The Perfect Diet: Water

I am on the quest for the "perfect diet" -- a way of eating for life that is healthy & nutritious, delicious, sustainable (for human behavior and the planet) and budget-friendly. Given all the debate about nutrition and food - which way of eating is best, what is good vs what is bad, lowfat vs lowcarb debate, blah blah blah-- I'm not sure I will succeed. For example, I firmly believe, unless someone can show me good evidence to the contrary, that, you can get all your nutrients without eating meat. I believe that the human body was bred to eat meat. Therefore, if I include meat in the "perfect diet", I won't win everyone over.  Then there's the whole carbohydrate war. I will go in to this on a later post, but from my understanding, carbohydrates are not necessary. You can eat all the nutrients and calories you need without eating starchy carbs -- but there seems to be debate with that too.

But I will still try. If you remember, I am not a nutritionist or doctor, just a mom, writer, and someone who believes in researching everything and making a decision as opposed to believing what you've been told. I never grew out of the "why" stage! But, I think that's a good thing. All the information I am getting YOU can get -- you don't need a degree to learn it. So read what I write, look at my varied sources, and decide for yourself. The point is, I guess, don't just believe the status-quo because someone has some sort of fancy degree. What they learn could be wrong....remember, science not only changes all the time, but it is political too, much to our chagrin.

I realize, too, that there is no "perfect diet". Especially since we are all different in a variety of ways --- we've got allergies, intolerances, cultural differences, etc. But we all have one thing: a human body. And there are some basic facts that haven't changed regardless of where your come from, your particular genetic code, or health problem. So that's the perspective I'm coming from, and those who have particular issues can tweak from there. So, let's get started on this impossible task, shall we?

The Perfect Diet
I am going to begin with our most basic need:

WATER

Water is a substance composed of two hydrogen molecules and one oxygen molecule. Chemically, it is known as H2O. Our bodies are made up primarily of water - at least 60%, although that number varies with age (babies are made up of more water than adults), gender, and body type (hey, did you know fat contains less water than muscule? I thought it was just the opposite!).

Water doesn't contain any "nutrients" per se, but without it, we would die. We can't live more than 3-5 days (depending on the circumstances) without water, but we could live 3 weeks without food! Water also provides many operating functions for the body. See  How Water Works from howstuffworks.com. I figured this was a pretty good source with some basic facts.

But how much water should we drink? Ah, that's a good question and it varies depending on where you look. Well, that depends on who you ask. Wikipedia notes that that amount is very much in debate. What is clear, is that the old "8-8oz glasses of water" is not based upon any scientific evidence. I thought, though, that looking at the U.S. armed forces websites might be excellent indicators of how much water we would need --- the U.S.A wants our soldiers to be healthy, right? I found some guidelines at the army website:

They calculate how much water one needs based upon weight and activity. Their guideline is 50-75% of your body weight in ounces as your daily requirement: 50% if you are sedentary, 75% if you are active. Then add 16oz if you are in a dry climate and another 16oz if you add strenuous exercise.

On the lowcarb retreat, the author lists some research that starts with 64oz and adds to that per day depending on your body weight, with the theory that larger people metabolize more therefore need more water.

So, what types of water do you count? I mean, some people say that drinking any liquid plus accounting for the foods you eat counts as "water". Others say that it only counts to drink pure, fresh water with no additives (like adding Crystal Light).

Eh. I'm not even going to get into that debate. However, I will say that it is almost impossible to "overdose" on water (for the average person).

What's the truth? I dunno. But what I do know is this:

1. Water is essential.
2. Drink a lot of pure water -- get in at minimum, 50% of your body weight, more if possible.
3. Make that water as clean as possible. I use water filters at home.
4. If your urine is clear, you are probably drinking enough water.
5. If you are thirsty, then you are dehydrated.

I almost NEVER follow those recommendations. *sigh* I'm one of those that HATE water.

But I'm going to try. I try to drink a cup (8oz) of water immediately upon getting up(ok.That's not entirely true. First, I pee, then I weigh myself :), then I drink water), two glasses before each meal (the major three: breakfast, lunch, dinner), and a glass when I get home (but not right before bed). That brings me to 8, easily. That is 64oz, and less than 1/2 my body weight (I work in an office, I consider myself sedentary). And on weekends, it's major WATER FAIL.

Nobody's perfect. LOL But, as a start, I'm going to commit to drinking enough pure water every day for the rest of my life as the beginning of the PERFECT DIET.

To sum up the Perfect Diet so far:
Pure Water - @ least 50% of your body weight. Every day.

I don't know of any medical, wholistic, scientific, personal trainer, dietary guru, nutritionist, lowcarber, vegetarian, lowfater, or, well...anyone who would argue with that. Do you? Let me know!

Dr. Phil & Childhood Obesity -- did I hear "lowcarb" in there!?!!?!

Dr. Phil had an episode yesterday on childhood obesity. He mentions 3 ways to make your child obese, but what I found most interesting in the episode is that he had doctors that mentioned that some of the children featured on the show couldn't metabolize carbohydrates normally, so any starchy carb would make them fat. Even an occasional treat (ok, under normal circumstances) is devestating to the obese child. One doctor, Dr. Goglia, mentions that one child is "fat and protein efficient" like her father and that carbohydrates, to them, "are like a gut bomb."

That was refreshing to hear! Could it be that the lowcarb proponents are finally getting some much deserved validation?

The doctors don't specifically say the words "lowcarb" but, in essence, what they are describing is to put the children on a lowcarb regimen.

Notice I say "regimen" and not "diet" -- because, as the doctors mention, you shouldn't put children on a diet. They are growing and need all the nutrients they can get, so restricting calories, especially the way many adults do it, isn't the best thing for children. However, making sure that the foods they do eat are normal-sized portions (and, admittedly, a lot of us, including myself, need to learn what that is these days!) and healthy -- and lowcarb -- will help tremendously. Add activity and you will have a child who's appetite will stabilize to normal levels, his/her nutrition is on par, and will either lose weight or "grow into" their current weight so that they will be a healthy size. That's good news!

My family has always dealt with weight problems. I have never been a "normal" weight, even as a child, although I wouldn't characterize myself as "obese". Other members of my family have had to deal with obesity, however.

I don't want that for my daughter. I make sure that most of the foods she eats are vegetables and meats. I do give her sweet potatoes and some fruit on occasion. She is just beginning her journey of eating real foods, so I will add foods as I go along -- mostly meats and a variety of veggies as the main portions of her diet. No, I am not putting my 9 month daughter on a weight reducing diet! But I do want to make sure she grows up with good habits and sees treats as what they are --- treats.

Of course children learn what they observe so as I change my dietary habits, I am working on changing the rest of my household as well. Christa will learn that we can have cookies in the house, for example, but NOBODY eats a whole package in a day or one sitting! (ok, some of us have to work on that habit.... LOL) My point is that I want to start my daughter off right, but I know in order to do so, our family has to change as well.

Have you thought about how your eating habits are effecting your kids?