Biology of water

[sarbirus]

So, we all know we need to have XX amount of water per day while on this diet, but does anyone know of what part the water plays in the chemisty or biology of the process.

Is the water just needed to help flush out the byproducts?

Is it important to trigger some chemical part of the ketosis/fat burning process?

Will not enough water cause a stall?

How does the water tie in with the diet... discuss please!

[imagood1]

Re: Biology of water

Ketosis is a diuretic, so when we are in keotsis we lose more water than someone who isn't in ketosis, because of this, it is necessary to replenish whatever fluids we lose.

Pure water helps flush the toxins and nasties out of our systems, makes our internal organs work easier and keeps our skin supple. It is zero carb, has no chemicals (like diet drinks), no calories and can be found for free in the nearest water fountain or kitchen sink.

It's just plain good for you...why wouldn't you want to do something that is so easy, cheap and does so much for you?

[sarbirus]

Re: Biology of water

No, I dont want to stop or limit my intake of water

Its just that so much of this diets side effects and reactions that I wondered how much is known about the water side of the diet.

Just thought it may be interesting to know what is known so far on a scientific level... things like if increasing water intake increases or decreases water retention. Or for members experiences with too little water causing a pause or stall... or if there is a correlation between water intake levels and ketosis (just as an example)

a search for "water" in the forum will bring up millions of threads mentioning water, so I thought I would pose the question, every part of this diet has interesting complications and combinations.

I'm just constantly curious, its my nature!

[Mbudlite89]

Re: Biology of water

Water makes up like 70% of our body, so if we dont get enough, we aren't complete. Water is good for us, without it we would die, thats why we can live on earth

[sarbirus]

Re: Biology of water

So the answer is "no".

[imagood1]

Re: Biology of water

Just thought it may be interesting to know what is known so far on a scientific level... things like if increasing water intake increases or decreases water retention. Or for members experiences with too little water causing a pause or stall... or if there is a correlation between water intake levels and ketosis (just as an example)

I am not a scientist so I cannot comment on a "scientific level". My personal experience is when I don't drink enough water I loose less weight. I don't show any color on keotsis sticks - never have. I drink 120 to 150 ouces of water daily. I am also a diabetic (Type 2) which is what the keotsis sticks were designed for. When I had my last urine test with my endocrinologist about a month ago my levels were perfect so I don't worry about not having any color. I also ride 25 miles every day or every other day on my bike and have various exercise videos I follow. I am going to be 52 in November, so this is a life change for me, not a quick weight loss diet then go back to eating crap until I gain weight back and think it's time to come back and diet a few more weeks to get the weight off again.

Like I said, I'm not a scientist -- maybe someone like Georgiana will come and give you scientific advise.

[sarbirus]

Re: Biology of water

Hey Carole,

Thats exactly the kind of information I was looking for. Causes and effects.

I am interested in exactly what you mentioned, not drinking enough water actual hindered weight loss.

I would be interested in hearing other peoples experiences as well.

I think most people drink the water without thinking about it... I suspect that an abundance of water being drunk looks to be an important part of this diet.

Either, lack of water causes the body to store more water to protect itself which can make it look like your not loosing weight and fat burning may still be going on, or.. the water is important for the actual process of fat burning and the whole metabolic process that the atkins harnesses.

[sarbirus]

Re: Biology of water

this part may not be a very pleasent one, but I have another question on the same topic.

has anyone noticed anything different in their urine since going on the atkins, apart from maybe peeing a lot!

For example colour, or possibly even noticed abnormalities in the appearance

I often wonder if I can see a pattern in the surface of the liquid of the pan after having a pee, causing a distortion in the optics, a little like what you may see if you added a little clear oil to a glass of water. Anyone else noticed anything like that.

I did wonder if a small amount of fat or oil is excreted in the urine even.

[sporty]

Re: Biology of water

Yes my urine has gotten more "green" in color since I went into Ketosis. So to answer you question yes mine has changed colors.

[Georgiana]

Re: Biology of water

Yes my urine has gotten more "green" in color since I went into Ketosis. So to answer you question yes mine has changed colors.

Green????

That has nothing to do with ketosis. If you are taking a multivitamin, that could change the color to amber or neon yellow.

[Georgiana]

Re: Biology of water

has anyone noticed anything different in their urine since going on the atkins, apart from maybe peeing a lot!

For example colour, or possibly even noticed abnormalities in the appearance

The amount of water you drink and some foods can change the color of urine. Certain medications and nutritional supplements can also do it.

I often wonder if I can see a pattern in the surface of the liquid of the pan after having a pee, causing a distortion in the optics, a little like what you may see if you added a little clear oil to a glass of water. Anyone else noticed anything like that.

I did wonder if a small amount of fat or oil is excreted in the urine even.

You should not see fat in your urine. I think all you see is light being reflected differently by the water & pee mix. Maybe you just didn't study your urine close enough before starting Atkins? But if you really believe it's fat what you are seeing, it's better to talk to a doctor.

[sarbirus]

Re: Biology of water

No I dont think it is fat and no I didnt pay much attention to my pee before the atkins. I think your right, I may just be seeing something that isnt there, or something thats possibly natural which changes the refractive index of my pee a little.

I do know that one of my supliments I take is supposed to turn your pee a hint of green, but not seen that happening myself.

I did used to find before atkins that my pee would be almost completely clear if I drunk more than a couple of litres of water per day (on top of coffee and tea intake) and yellow if I had not drunk any water.. but now I am drinking so much more than I ever have and have yellow pee all the time.

What I do believe though is that we all know what the book recommends regarding water drinking... I know that I read it and thought "wow, I will need to drink a massive amount of water" but the concentration is often on what you eat and the water consumption is not seen as important, especially for a newbie like myself. But I am forming the opinion that the volume of water is just as important as the carb intake, and the percentages of fat, protein, fiber and carbs.

I was especially interested in the account of not drinking enough water causing a reduction in weight loss.

This isnt the thread for exercise, but from reading other members accounts, I am also begining to think that exercise is equally important.

Dr Atkins did a lot of research into this diet, with many case studies and even though initially I took his recommendations on water consumption as an estimate, I now think he put a lot more work into comming up with his water consumption recommendations than would initially meet the eye.

Again, not the place for it, but from reading his chapters on people with metabolic resistance and the nutritional supliments he recommends in these cases, could benefit people who do not initially think they have a problem with metabolic resistance (perhaps due to loosing a lot of weight in the first week or so) that may become metabolically resistant during the diet due to depletion of some of the minerals, amino acids and other compounds used during the earlier stages of the diet.

All very interesting factors indeed

[Georgiana]

Re: Biology of water

Oops. I meant refracted, not reflected.

[sporty]

Re: Biology of water

Yes my urine has gotten more "green" in color since I went into Ketosis. So to answer you question yes mine has changed colors.

It was not due to Ketosis but saying I noticed the change when I went into Ketosis. It is not green just has gotten more of a green color. Sorry I should have clarified that! LOL

I actually just started taking vitamins yesterday so great now I might see a change from that too....lol

[logos]

Re: Biology of water

I only have one scientific thought as to the recommendation to drink so much water. That is the excretion of water by the kidney is an energy requiring process. The water you drink is absorbed into your blood. They kidney must then expend energy removing water from the blood without removing all of the stuff it wants to keep (blood cells, electrolytes, protein, glucose etc). You can actually cause people to loose weight by accidentally giving them too much free water, a mistake that happens in tube fed and TPN (through vein) fed patients occasionally. The detailed physiology of this is a bit complicated in that kidney actually expends the energy via various active transporters along the nephron pumping molecules back in to the blood instead of out, but the net effect is energy loss.

I believe the real reason is just that people seem to think that if some water is good for them, an excess must be better. I think its bunk. Humans have an exquisitely sensitive system for maintaining the correct water balance. When you need water you will get thirsty. While serum ketones may induce a mild diuresis, you should get thirsty and easily replace those losses.

Likewise, I don't believe the non-sense that gets spread about various liquids not "counting" as water. If a drink is water based, made from water, like almost all drinks, it supplies a roughly equal volume of free water.