurs before dehydration, which would make more logical sense.

[TheFifthElement]

Also, from the Institute of Medicine : http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3788/3969/18495.aspx

see the first line "The vast majority of healthy people adequately meet their daily hydration needs by letting thirst be their guide."

[TheFifthElement]

and some more : http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20020711213420data_trunc_sys.shtml

[NikolaiI]

http://www.wie.org/j33/dehydrated.asp

[NikolaiI]

In response to the third one: "He observes that we see the exhortation everywhere: from health writers, nutritionists, even physicians. Valtin doubts its validity. Indeed, he finds it, "difficult to believe that evolution left us with a chronic water deficit that needs to be compensated by forcing a high fluid intake."

"even physicians?" even physicians are telling us this! oh no!

"chronic water deficit" -- no, it is not a deficit....a deficit is determined by how much water we drink. A deficit is if we don't get any water. Our bodies are 90% water at birth. It's just that we go through a certain amount of water...dispelling it. As Peter Ragnar writes, if we don't replenish, what happens? we dehydrate...

" The 8 x 8 rule is slavishly followed. Everywhere, people carry bottles of water, constantly sipping from them; it is acceptable to drink water anywhere, anytime. A pamphlet distributed at one southern California university even counsels its students to "carry a water bottle with you. Drink often while sitting in class...""

slavishly followed. Peter Ragnar also wrote that 75% of Americans are dehydrated.

I dunno.

[TheFifthElement]

http://www.wie.org/j33/dehydrated.asp

Hmm, somehow I doubt his credentials :
Peter Ragnar is a natural life scientist, modern-day Taoist wizard, and self-master par excellence

So, not a medical doctor then? And what is a "self-master par excellence", exactly?

He lost my respect when he suggested Alzheimers is simple dehydration. Doesn't really concur with current medical thinking http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?categoryID=200171&documentID=100

[PeterL]

PeterL, you are misinformed about alcohol; alcohol dehydrates you.

Alcohol dehydrates. Beer, ale, and wine are very dilute solutions that contain alcohol; they do not cause dehydration.


I also agree with Niamh that you need to drink water before you get thirsty-- not a gallon, just a few small drinks of it-- whatever feels right. And thirst is not our only indication that we need water, we can have subtler perception of our bodies needs than thirst. In fact, one reason I think it's important to drink plenty of water is that I can feel that it's good for me. I would be concerned if I could discern no difference between drinking a glass of water, drinking 5, and drinking 9, and in general the tendency is to drink less than I need; but when I drink a little more water, my body thanks me for it.

Thirst is the body's way of telling you that it needs fluids. Thirst does not mean being utterly parch, dry tongued, etc.; it means that you want something to drink. People who drink something because their schedule says they should drink, rather than consuming fluids on demand are drinking more than they should.

[PeterL]

In response to the third one: "He observes that we see the exhortation everywhere: from health writers, nutritionists, even physicians. Valtin doubts its validity. Indeed, he finds it, "difficult to believe that evolution left us with a chronic water deficit that needs to be compensated by forcing a high fluid intake."

"even physicians?" even physicians are telling us this! oh no!

"chronic water deficit" -- no, it is not a deficit....a deficit is determined by how much water we drink. A deficit is if we don't get any water. Our bodies are 90% water at birth. It's just that we go through a certain amount of water...dispelling it. As Peter Ragnar writes, if we don't replenish, what happens? we dehydrate...

" The 8 x 8 rule is slavishly followed. Everywhere, people carry bottles of water, constantly sipping from them; it is acceptable to drink water anywhere, anytime. A pamphlet distributed at one southern California university even counsels its students to "carry a water bottle with you. Drink often while sitting in class...""

slavishly followed. Peter Ragnar also wrote that 75% of Americans are dehydrated.

I dunno.

You may no know, but I do, and there are many ignorant people who believe the material that marketters of bottled water have put forth. There may be people who are dehydrated, but the people who drink their two liters a day are over hydrated. I suggest that you look at the scientific materials and not pay any attention to the popular press.

[Niamh]

That's part of the myth. "its usually advised to not let yourself get thirty before you decide to have a drink." yes, it is advised by people who sell water. Medical sources say that you should drink when your body says its thirsty. Pay attention to your body, and it will tell you when you need to drink.

Advised by people who sell water? funny. It was my gastroentrologist that advised me to make sure i drink water regularly and not to let myself get dehydrated by drinking before letting myself feel thirsty. Last time i checked he wasnt a person who sold water.....

[NikolaiI]

You may no know, but I do, and there are many ignorant people who believe the material that marketters of bottled water have put forth. There may be people who are dehydrated, but the people who drink their two liters a day are over hydrated. I suggest that you look at the scientific materials and not pay any attention to the popular press.

I said "I dunno" in reference to whether 75% of Americans are dehydrated.
Let's just drop the issue, I don't know how to reply tactfully.
Goodbye.

[PeterL]

Advised by people who sell water? funny. It was my gastroentrologist that advised me to make sure i drink water regularly and not to let myself get dehydrated by drinking before letting myself feel thirsty. Last time i checked he wasnt a person who sold water.....

I am shocked.

[blp]

Re the question of whether beer or wine dehydrate you, I always feel thirstier the day after a night of drinking those things. I also find I'm less likely to have a hangover if I drink water while drinking alcholic drinks or anyway alternate between the two and that drinking water helps get through a hangover and even recover from it. As an aside, I also find that drinking water also perks me up when I'm tired, even if I don't feel thirsty.

Anyone got any views on fat? I know a lot of people who want to slim or stay slim avoid it completely. As I understand it, this is bad. What they need to do is avoid saturated fats, like those found in meat and dairy products, but continue to consume moderate amounts of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats such as those found in fish, vegetable oils, nuts, as these are good for your heart. Also, not sure if this is true, but I read a long time ago that a lot of what people think is fat in their bodies can be a result of high water retention and eating things like olive oil can actually help with this.

[Annamariah]

generally speaking from what i am aware of, when it comes to drinking water and fluids to kep yourself hydrated, its usually advised to not let yourself get thirty before you decide to have a drink. Thats why its advised to drink lots of water a day to prevent you from having to thirst for it.


That's part of the myth. "its usually advised to not let yourself get thirty before you decide to have a drink." yes, it is advised by people who sell water. Medical sources say that you should drink when your body says its thirsty. Pay attention to your body, and it will tell you when you need to drink.


Advised by people who sell water? funny. It was my gastroentrologist that advised me to make sure i drink water regularly and not to let myself get dehydrated by drinking before letting myself feel thirsty. Last time i checked he wasnt a person who sold water.....

I've heard the "you should drink regularly" and "you should drink this much every day" -phrases many times, but I don't believe it's the people selling water who say so, at least not here. I mean, in Finland, when people carry water bottles with them (which many do), it usually means that the bottle once contained juice or soft drink and was filled with water in the morning from the water tap by the person in question. Selling bottled water isn't a big bisnes here.