Health choices

[Lycoming]

Here's how the whole salt/sugar things works with your health:

Salt and sugar are both important for the body to function properly.

Since sugar is energy, if you don't use all the energy you consume, the body stores it as fat. Therefore if you eat lots of sugary food, and do no exercise, you get fat.

The kidneys function to filter out waste/toxins (like salt) from the blood, and they are removed from the body in your urine. If you drink enough water, salt is easily removed from the body in your urine.

If you don't drink enough water, the only source of water in the body is the blood. Therefore in order to remove the salt that your body can't use, your blood is effectively thickened since the need to remove salt is far greater. Thickening the blood means that you are more susceptable to heart attacks due to blocked arteries, especially since salt and fat consumption often go hand in hand.

The problem with fast food is then obvious. You get a load of fatty salty food, followed by a sugary drink. There is so much sugar in the drink that the water is already nearly saturated and isn't useful to cleanse the system. The excess fat and sugar you consume go directly to your waist.

Bottom line. If you eat sugar, use the energy it provides. If you eat salty food, drink lots of water to remove the excess salt from your body.

And don't stop eating bread, the body needs carbohydrates just as much as anything else. Just like the body needs fat, sugar, and saly.

Moderation is the important thing.

[kgcayenne]

Good post Lycoming, very informative.

If you don't drink enough water, the only source of water in the body is the blood.

Is it also true that the body will take water from the bowels? (nice thought isn't it)

[Lycoming]

Good post Lycoming, very informative.

If you don't drink enough water, the only source of water in the body is the blood.

Is it also true that the body will take water from the bowels? (nice thought isn't it)

Yes your body will extract water from the solid food you eat, but obviously drinking water itself is the most efficient source.

Also since foods generally have/contain sugar or salt in some form, the water you get from the food is sort of counter balanced. Some more than others though. A pear is juicy but has lots of sugar. Celery is juicy but is one of those 'negative calorie' foods since it contains so little sugars etc.