Keto and Kidneys....

   I've done some more research since my most recent blood panel, and discovered that even though I drink water all day long, I can still be dehydrated.  As I said last week, the Keto diet depletes salt, so the kidneys struggle to maintain it, but that's not the whole story. My son, who's turned out to be pretty intelligent, explained it to me this way. You're also dramatically reducing your hydration when you dramatically reduce carbohydrates because carbohydrates act like a tiny sponge. The molecules sit inside cells, releasing water gradually. Therefore, when you dramatically reduce your carbs, you also dramatically reduce cell hydration and must replenish that by sipping on a salt solution that includes magnesium and vinegar throughout the day. You need to dramatically increase your complex carbohydrate intake. I started doing that and added a hydrating spinach smoothie every single morning because complex carbs also help the kidneys hydrate the body. I linked a better explanation and the hydration recipe in case you want to try it. The smoothie ensures that you're ingesting enough complex carbohydrates. I'm also following my son's theory and maintaining a bottle of Himalayan salt and magnesium in water in the fridge. Every time I think of it, I take a sip to mimic the time-released hydration that carbs provide throughout the day. I've also dramatically reduced my protein intake. I'm entirely avoiding red meats and including more dairy and complex carbs. During our brunch on Saturday at the Wooden Spoon in White Rock, B.C, I cheated with carbs. Breakfast was lovely, and I thoroughly enjoyed my eggs benedict. After brunch, we headed to Vancouver to see Hamilton. It was much better than I had ever imagined! I'm so happy we finally got to see the musical because I've tried to get tickets for several years now in several cities, and the show was always totally sold out each time. Apparently, those in Vancouver, B.C., are not as excited about Hamilton as those in the U.S., so a few seats were available. Yea! Our matinee tickets were perfect, and the show was terrific. While the music is exceptional, the presentation of Hamilton's historical impact on United States history is spot on. As a historian, I always enjoy the history behind the story. The historical Hamilton was a remarkable guy, and of course, like many others, I've read the Federalist Papers. He wrote more than fifty of them, and his intellect and logic throughout each promoting the ratification of the U.S. Constitution is beyond amazing. While his personal life was messy, he managed to maintain a brilliant career, supporting the American Revolution and creating the National Bank, among other things, before his untimely death. So, this week was a complete success, and we certainly had our fun!  ​