Sodium and chloride

Usually a package deal, sodium and chloride are the major extracellular electrolytes in the human body, sodium providing the positive charge and chloride the negative charge. In addition to providing balance to one another, these ions are essential for maintaining blood volume and pH (Schauss, 1998). 

Sodium and chloride also happen to be the main electrolytes lost in sweat, especially during prolonged exertion in warm and hot environments. Though the average American consumes substantially more than enough sodium chloride, there are some individuals and situations in which these electrolytes should be supplemented. 

Those who experience higher than average sweating, either through recreational activities such as long-distance running, professional athletics, or mining, construction work, and the armed forces, need to replace both their fluids and their electrolytes (especially sodium and chloride) to maintain a healthy balance.

Drinking water alone can sometimes be counter-productive, as it will decrease the osmolality (concentration of ions) of the extracellular fluid, signaling the kidney to let go of even more fluid to find a balance. This “diluted blood” also tends to shut off the thirst mechanism. 

Because strenuous exercise actually requires fluid replacement to be slightly above fluid loss, thirst is a key way to assure that individuals will replace an adequate amount of fluid. 

Eating solid food is an effective way of replacing sodium and chloride, however there are many instances when this would be impossible or impractical. 

Therefore, adding sodium and chloride to the water of individuals who regularly sweat will not only replace the loss of these essential electrolytes, but will also help maintain proper blood osmolality, assuring thirst and kidney mechanisms to maintain adequate blood volume and hydration (Maughan and Shirreffs, 1997).

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The Reason You Should NEVER Drink Cold Drinks

Do you drink ice water... or have drinks straight out of the fridge?

There's a saying in Chinese medicine that goes: "Above all else, protect your digestion." By "digestion", they mean processing of both FOOD and FLUID. 

Think about this...

If you aren't processing foods properly, you aren't turning food into BLOOD and ENERGY ("Qi," as the Chinese call it) for your organs to function properly - so your organs are literally "fatigued" and can't perform their jobs well.

Your heart can't function. Your lungs can't function. Your kidneys, bladder, liver, gall bladder, stomach and intestines are all "fatigued" and can't do their job.

And, your immune system doesn't have the energy to protect you from cancer, colds, flu, radiation, etc.

And that's just the problems with not processing foods. If you're not processing fluids properly... 

...fluid collects in your tissues (Chinese medicine calls this condition "Dampness".)

This fluid ultimately congeals, and becomes a condition called "Phlegm" (this includes, but is not the same as, having phlegm or mucus.)

This "Phlegm" leads to obesity, depression, urinary infections, dementia, seizures, cysts and tumors, sinus headaches, allergies, all breathing problems like sinusitis, asthma, COPD, and a host of other problems.

Furthermore... the processing of food and fluids includes elimination... so you will have problems with constipation, diarrhea and urination.

If you look through my website you'll see that 

all the diseases listed there have improper eating as one of the main causes of that condition.

In some cases, the problems come directly from the food itself. But, in most cases, the problem comes from how the food negatively affects your digestion, with the weakened digestion then leading to the disease condition.

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So, how do cold drinks damage your ability to process food and fluids? 

Here's a simple analogy...

When you put water on the stove, it moves faster... there's more activity. 

When you put water in the freezer, it slows down (freezes)... there's less activity.

Cold decreases activity. Heat increases activity.

Chinese medicine describes the act of digestion as a warm process. Energy (and life itself) is warm. When we are dead, we're stone cold dead...

It has been shown through thousands of years of observation in China that, if we drink chilled or cold liquids, we decrease our digestive activity.

We hurt this warm process of digestion (cold negates heat).

FIRST OF ALL, this causes food and liquid to be digested poorly. Similar to when your car can't completely combust fuel, food isn't digested properly and you're left with a "sludge" (which, in Chinese Medicine, is called "Stagnant food" and/or "Phlegm".)

That "sludge" is often the root cause of problems such as a weak immune system, weight gain, fatigue, cysts, allergies, sinusitis and certain types of headaches.

SECONDLY, warming up the cold fluids consumes energy (heat), leaving you with a net loss of energy.

THIRD, your weakened digestion now can't produce good quality energy from the food you eat, leaving you with less energy for your organs to function properly...

...do you get the picture? You can (and will) end up with nearly every disease imaginable.

What to do about this?

You might be lucky enough to have strong digestion and not feel too affected by cold drinks. Consider yourself blessed. But, if you're already in a somewhat weakened state...

...drinking COLD drinks might be one of the "straw's" that breaks the camels back. Here's my advice:

If you have ice water with your meals, stop.

If you drink your drinks cold from the refrigerator, stop. 

Drink no more than a teacup of room temperature or warm water (or green tea) with your meals. 

If you eat at restaurants, tell the waiter "No ice, please!"

One the biggest offenders is the ice water you get out at the restaurant. Just before eating a big meal, you put out your "digestive fire" (read that as DAMAGE your digestion) with that freezing cold water. Big mistake!

Iced drinks really aren't good for anybody. Nature didn't intend for us to frequently drink cold or frozen liquids. Refrigerators and freezers are extremely recent in terms of the history of human diet.

Not to mention, there's just not a lot of refrigerators out there in nature!

*** Think about the implications of cold foods here, too. Obviously, they're equally damaging. ***

It may take some getting used to, but drinking room temperature or warmer water is a good first step toward being healthier. 

Keep it warm!


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Workout And Diet Tips To Start Off Your Weight Loss Journey

Even if your health is not at risk, there is a weight that you consider ideal; there is a way you wish you looked and sometimes it means taking up a workout routine and watching your diet to achieve what your heart desires. The good thing about weight loss is that nothing is impossible to achieve, you just have to set your mind to it and approach your goals in the most sensible way.

When it comes to losing weight, working out alone will not deliver the expected results. It is always best that you combine your workouts with the appropriate diet program so you maximize the results and reach your objectives easily and effectively for that matter. Here are a few top diet and workout tips that can help you begin your weight loss journey on a high.

Tip 1 - Choose the right time to exercise

Exercising is important and you should therefore choose a time of day that you find most suitable. Some recommend working out in the morning to kick start your metabolism, but it is just as rewarding to exercise at any other given time as long as you do it right. For instance, if you exercise in the morning hours, eat small amounts that digest fast so you can refuel your body. If you choose the evenings, then ensure that it is not that close to your bedtime so you do not end up disrupting your sleep.

Tip 2 - Factor in the fluids

Water is quite essential when working out and when you are working on your weight too. Ensure therefore, that you drink enough of it throughout the day. It keeps you hydrated and promotes bodily functions so your every effort with diet and the exercises pay off in the end. You might want to skip on caffeine, especially before or after exercises because it removes water from the system dehydrating you in the process. It is also important that you be cautious with energy drinks because most are loaded with sugar and caffeine.

Tip 3 - Vary your activities

Developing a fitness plan is very beneficial. When doing so, make sure that you vary the activities to keep your program interesting. It can get boring when you do the same thing day in day out. Keep things fresh by rotating between your favorite activities. Since you know the exact areas that you are targeting with your program, choose the best and exciting ones that will keep you going towards your objectives.

Tip 4 - Choose healthy foods and cook yourself

The best thing about cooking your food yourself is that you know exactly what goes into the meal and you are not taking chances. Bypass the high calorie foods and junk foods that are mouthwatering but end up dragging you back. Go for fresh produce and choose ingredients with care. You also want to cook more than you can eat so you have a healthy meal waiting for you even after you have had a busy day at work that could prompt you to eat fast foods.

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What If You Stopped Drinking Water?

Diets for IBS - Your Basic Guidelines

Following right diets for IBS patient plays a huge role in controlling and preventing this condition. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional complication in the digestive system in an individual. Eating has been one of the major problems of IBS sufferers. Eating may brisk symptoms of diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. Foods should not be feared and eating should be fun, but for an IBS sufferer eating seemed to be a burden.
Due to differences of individual's retort towards food, there is no particular diet that a person who has IBS should follow. Nonetheless, doctors advocate that diets for IBS should be done. Here are various tips from IBS sufferers themselves:

• HIGH-FIBER DIET. Eating food that are high in fiber can apt constipation for the reason that fiber absorbs water and adds volume to the large intestines resulting to easier and repeated bowel movement. Increase your fiber diet progressively to stay away from excess gas. This is one of the highly recommended for diets for IBS patients.
• Though for some patients, increasing fiber in their diet can actually worsen symptoms. Thus it is advisable that you consult your dietitian first before changing your diet.
• CUT OFF foods that can worsen diarrhea. Fatty foods, dairy products that have lactose, foods that are high in sugar, gas-producing, caffeinated drinks and alcoholic brews have become an enemy to diarrhea and should, therefore, be avoided.
• DRINK plenty of fluids. It is important to drink six to eight glasses of water (1.5liters) per day. As we all know, water is the major source of fluid, though for some IBS sufferers, diluted tea or juices are more suitable for them. Seeing that fiber absorbs water, it is really important that you drink lots of fluid for the reason that it helps halting dehydration for diarrhea and constipation.
• OBSERVE a soothing and stress-free mealtime environment. Stress may not cause IBS but it is moreover responsible for IBS symptoms' sudden occurrence. Consequently, eating in a pleasant and stress-free environment is a great help. Despite the fact that food is the main reason for symptom outbreak, your behaviour during mealtime, on the other hand, can greatly affect your management headed for relief from IBS and thus, should be included in your diets for IBS. Eating in small amounts and chewing your food carefully can help you minimize pain and discomfort. Additionally, do not swallow air in order to avoid bloating.
• KEEPING diets for IBS daily diary. A daily journal will be a great aid in controlling your IBS. This will give you an idea on which food will either activate or halt attacks. Eliminate one food in your diets for IBS at a time in order to see what effect it gives to you. Coordinating with your physician will help maintain balanced diet and help you eat food without fear of getting symptom surge.

Diet is a personal experience. There are foods that are suitable for the other but not for some. Hence, it is important that you have your own diets for IBS diary to manage and ease the pain and discomfort as the result of IBS. The diets for IBS serve as a preventive measure as well as giving relief to the patient.

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