MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT FOOD AND WATER

If you sense a little edge in this article, I direct my edge at the Big Food Companies and Big Pharma that benefit from Big Food, not the consumer. Why do you think Big Food is allowed to lie on their packaging? Because someone is helping.
 
Food and Water. They seem so essential and the most misunderstood. We’ve heard all our lives “drink plenty of water” …and “eat your vegetables.” But how many of us do that? Have we heard these phrases so much that they are commonplace enough to dismiss them?

​What does “drink plenty of water” mean? 
Do you know how much water is plenty? How about 1/2 your body weight in ounces? Let’s say you weigh 160 pounds; that would mean you need to drink 80 ounces of water a day. And if there is any caffeine intake, then you need even more. 
 
One cup of coffee translates to having to take in 2 cups of water on top of the 80 ounces of water, and you can’t count the cup of coffee as water or the cup of black tea.
 
That’s a lot of water! How big is the water bottle you’re taking into work that you fill up maybe one time at the water cooler?
 
What happens when you don’t drink enough water? Did you know you can hold on to extra pounds when you don’t have enough water? More water equates to more weight loss. Did you know your cells get parched and don’t function well when you don’t drink enough water? That means disease down the road, people.
 
“But I drink a full glass of water with each meal.” I hear that a lot. It is better to drink water between meals rather than with a meal. When you drink a glass or two with a meal, this dilutes the stomach acid, and it becomes much harder to break down and digest your food.
 
Following are common nutrition misconceptions I find are commonplace.
 
“Eat your vegetables” doesn’t mean once a week. 
I am not kidding; you will not believe what I hear clients say. If any of these comments resonate with my clients, please know that I am not singling you out. You are not the only person to say this. I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME. That’s why it’s time for this blog.
 
Protein for breakfast so you don’t crash
Case #1: She was dizzy and passed out behind the wheel and totaled her car on her way to the gym. She had not had protein for breakfast or dinner last night. I didn’t ask further, as it was apparent, just those two meals caused a blood sugar crash. She called for a recommendation. She had berries, a banana, and chia for lunch. Dinner last night was pasta and veggies. My advice: Eat some meat! Have steak for dinner tonight! Eat protein for breakfast! 
(This is not the first time I have had a client get dizzy behind the wheel, and they end up needing more fat in their diet and more protein.)
 
Variety
Case #2: His diet only consists of eggs, beans and bell peppers, protein balls that cause inflammation in the gut. Anyone on this type of diet will not have a healthy gut. The only veggie he is eating is inflammatory. There are no greens, no variety of nutrients. When you are only eating inflammatory foods and no veggies you are likely to experience anxiety, digestive issues, and hormone imbalance. My recommendation: Eat more variety! Eat green vegetables! Salads! Eat a variety of proteins. Eat a variety of good fats!
(This is a common conclusion many clients make when they have digestive issues, they limit their food intake, when they need to branch out and increase variety.)
 
Sugar
Case #3: This case is a conversation similar to those I have with many. A client whom I had on the straight and narrow, or so I thought, reported eating and feeling healthy. I asked her what she was eating, and she said she consumes two pounds of Craisins a month. She eats a bowl of Cheerios every morning. So I said to her, “did you know that they inject sugar into the Craisins? They don’t have it on the label, but that’s what they do.” She says, “What about Cheerios? I have a bowl of Cheerios every morning.” Me: “Cheerios is a bowl of sugar.” Her: “I thought Cheerios were healthy.” Me: “Cheerios break down quickly into sugar. Cheerios are heated, treated, and extruded. There is no food left in Cheerios. It is NOT a health food. It is just sugar.” Her: “But it says ‘no added sugar’.” Me: “It doesn’t matter what the marketing on the box says. It BECOMES sugar, practically immediately, not to mention all the chemicals you have ingested that you now have to flush out.” 
(This case is prevalent. Cheerios are not suitable for the heart. I’ll repeat it. Just because it appears on TV does not make it accurate.)
 
Americans do not know what healthy is. They don’t have a taste for healthy foods. They are addicted to the chemicals. They are addicted to sugars. Sugars include grains and cereals, and pasta. “But I crave bread, I don’t like sugar.” Think again. What do you think happens to bread almost immediately after you put it in your mouth? It turns to sugar! Yes, sugar, ding ding ding, you guessed it. When you eat a nice soft melt in your mouth piece of bread, I assure you the reason you crave the bread is that you crave sugar.
 
It is an addiction.
 
A societally accepted addiction.
 
Just because society accepts it, that doesn’t make it less of an addiction.
 
Until we come face to face with our addiction and the marketing of this addiction in our country (marketing that is touting these poisons as health foods), only then will we let go of it. I can say this with all the brass because I, too, am addicted to sugar.
 
Sugar depletes our minerals and B-vitamins. Both are needed for a healthy gut; consequently, we are the most malnourished country in the world. Sugar feeds the critters in our gut, creating a monster of cravings. Starve the monster! Every disease begins in the gut. 
 
I’ll repeat it. EVERY disease begins in the gut.
 
This is not a fad, and you go back to it in 40 days. This is about healing the body and changing our ways. I understand how hard it is with all the messages coming in. All the subliminal, mind-control, and lily waves (ask me about those later). It’s hard.
 
Are you strong enough? Yes, you are I am looking for motivated individuals ready to take a stand—prepared to say enough with mind-control. I am taking back my life. I am taking back my health. I am taking back my POWER!
 
Even as a nutritionist, how often do I say I deserve a treat, and I end up eating the whole box. How badly do I have to physically start feeling, before I take the bull by the horns. Giddy-up Connie! GET ON THE HORSE!
 
Some of us may only need seven days for the cravings to dissipate, and it may take 21 days to form a new habit. Once you start feeling better, you won’t want to go back. You will never want to go back to feeling mediocre or barely getting by. You won’t like that bowl of cereal. 
 
You’ll be looking forward to the Wild Caught Salmon and Spring Greens Fennel Shaved Salad. Sea Bass, Shrimp, Scallops, Green Beans with Bacon. Broccoli with Caramelized Onions. 100% Grass-fed Delmonico or Filet. My mouth is watering right now. I am excited about my meals. I look forward to dinner. I look forward to rolling up my sleeves in the kitchen and sautéing up a stir-fry with all different veggies, and I throw in a few strips of uncured bacon for flavor and fat. I can’t wait till my roasted root veggies with sea salt and seasonings come out of the oven—sweet potatoes with grass-fed butter and cinnamon. Or better yet, sweet potato fries that I cut up myself, brushed with avocado oil and sprinkled with sea salt. Crispy at the corners, soft in the middle. Need I go on? Crispy Brussels aside cauliflower mash and chicken thigh. Is anyone else drooling right now? 
 
I do not deprive myself of good food. On the contrary, I treat myself to fabulous meals. I cut out the crap. I keep in the flavor. IT DOESN’T DO IT FOR ME when I have a bite of ice cream. I really could care less. But tease me with sausage spiced turkey stir-fry with shaved parmesan, and you have my attention!
 
A.MAZE.ZING!!!!

Connie Kelly, BS MedSci, NHE
Nutritional Health Practitioner
Natural Health Educator
Naturopathic Health