Will somebody please explain to me why this forum still drinks so much H2O?

[Gaius]

I thought the point of this lifestyle was to eat foods that are well hydrated rather than dried out from cooking, thus making us much less dependent on water.

I've been raw for only a little more than 2 months and have gone from drinking like 72 oz of water a day on a SAD diet to no more than 16 oz of water a day on a raw diet.

What's going on here? If you guys are eating properly, why do I see so many of you talking about chugging water all the time?

[Humanist]

I agree, Gaius. I've been trying to tell them, but they don't believe me. On the one hand, they think that drinking lots of water flushes out the bad stuff. On the other, they think that drinking distilled water flushes out the good stuff. Neither is true, in my opinion. I have heard it said that if your urine is clear enough to read through, you are sufficiently hydrated.

[RawYorkCity]

I know that frequent bowel movements deplete water from our systems, so additional water is needed for that. Some also exercise to which water consumption would be a great quencher.

[Gaius]

I agree, Gaius. I've been trying to tell them, but they don't believe me. On the one hand, they think that drinking lots of water flushes out the bad stuff. On the other, they think that drinking distilled water flushes out the good stuff. Neither is true, in my opinion. I have heard it said that if your urine is clear enough to read through, you are sufficiently hydrated.
Thank goodness I got a good response. I just don't understand what's going on here. I like this place quite a bit but I keep hearing about people who have water on hand at all times.

I just don't get it. I've been doing this lifestyle to the T and as described in the research I've read on what constitutes a proper raw diet, my need for water was dramatically reduced to the point that I hardly even need all my cups anymore because I drink about the equivalent of a can of soda each day purely out of habit when I wake up in the morning.

What's going on, people? Why is so much water being consumed? There's no better water in the world than the kind you can get from fresh produce anyway!

[Revvell]

Will somebody please explain to me why this forum still drinks so much H2O?

I don't know that the forum drinks any water at all. I've never given it any and I'm here quite often and for a looooong time! I've never fed it either ~ actually, not even sure it eats anything either. ;)

[RAWmen-Noodles]

I guess people's bodies are different and there are different activity levels here. I am very active during the day. When I get thirsty, if I do not have any young coconut water to drink then I will have water. I do not want to eat an orange or whatever to quinch my thirst. When I have not done much, I do not drink as much. If I am going to be somewhere that will tempt me then I will drink water. Sometimes my body does not want food and wants a water fast. Just different situations for different people.

[Gaius]

I guess people's bodies are different and there are different activity levels here. I am very active during the day. When I get thirsty, if I do not have any young coconut water to drink then I will have water. I do not want to eat an orange or whatever to quinch my thirst. When I have not done much, I do not drink as much. If I am going to be somewhere that will tempt me then I will drink water. Sometimes my body does not want food and wants a water fast. Just different situations for different people.
Granted, I haven't gotten as active as some people here, but I think a lot of the water drinking is done by habit by a lot of people here.

[Humanist]

Granted, I haven't gotten as active as some people here, but I think a lot of the water drinking is done by habit by a lot of people here.

It might be habit, or it might be the deeply-ingrained belief that drinking water is necessary or good for you. But many people on this forum use salt, which explains a lot. I eliminated salt in 2002 because it was giving me chest pains. I can't remember the last time I had a glass of water, or wanted one.

[Gaius]

It might be habit, or it might be the deeply-ingrained belief that drinking water is necessary or good for you. But many people on this forum use salt, which explains a lot. I eliminated salt in 2002 because it was giving me chest pains. I can't remember the last time I had a glass of water, or wanted one.
Ah yes, that does indeed explain it. I don't use salt at all, even the nice Himalayan salt I bought for this diet.

I've read that people aren't natural water drinkers, and I'm inclined to agree with that I've read, considering what I've experienced so far.

[Queen Bean]

i've heard the forum takes a bit of raw cacao... that's how it's able to go 24-7...

[klomasius]

I agree, we don't need to drink as much water as the average person if we are consuming high water content foods.

I no longer drink as much as I used to.

Also, the 6-8 (or some quote 8-10) glasses of water a day is actually not founded in any research whatsoever. No one knows exactly where it came from but it's been circulating ever since.

Best way to check and see whether you are adequately hydrated is by checking that your pee is very pale yellow (not dark and dull).

[Gaius]

Yep, I haven't peed yellow since I switched to raw. I'm probably 80% fruit, 20% veg.

[Humanist]

Ah yes, that does indeed explain it. I don't use salt at all, even the nice Himalayan salt I bought for this diet.

I've read that people aren't natural water drinkers, and I'm inclined to agree with that I've read, considering what I've experienced so far.

Many on this forum distinguish between mined salt and sea salt. I do not. Salt is salt, and all salt is poison. It is true that sea salt has more minerals than mined salt, but they are not organic minerals that will do your body any good. You don't need Himalayan salt. Seven years after eliminating all salt, my minerals and electrolytes all test normal.

[Green_Woman]

I drink water because I love it. :)

I just simply love a cool glass of water... and I drink alot of it!!!

I also eat about 80% Raw and use salt 1-2 times/day.

I've never heard before that water was "bad" for you. :) I'm intrigued.

[Pking]

Simply put, I drink water when I feel thirsty. Although I get water from the fruits & veggies I eat, I don't count how many glasses or ounces that I drink. So overall I stay pretty refreshed. Since I play sports and exercise regularly, I may drink a little more water than usual, but according to what my body needs. I think the key is listening to your body. It's kinda like when you drink water and you feel your body says "ahhh!"--you know you needed water. But when you have to almost force yourself to drink, it's like your body is saying "whatever!" but you don't really feel refreshed afterwards. LoL.

[Queen Bean]

there's a 100%raw foodist woman who drinks 5-6 litres (quarts) a day. she's a dancer though. i think her name is tonya kay.

[SmartyPants]

I drink 3-5 litres of water a day, but I also exercise a minimum of 45 minutes a day because I am trying to drop weight.

My workout regimen (which I started when I became 100% raw) is as follows:

Sunday AM: 45 mins. cardio

Monday AM: 50 mins. pilates & Monday PM: 45 mins. cardio

Tuesday AM: 35 mins. weight training and 35 mins. cardio

Wednesday AM: 50 mins. pilates & Wednesday PM: 45 mins. cardio

Thursday AM: 35 mins. weight training and 35 mins. cardio

Friday AM: 50 mins. pilates & Friday PM: 45 mins. cardio

Saturday AM: 35 mins. weight training and 35 mins. cardio

I sweat a lot when I workout and I need water to replenish what I am losing.

[ShantiLove]

I belive it has somting to do of how much, yes salt you consume, but also a diet high in nuts and seeds. I have found that when I eat a meal with lots of nuts or seeds I get really thirsty. but not if I eat a good salat or fruits.
All the spices, tamari, miso, vinegar a.s.o. might have somthing to do with it as well.
A diet with foods that is high in water is the way to go to cut down on water consumption.

[Springtime]

I drink plain water when i'm thirsty, i drink herbal teas when i'm cold, i drink juices when i feel like it and smoothies every day.
I don't consume a lot of salt, hardly any at all, and i still feel thirsty now and then. I cannot see how water, of all things, can be bad? Makes absolutley no sense to me.

[klomasius]

Springtime, water isn't bad, it's the stuff of life.

There's no dichotomy, something usually isn't either 'good' or 'bad', it's the amounts that can be harmful, or even just not needed. Water can actually be harmful, just like any other nutrient, if its drank in too large an amount. It's rare, but people can actually do themselves harm by drinking too much water. It's not something that people have to worry about though.

I'm a big fan of checking key health indicators (i.e. colour of pee, whites of eyes, skin and hair softness and energy levels etc.) rather than putting a number to the amounts of something we should eat. So someone forcing themselves to drink lots of water because they think they need the 8-10 glasses a day is not particularly good for an enjoyable sort of experience.

On the other hand, if you like drinking lots of water, or you feel you need it and as Pking said you feel refreshed afterwards, then that's great.

[spicyfull]

If you don't want to drink Water, then don't drink it. You travel your Journey and other people travel theirs. There are NO RAW Police here and I for one don't want any WATER Police. SO LIVE AND LET LIVE

[artgirly4]

Bravo to Rev....this forum drinks water???? Who knew. hahahaha hahahaaha

Live and let live....each does what they do. I got a full time job living my life and eating and drinking what I do....so much I cannot worry bout how much water someone else drinks....but thats just me

Hey why dont we take a survey and have the people all measure how much liquid we get in a day...keep us busy....hahah all kidding aside.....some might drink water if they eat a lot of dehy foods...all the liquid gone form them and body will use water to rehydrate those.

Happy hydration!!

[EZ rider]

I find that the body tends to blur the line between hunger and thirst and if I don't drink water then I tend to eat more food. My conclusion is that the body is going to get the water it needs either as water or in foods along with the calories. I don't use any salt except that which is incorporated into the raw foods and has become one with the plant. I don't think drinking some water will hurt you and may even help to keep you clean inside. I like water and drink it whenever I feel like it.

[GlimR]

Water rich foods are incredibly good for the body, we all agree.
We still need water. Animals in nature eat a raw food diet but they still drink water, why would we be any different?

[gabriele]

Water rich foods are incredibly good for the body, we all agree.
We still need water. Animals in nature eat a raw food diet but they still drink water, why would we be any different?


This is exactly what i was thinking. I think avoiding water completely would be unhealthy, chugging it down just because someone told you to is probably also not good. I would think you should drink when you are thirsty, that feeling surely is there for a reason.....to make you drink because your body needs it.

[Revvell]

I've also read ~ however true or not it may be ~ is that if you're feeling thirsty, you're already dehydrated. I know for myself, I've definitely been out of touch with my thirst and, if I get to the point of having a dry mouth, I've not drunk enough.

As has been stated, those who eat salt and eat cooked/dehydrated foods need more water and *looks around and whispers* many here are still eating/drinking caffeinated foods/beverages. Caffeine, being a diuretic, draws the water out and so, more water needed.

Revvell (http://LetsTalkRaw.com)

[gabriele]

I've also read ~ however true or not it may be ~ is that if you're feeling thirsty, you're already dehydrated.

Revvell (http://LetsTalkRaw.com)

I've read this also. We must feel "thirst" for a reason.....

[lavendarJ]

Since my raw vegan journey began, I noticed my body adjusted it's water intake on its own after some months. Prior to this, I used to require at least a gallon which makes sense given all the starchy cracker type snacks I used to munch on all the time. I like to have water first thing in the morning to help flush out whatever the body has been working on cleansing while I was sleeping...it's the only way that I have a morning BM... Sometimes 32 oz in the morning or more if I'm feeling it (cause sometimes even the raw foods need help moving it along which is why I try not to eat too many dehydrated foods on the same day - they tend to shut me down just like cooked foods used to). It's amazing how our bodies adjust and readjust themselves in efforts to provide us with optimal functioning.

I think if I tried to drink all the water that I used to drink when I was a S.A.D. food junkie then I'd probably end up very ill. So I just drink it when I want to now (after my morning dose) because letter my body doesn't ask for it much - at least at the moment.

[Irish_Vegan_Girl]

The forum doesn't drink water, some of us on the forum may drink quite a bit.

It's recommended that we have at least 2 litres(8 250ml glasses) of water per day. I use to never drink water but then about 3 years ago I started cutting out fizzy drinks which I replaced with water and I found that the more I drank the more I needed, even now while doing medium-high raw eating, I still need water, some days I drink up to 4 litres if I have been at the gym or sweating a lot from other exercises, and some days I only drink a litre, it just depends on what my body needs I guess. Same goes for foods, on certain(rare) days I don't eat much because I'm not hungry and then the next day I eat just fine.

I see your point though, about how we are alread getting a lot of hydration from the fruit and veg, but I guess I just still get thirsty and as long as I'm thirsty I'll be drinking water.

[jurence]

I have a camelbak- its sole purpose in life is to hold water, my keys, my phone, and my wallet as I run.

Water is good.

[Dimond]

Water IS necessary and healthy regardless of how you eat. Some may find the need lessens, but it's still needed. I rarely eat dehydrated food anymore & way less salt and I still need water.

A fruitarian may be the only exception to this since they're consuming huge amounts of water-based foods.

[Shoney]

to clean our bodies. Yes, we can stay hydrated on fruits and vegetables. But most people who are raw haven't grown up that way; they have a tremendous chemical load inside their bodies. I see water as an extra boost in helping flush all that out. It's also good for the kidneys. Even if our bodies weren't in a toxic state, given how many chemicals we are exposed to every day, the extra water can't hurt.

[Moretta]

I used to drink 4-5 litres a day being on the SAD diet, now I hardly drink water at all. Some days I go without it. I have smoothies, salads and lots of fruit, so I can see why I don't need water.

[rawlight]

Just to be clear, the original poster isn't talking about not drinking ANY water, just in the volume that many do here. I don't know of anyone who would say raw foodists don't need any water? Ok, someone is going to prove me wrong-lol

The point being is drinking gobs of water because 'you've heard you "should" ' or drinking when you're not thirsty, because "you heard you "should" drink X number of glasses/cups/litres a day."

If you do research on this you will come up with a great variety of opinions.

And I guess my questions would be: Do you drink the large amount of water you do because you think you need to or is it because of what you've 'heard/read?' And if you drink it because you think you need to, where did you hear/read you need that much?

[Gaius]

Just to be clear, the original poster isn't talking about not drinking ANY water, just in the volume that many do here. I don't know of anyone who would say raw foodists don't need any water? Ok, someone is going to prove me wrong-lol
Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. Of course it's ok to drink water but it makes absolutely no sense for a raw eater to be drinking the same amount of water as a SAD eater because the only reason SAD eaters consume so much water in the first place is because they are eating nearly waterless foods all day.

[mstrish]

During my first 30 days on the raw food plan I was extremely thirsty...I think it was because I was dehydrated and my body was sending me a message to drink. I don't consume as much now going into my 3rd month but in the begining I thought something was wrong but my body stabilized.

[Revvell]

Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. Of course it's ok to drink water but it makes absolutely no sense for a raw eater to be drinking the same amount of water as a SAD eater because the only reason SAD eaters consume so much water in the first place is because they are eating nearly waterless foods all day.

So are many raw food eaters. They're still drinking caffeinated beverages, they're still eating dried fruit, they're still eating lots of sodium, they're still eating dehydrated foods. Until they transition into eating more simply they really do need as much, if not more water than when they were eating SAD ~ since many still are. Is what it is.

[Gaius]

So are many raw food eaters. They're still drinking caffeinated beverages, they're still eating dried fruit, they're still eating lots of sodium, they're still eating dehydrated foods. Until they transition into eating more simply they really do need as much, if not more water than when they were eating SAD ~ since many still are. Is what it is.
What really bugs me is the amount of salt people still put in their food. Salt is by no means beneficial for the body. The only benefit to eating the Himalayan or French salt that we raw foodists eat is that it's much healthier than regular table salt, but regardless, every raw foodist should be learning to cut out the salt completely out of their diets, as it pretty much dehydrates the body no matter how you take it.

Also, eating salt is an addiction and is yet another hurdle we have to overcome in getting a truly balanced and healthy body.

[apb1172]

Perhaps I'm missing something...does it really matter? And I am not trying to be rude either. Can it be harmful to continue to drink as much water as a SAD eater? If it isn't, then what's the big deal if I drink two gallons of water a day in addition to my raw foods. That is something I am regularly known to do. I like water. I like the way it feels in my mouth. I drink water even when I'm not thirsty because I just like water and always have. I guess I just figure does it really have to make sense why people drink as much water as they do? For me the answer is no.

Now salt is a whole nother issue for me! It is salt that makes me falter. I still crave salty foods sooooo much!

[Bananna]

I know a lot of people are into lemon water here...like a healthful drink, is that where you're reading a lot of water drinking from?

I Love tea...when I'm raw I need far less water, but I still drink my tea anyways...and find I just pee too much and it gets ridiculous and so I have to cut back on my it (herb, decaf).

[Revvell]

Yanno my friend? What do you care? I mean really? What difference does it make to you how much water someone drinks and how much salt they use or anything else?

Here's something I learned and I'll share with you ~ "Leave others to their otherness and take care of yourself".... which is what I'm going to do right now! :D



What really bugs me is the amount of salt people still put in their food. Salt is by no means beneficial for the body. The only benefit to eating the Himalayan or French salt that we raw foodists eat is that it's much healthier than regular table salt, but regardless, every raw foodist should be learning to cut out the salt completely out of their diets, as it pretty much dehydrates the body no matter how you take it.

Also, eating salt is an addiction and is yet another hurdle we have to overcome in getting a truly balanced and healthy body.

[Humanist]

What really bugs me is the amount of salt people still put in their food. Salt is by no means beneficial for the body. The only benefit to eating the Himalayan or French salt that we raw foodists eat is that it's much healthier than regular table salt, but regardless, every raw foodist should be learning to cut out the salt completely out of their diets, as it pretty much dehydrates the body no matter how you take it.

Also, eating salt is an addiction and is yet another hurdle we have to overcome in getting a truly balanced and healthy body.

Please explain why Himalayan or French salt is "much healthier than regular table salt."

[Gaius]

Please explain why Himalayan or French salt is "much healthier than regular table salt."
Well, they're both terrible for you in general, but in terms of having to choose one over the other, table salt is refined, stripping it of trace minerals, then processed with several other harmful additives. So yes, table salt is considerably worse than unrefined sea salt.

In other words, they're both toxic, but only one of them is completely deficient as well as more toxic than the other.

[les]

Well, I'm an endurance athlete. If you know anything about electrolytes, those who train aerobically need about 550-750 mg/sodium per hour. As Revell put it in her own way, "to each his or her own". You don't know my lifestyle and I don't know yours. I'm not going to question how many nuts or pieces of fruit you eat. Rawness is Rawness. Water is raw. None of us are going to die of hyponytremia.....
Leslie

[Aleesha Sattva]

If you don't want to drink Water, then don't drink it. You travel your Journey and other people travel theirs. There are NO RAW Police here and I for one don't want any WATER Police. SO LIVE AND LET LIVE

*nodding*



A fruitarian may be the only exception to this since they're consuming huge amounts of water-based foods.

as a fruitarian... i do find that some days i don't have any desire to drink anything except perhaps some freshly made juice.


Perhaps I'm missing something...does it really matter? And I am not trying to be rude either. Can it be harmful to continue to drink as much water as a SAD eater? If it isn't, then what's the big deal if I drink two gallons of water a day in addition to my raw foods. That is something I am regularly known to do. I like water. I like the way it feels in my mouth. I drink water even when I'm not thirsty because I just like water and always have. I guess I just figure does it really have to make sense why people drink as much water as they do? For me the answer is no.

I agree. Who cares... honestly there are more important things to be concerned with... but since I've stumbled into this thread (probably because I'm dehydrated from not drinking enough water today)... then all I can add to this discussion is:

I looooove water. I love the way my body feels when I drink it. I looooove to pee... a LOT. So yup... somedays I drink 4 litres of water... other days... I don't even drink a glass. Do I keep track... nope.

But I sure do when I'm fasting. I make sure I drink lots of water but that's an entirely different thread cause this is about 'eating raw foods' and since I'm not eating anything when I fast... this is a mute point. *backs out of the room slowly... sipping on a glass of water with one of her fancy glass straws*

*offers the forum and drink and for some reason... doesn't even get a response... knocks on computer screen with morse code... nope, still no response. guess it's not thirsty???*

[Humanist]

Well, they're both terrible for you in general, but in terms of having to choose one over the other, table salt is refined, stripping it of trace minerals, then processed with several other harmful additives. So yes, table salt is considerably worse than unrefined sea salt.

In other words, they're both toxic, but only one of them is completely deficient as well as more toxic than the other.

Are you equating Himalayan salt with sea salt? The Himalayas are a long way from any ocean.

I believe that all salt is completely deficient because the trace minerals in it are inorganic and not bioavailable. If you agree that they are both terrible, why do you use salt? Do you think you need it for some reason? If so, what is the reason?

[Cerellia]

I usally drink one or two glasses of water just after getting up and about half a litter to a litter in small sips during exercises. I think it feels akward to drink a lot of water at once, especially when doing sports and when eating.
I eat almost only fresh fruits/ fruit vegetables and greens. When I eat dehydrated fruits or nuts, I get thursty very quickly.

[Gaius]

Are you equating Himalayan salt with sea salt? The Himalayas are a long way from any ocean.

I believe that all salt is completely deficient because the trace minerals in it are inorganic and not bioavailable. If you agree that they are both terrible, why do you use salt? Do you think you need it for some reason? If so, what is the reason?
I don't use salt. I just spoke about how all salt is terrible for you in a previous post, yet I do believe that unrefined salt is better than table salt as table salt has other additives.

[Cerellia]

Once you have broken youself off the habit of eating salt, your gustative nerve will adjust and you will taste that many vegetables, mushrooms, ect. already have plenty of salt by themselves.

[ruffsongraw]

i believe: if you are thirsty, drink. if you are not, dont. that's called "listening to your body", right? & if the fruits/veggies we eat are 80% water, we are really getting more than we think.

i have read that deliberately drinking so much water is over working the kidneys/liver unneccessarily. i drink more water in the summer, which makes sense, b/c its hot and i am thirsty more often than in cooler seasons. but i dont think it's right to force yourself to consume "X" amount of water every day...

jen

[lucky lemons]

I've noticed that I'm less thirsty raw than when I eat SAD, because I deliberately eat foods with high water content - like cucumbers, melons and celery. It's nice not constantly being thirsty anymore. But I have always been a big water drinker, don't know why but I love to drink lots of water. So I still keep it with me a lot of the time out of habit.

But I know a lot of people don't like to drink water constantly. So if you are eating raw food with high water content I don't think its necessary to have water all the time too (except maybe if it's a really hot day or your exercising a lot). Drink when your thirsty, is what I say.

[Humanist]

According to Dr. James L. Wilson, author of "Adrenal Fatigue":
"If you are suffering from moderately severe adrenal fatigue you must be careful how you re-hydrate yourself. Drinking much water or liquid without adequate sodium replacement will make you feel worse because it will dilute the amount of sodium in your blood even further." He says that water cannot enter cells unless there is sufficient sodium inside. "Sodium" does not necessarily mean salt because it is available in raw foods.

[freelive]

I never drink pure water(unless there is nothing else around and I am thirsty). I drink veggie juices and lemonade(water, lemon, honey) and just if I am thirsty, like during work out. Water in veggie juice is very different- it's makeup is capiliary, so it goes through the smallest cell parts.Not to mention it is much cleaner than regular water.

[Gaius]

i have read that deliberately drinking so much water is over working the kidneys/liver unneccessarily. i drink more water in the summer, which makes sense, b/c its hot and i am thirsty more often than in cooler seasons. but i dont think it's right to force yourself to consume "X" amount of water every day...
Interesting, I remember reading something similar.

[ruffsongraw]

i read that in Matthew GRace's book.
i was always annoyed at being told to "drink lots of water" when i was in NO way thirsty. it makes me feel bloated and sometimes nauseous. but i agree w/above that i dont GET thirsty much on raw and i TOO drink juices more than water.

jen

[pixie_333]

nuts and seeds can make you very thirsty. i've noticed on this forum many people here eat a lot of these.

and apparently being 100% raw one can go much longer without food and water than a cooked food eater.
personaly i question if water is needed when you can just drink grape juice or whatever. i suppose intuition would craify if it craves water.

i don't remember the exact facts, but this is basicaly what i read... i read a story many years ago about a raw foodist woman in her late 50's to 60's broke her leg in the forest miles away from anywhere and was alone and couldn't walk.. she lived on rain water for like almost 2 months before she was found.
it might of been in natures first law book or not. i was reading a few different raw books back then and internet stuff.

[T-Bird]

I thought of this post whilst I was in las vegas.


Boy! Was I thirsty!

If I went 8 or so hours without water - my lips started to pucker up like a dehydrated fruit, lol!

I could guzzle up a whole liter and didn't even pee it out! In Chicago - if I drink a liter and hour or 2 later I start peeing, and will usually pee quite a bit several times (I know you all wanted to know this:p). Not in Las Vegas, Baby!

I was also surprised in that I needed to wash out a bra and undies as I didn't pack enough. I thought I was being foolish as they would never dry in time for the next day.....I hung them in the closet with the door closed so housekeeping wouldn't see it.

After returning from work - I went to hang them up in the room - they were already dry!

So alot depends on where you are at. What you eat. You total health history, etc.

[Gaius]

It takes a while to get used to, but after being raw for a few weeks, your body just doesn't feel the need for so much water.

[SimplyFabulush]

Because I want to. Simple.

I'd rather not "get used to" something that isn't natural for me.

I like drinking this much water, so that's what I do. Quit telling me how to live and worry about yourself. Thanks.