1) Nothing replaces pure water. Other drinks may contain added sodium which can cause water retention.

2) You count every single carb you put into your mouth. You can subtract dietary fiber from the total carb count but that is about it.

3) Haven't seen any jello products sweetened with anything else.

4) Fresh unprocessed meats or pure fats/oils are the ONLY food that do not contain carbs. If you have read the book, in the induction chapter it covers 4 pages of allowable foods

5) Don't know about this one.

Hope this helps