Water

Hello,

If we pour out the water from pre-soaked grains (rice, buckwheat, barley, etc.), won't we be losing valuable nutrients? Do any remain?

Thank you.

The aim of soaking grains is to reduce the amount of antinutritional substances in the food. A small portion of some nutrients is also released into the water, but this amount is truly negligible, and overall, the greater benefit is the reduction of antinutritional factors.

Hello,

I would like to ask whether it might help to let the children drink according to their needs for a few days, so they become thirsty and start drinking more plain water? I have children aged 5 and 2, and if I didn't keep urging them, they wouldn't even drink 200ml in a day. It's a different story when I give them juice or squash; they will drink a glass in one sitting. Or when they have a feverish illness or in the summer, I buy them flavored children's water (kubík, hello). I'm sure they drink 700ml a day then. But I assume consuming those isn't a complete win either.

Due to their sweet taste, children always drink more sweetened beverages than unsweetened ones. This is conditioned by a relatively strong emotional relationship to the sweet taste and, simultaneously, physiological reactions to blood sugar levels, which affect brain chemistry. A child goes through various developmental phases where they gather experiences, which is absolutely crucial for their future life. Therefore, it makes no sense to completely isolate them from sweets, but, on the other hand, it is necessary to systematically control their intake. As parents, we hold both moral and legal responsibility for their upbringing and education, which includes an approach to nutrition. This implies that it is simply necessary to monitor at least the basic aspects, but always in a way that does not cause unnecessary stress for the child. Measuring the exact volume of consumed liquids is not necessary. If sweetened drinks are to be part of the hydration regimen, always prefer diluted pressed juices, as you can be sure they do not contain additives and there is no risk of added sweeteners. However, overall, plain water should always dominate.

Considering that a child's sweat glands are not developed to the same level as adults', they do not have the same sensitivity to thirst as an adult does, and there are also no significant fluid losses. Allow children to drink the amount of fluids they demand, and occasionally encourage them to drink more if necessary. However, never turn it into a "mechanical" system, as any form of pressure on the child may backfire in the future (noting the continuously growing number of adolescents affected by eating disorders).

Hello.

1) Are antinutritional substances in potatoes the reason why it is recommended to add caraway seeds when cooking them?
2) Furthermore, it is mentioned that it is recommended not to consume the water in which potatoes were boiled - in that case, should the potatoes ideally be cooked separately for soups (and the water discarded)?
3) What is the content of antinutritional substances in sweet potatoes (yams) and to what extent do these rules apply to them as well?

Thank you.

START OF TEXT:
1. Cumin (or the substances contained within it) does not have the ability to break down alkaloids (primarily solanine and chaconine, found in tubers). The combination of cumin with potatoes is traditional for two reasons:
- Improving the taste of potatoes, which deteriorates due to prolonged storage,
- Supporting digestive processes (cumin suppresses bloating).

2. This applies to the preparation of potatoes with a higher probability of solanine content. Under normal conditions, this is not necessarily required in practice.

3. Sweet potatoes do not contain these glycoalkaloids (which are primarily typical for the Solanum genus), making their consumption safer from a health perspective in this regard.

Good day,
is it true that the body absorbs water from milk, teas, etc., much more complexly than plain drinking water? What is the difference?
Thank you

The rate of water absorption from consumed fluids is determined by their osmolality (density). Hydration occurs most rapidly with pure water or, potentially, teas, and significantly more slowly with drinks of higher density (= greater concentration of dissolved substances), such as milk or pressed juices.

Hello,
I would like to ask whether it is suitable from a digestion perspective to drink during a meal, or whether it is better to drink only after eating. This is assuming that the food is always sufficiently chewed, and drinking therefore does not replace the saliva in the mouthful.
Thank you.

The answer is not straightforward because the outcome is influenced by several essential factors:

1. The salt content in the food - if your plate contains a salty dish, the need for fluid intake will quickly increase due to the sodium content, which binds water in the intercellular space. This is not the case with sweet variants for understandable reasons.

2. The level of hydration of the body before eating - consuming food when the body lacks fluids will always lead to the need to drink during the meal.

3. Health status - fluid intake during food consumption will always be less burdensome for a healthy person. It will be problematic mainly for individuals with digestive disorders (dyspepsia), as fluid intake can dilute digestive and enzymatic juices, which in such situations can complicate the health condition.

Hello Mr. Jelínek,

I am intrigued by the theory of using 200ml of water every 15 minutes. Isn't that too little? Personally, when I observe myself and go for a cycling workout, I start drinking before I'm even out the door. For instance, in futsal, I change clothes, go to the hall, and keep sipping, I drink quite a lot and constantly. As I read in the lesson, the body processes it gradually anyway. Is it perhaps a matter of psychology or something similar, and should I try to "reduce" my intake?

Thank you very much for your advice (tip).

These values are based on measurements that are averaged. It always depends on whether you drink on an empty stomach or during a meal, the salt content of your diet, which binds water, plays a role, as do environmental temperature, gender, metabolism speed, etc. If you are active athletes, don't focus on specific values, but pay more attention to the subjective perception of your own needs, i.e., your feeling. Avoid the sudden intake of large amounts of fluids, which the body cannot absorb and activates the mechanisms of excretion, which is not advantageous in relation to the effort for effective training.