Water Rentention

Is it only simple carbs/sugars that encourage water retention?? Oatmeal wouldn't cause that, would it???

No, not according to several articles that I have read online.  In fact, I have read several places that, if anything, eating oatmeal will have the opposite effect.

Sweet! I thought so. Thanks.

hmm. i would think it might depend on the type of oatmeal, no? i think, and i very well could be wrong, that super processed oatmeals of the Quaker brand variety may indeed cause water retention - but those types of oatmeal that are more "pure" don't do this..? i don't know if this is true at all, but for some reason in my mind this is what i've always thought...

I have organic oatmeal?? Hey, what if you made pancakes out of oatmeal and egg whites, and added a few blueberries, and ate a ham slice with it. Ham slices have a lot of salt. Would this combination be bad for water retention ?? Reason being, I'm going on a vacation in a few days, so I would like to eliminate any water weight I can.

I'm guessing that any form of "old fashioned" oatmeal or steel-cut oats, since they don't have sodium, will definitely not make you have water-retention.  Eating egg whites, oatmeal, and blueberries is definitely a healthy meal.  Lean ham can also be healthy in moderation.  I don't recommend that you eat ham with a lot of sodium-type preservatives in it, though.  Sodium certainly connects to water-retention, so too much sodium should definitely be avoided.

Original Post by gobbley:

Is it only simple carbs/sugars that encourage water retention??

Like some others have mentioned, I believe sodium to be the main source of water retention (or just lack of fluids).

Original Post by pilgrimdude:

I'm guessing that any form of "old fashioned" oatmeal or steel-cut oats, since they don't have sodium, will definitely not make you have water-retention.  Eating egg whites, oatmeal, and blueberries is definitely a healthy meal.  Lean ham can also be healthy in moderation.  I don't recommend that you eat ham with a lot of sodium-type preservatives in it, though.  Sodium certainly connects to water-retention, so too much sodium should definitely be avoided.

agreed :)   ..and yea, i might stay away from the ham if i were you and trying to avoid water retention - uber salty/sodium rich! :/

Ok, thanks! I'll have to drink a protein shake with my pancakes for the protein, then. My recipe only calls for 2 egg whites, hence the ham (for extra protein). I eat this meal quite often, and I`m convinced the ham made me retain a crap load of water. Thanks for the advice!!!

or you could add another egg on the side? plain, hardboiled - or with minimal salt. or perhaps an additional small helping of regular cooked oatmeal along with the oatmeal pancakes?

p.s. what's the recipe you use/calorie content of your oatmeal pancakes? they sound delicious!!

If you like beans, buy a package of small red beans (only 120 calories per cooked cup) which are very low in sodium.  Don't buy canned beans, since most are higher in sodium.  Soak the beans and then cook them.  Red beans are one of the healthiest foods you can eat, and they provide a lot of protein.  You can add them to a lot of dishes or just add non-sodium things to flavor them.

LOL Of course, if you don't like eating beans, then you wouldn't add those to your diet. 

BTW:  Eating beans will not cause flatulence, once the body adapts to having them be part of the regular diet.  Trust me on that one!  (My wife will agree!  LOL)

My recipe??  Its: 2 egg whites, a splash of vanilla extract, 1/2 tsp of cinnamon, 1/2 a cup of oats, a small drop of milk (maybe a little less than a 1/4 cup), a few tbps of splenda, and 1/2 tsp baking powder. Mix it all in a bowl, adding the baking powder last, and then gently stir that in. Throw in on a pan (makes about 3 pancakes) and add some blueberries and some chopped strawberries!! MMMMmmmmmm......Its good too also to get some plain yogurt, and add some vanilla extract and splenda to it, and use it as a topping. Or, you could put some vanilla protein powder into the yogurt and use that. Very tasty. Its like eating dessert! I make meals like that so its easier to stick to a healthy diet. Its not hard if you love what you eat!

just watch you sodium and drink lots of fluids :) and you should be fine!

What kind of oats do you use?  Old Fashioned, Quick Oats or something else?  THanks for the recipe...

Mel

I use the Presidents Choice Organic oatmeal at the moment. I always use some kind of oats that cook in 3-5 minutes. I like the texture more.

gobbley: Interesting about our different views on oats.  I tried eating oatmeal a few months ago--not the instant kind.  I just didn't like the texture.  Then one of my daughters sent me some steel-cut oats (Irish oats).  I loved the texture of them--they are sort of "chewy" and not mushy/clumpy, which is how I find regular Quaker oats.  I usually eat the steel-cut oats around 5 times a week.  Anyway, all of us who are eating oats are doing ourselves some good, according to what I have read.

well that's good! because i am a regular oatmeal monster! lol..

and that oatmeal pancake recipe sounds delicious and easy enough that even I might be able to do it! LOL