Zero-carb, dehydration and cravings

Kristelle · Zero-carb, dehydration and cravings

I think some of the symptoms that creep up when I go VLC to ZC are linked to dehydration like bloating, constipation, dry mouth+skin+eyes, shortness of breath, increased histamine levels (to hydrate organs) leading to hives and increased allergic-like reactions, low energy, muscle cramps, tingling in extremities, sinus congestion, concentrated urine, low urine output, loss in skin firmness.

Interestingly, I never get thirsty but do crave fruits which contain lots of water. If I drink some water, my craving for fruits disappears immediately. It works like a charm everytime. :D Water definetly healthier than fruits all day long.

So, at least for me, a craving for fruits simply means I need to drink some water and voila! Craving gone and dehydration symptoms lessen. Oh and by the way, I'm back to all-meat. Bonkers

Salt, although useful for somewhat increasing energy levels and keeping cramps at bay, makes bloating worse. No salt for me.

Dehydration symptoms also improve upon eating meat (raw) but usually the improvement is short-lived.

Dean · Re: Zero-carb, dehydration and cravings

Kristelle

I can certainly make exceptions... Devil

Kristelle

Talking about salt...

This morning, I ate some meat, raw and plain. After my meal, I felt a little tired. I suddenly had a craving...not for fruits but for nuts. One could easily mistaken this craving for fat...but I realized I was craving salt as the nuts I eat are a little salty and each time I eat them, I crave fruits or water. After eating some nuts, energy came back up and I feel like I'm on top of the world. Shortness of breath which quickly followed my meal also disappeared.

Yesterday, I needed water. Today, salt.

The meat I eat contains water and I naturally crave salt while eating it but never salt my meat, thereby causing me to experience symptoms of not enough sodium. Then, when sodium is low (already exaccerbated by LC), dehydration follows as water leaves organs and cells, enters extracellular fluid to help the body retain sodium. So, I start craving water (or fruits). I've been going through thousands of these cycles in the last year without ever figuring this out. Seems so simple and yet...

I earlier stated that I wouldn't consume salt but now realize how much I need it. If I experienced problems in the past with it, it is simply because I overdid it or wasn't constant enough in my consumption of it (i.e. too much fluctuation). A little iodized seasalt on the meat should do the trick.

I've gone back and forth with fat and salt (not enough/too much). But, salt seems to be the real culprit here.

I'm getting better at understanding what my body needs and pinpointing exactly what I'm craving. Seems so simple and yet...

p.s.: I think this may explain why I was "craving" SEAMEN so much... Grin