8 glasses of water- is it necessary?

raven56706
raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
what is the real purpose of water? to clean out the toxins, keep you hydrated and make you more full. ANything else? i mean are 8 cups really needed a day or just when you are thirsty?

Replies

  • rsclause
    rsclause Posts: 3,103 Member
    I replaced all of the iced tea, sodas and diet drinks with water. My daughter bought me a Hydro Flask for father's day and it is the best gift I have ever received. Its cheap (free) to fill up and with ice in it I can leave it in a hot car all day. It just makes it convenient to drink a little at a time. Its 40 oz and I usually drink one at night and another during the day. To your question, I have no idea why exactly but it is good to stay hydrated and can also help make you feel a little more full.
  • Stella3838
    Stella3838 Posts: 439 Member
    @cwolfman13 Great graphic. This question keeps coming up, but this is the first I've seen this.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    edited February 2017
    Stella3838 wrote: »
    @cwolfman13 Great graphic. This question keeps coming up, but this is the first I've seen this.

    It is excellent and I have copied it. Another I like is this one from the Boy Scouts (especially good if you are doing a lot of activity during the day like going on a long bike ride, hike, run, etc)
    9bc2en9ojvxh.png
  • prattiger65
    prattiger65 Posts: 1,657 Member
    The amount of water isn't the issue, being well hydrated is. See above graphic. Drink whatever you like to stay hydrated.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited February 2017
    http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-importance-of-staying-hydrated

    http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/PhysicalActivity/FitnessBasics/Staying-Hydrated---Staying-Healthy_UCM_441180_Article.jsp#.WJtUeG8rKbg
  • aflane
    aflane Posts: 625 Member
    I've been drinking a gallon of water (or more) every day since I was 15 or 16. I'm now in my 50s any my skin is still wrinkle-free, supple, and with good elasticity. I wash my face with plain old soap and water... no pricey creams, lotions or salves. I credit the water consumption -- moisturize from the inside.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    I find all the water threads fascinating. Do people not drink when they feel thirsty?
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    I find all the water threads fascinating. Do people not drink when they feel thirsty?

    I drink when I am thirsty, but I also drink when I am not thirsty because if I wait for thirst, I don't get enough fluids.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,247 Member
    aflane wrote: »
    I've been drinking a gallon of water (or more) every day since I was 15 or 16. I'm now in my 50s any my skin is still wrinkle-free, supple, and with good elasticity. I wash my face with plain old soap and water... no pricey creams, lotions or salves. I credit the water consumption -- moisturize from the inside.

    More likely just good genes (and maybe sunscreen?)

    Here's what the Mayo Clinic has to say about it...

    mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/hydrated-skin/faq-20058067


    OP there is zero scientific basis for the 8 cups a day idea, most of us get a great deal of our fluids just from foods (most fruits are 80% + water) tea / coffee / juices etc. Much of the so-called hydration research has been done by companies that want to sell you sports drinks. Staying hydrated is important and the colour of your urine is a useful indicator but in the end....trust your thirst.
  • Stella3838
    Stella3838 Posts: 439 Member
    earlnabby wrote: »
    I drink when I am thirsty, but I also drink when I am not thirsty because if I wait for thirst, I don't get enough fluids.

    ^^This for me too. I would wait way too long. I just got myself into a steady schedule of drinking water through the day. Personally, I get 80 -100oz a day and for me I just feel better. I don't get the headaches I used to, I don't feel as puffy, and I feel that I get through workouts better. This might be too much for some people, but it works for me.
  • kenyonhaff
    kenyonhaff Posts: 1,377 Member
    The pee chart is really good guidance.

    A gallon is really not necessary unless under very dehydrating conditions.... extreme heat, marathon running, etc.

    Drinking water can replace calorie-filled beverages to help lose weight and help promote feelings of fullness.

  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    raven56706 wrote: »
    what is the real purpose of water? to clean out the toxins, keep you hydrated and make you more full. ANything else? i mean are 8 cups really needed a day or just when you are thirsty?

    the purpose is to keep you hydrated
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    earlnabby wrote: »
    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    I find all the water threads fascinating. Do people not drink when they feel thirsty?

    I drink when I am thirsty, but I also drink when I am not thirsty because if I wait for thirst, I don't get enough fluids.

    Probably different people operate differently. In my mind, thirst means my body needs fluids but once I drink it, these needs are met. Some days I barely drink a liter, other days I drink 3 or more if it's hot. Thirst has always been a successful guide for me.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    earlnabby wrote: »
    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    I find all the water threads fascinating. Do people not drink when they feel thirsty?

    I drink when I am thirsty, but I also drink when I am not thirsty because if I wait for thirst, I don't get enough fluids.

    When I was in school I spent a bit of time working with a group that took tourists around doing various things...interesting thing with tourists coming from lower elevations and into high elevations and dry desert heat...they can't tell when they're thirsty.

    We had to constantly remind people to drink up even though they didn't feel thirsty. They would say things like, "I'm not even sweating"..."Mmm, yes you are...it's just that it's about 10% humidity and 105* so it's all evaporating off your body." The elevation (over a mile high before even going into the mountains) was another typical cause of dehydration as well as altitude sickness.
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    As best as I can tell, the 8 cups of water a day came from the average amount of water a person needs to intake. This includes water from food and other fluids (coffee, tea, hell even soda). And it is an average. Hydration needs will be highly dependent on weather and activity.

    In addition, the recommendation is 8 CUPS of water a day (64 fluid oz), not 8 glasses. Most glasses I have hold about 2 cups of water.

    I personally get 8-10 cups of water in fluid, plus whatever I get through food. The vast majority of it comes in the form of coffee, tea, or diet soda. Only 1-2 cups of that is from "water", and that's typically during my runs. By all indicators, I am plenty hydrated.
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    earlnabby wrote: »
    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    I find all the water threads fascinating. Do people not drink when they feel thirsty?

    I drink when I am thirsty, but I also drink when I am not thirsty because if I wait for thirst, I don't get enough fluids.

    When I was in school I spent a bit of time working with a group that took tourists around doing various things...interesting thing with tourists coming from lower elevations and into high elevations and dry desert heat...they can't tell when they're thirsty.

    We had to constantly remind people to drink up even though they didn't feel thirsty. They would say things like, "I'm not even sweating"..."Mmm, yes you are...it's just that it's about 10% humidity and 105* so it's all evaporating off your body." The elevation (over a mile high before even going into the mountains) was another typical cause of dehydration as well as altitude sickness.

    I find this to be the case with snow sports as well. Cold dry air plus elevation dries you out before you realize it.
  • snickerscharlie
    snickerscharlie Posts: 8,578 Member
    You can actually *over-hydrate* yourself, especially since drinking lots of water seems to be a current 'thing.'

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWASUMMQjj8

  • rsclause
    rsclause Posts: 3,103 Member
    The desert is a totally different ball game when it comes to drinking water. Drinking water in the high desert is more of a preemptive strike. By the time your body feels thirsty you are already dehydrated. To give you an idea how dry it is I left a bowl of chips out overnight with all the windows open and the swamp cooler running. In the morning they were as crispy as when opened. I also went for a run in 110 deg heat and didn't sweat until I stopped to look at my phone map. One drop of sweat hit my eye and blinded me. It was like a piece of salt was dropped into my eye.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    The_Enginerd wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    earlnabby wrote: »
    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    I find all the water threads fascinating. Do people not drink when they feel thirsty?

    I drink when I am thirsty, but I also drink when I am not thirsty because if I wait for thirst, I don't get enough fluids.

    When I was in school I spent a bit of time working with a group that took tourists around doing various things...interesting thing with tourists coming from lower elevations and into high elevations and dry desert heat...they can't tell when they're thirsty.

    We had to constantly remind people to drink up even though they didn't feel thirsty. They would say things like, "I'm not even sweating"..."Mmm, yes you are...it's just that it's about 10% humidity and 105* so it's all evaporating off your body." The elevation (over a mile high before even going into the mountains) was another typical cause of dehydration as well as altitude sickness.

    I find this to be the case with snow sports as well. Cold dry air plus elevation dries you out before you realize it.

    Yeah, we see this a lot on the slopes here...we get a lot of people coming in from Texas and it's always an issue.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    earlnabby wrote: »
    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    I find all the water threads fascinating. Do people not drink when they feel thirsty?

    I drink when I am thirsty, but I also drink when I am not thirsty because if I wait for thirst, I don't get enough fluids.

    Probably different people operate differently. In my mind, thirst means my body needs fluids but once I drink it, these needs are met. Some days I barely drink a liter, other days I drink 3 or more if it's hot. Thirst has always been a successful guide for me.

    Exactly. Each person needs to pay attention to their body and its needs, and signals, and figure out what works for them.

  • macgurlnet
    macgurlnet Posts: 1,945 Member
    earlnabby wrote: »
    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    I find all the water threads fascinating. Do people not drink when they feel thirsty?

    I drink when I am thirsty, but I also drink when I am not thirsty because if I wait for thirst, I don't get enough fluids.

    ^ This for me as well. If I only drink when I'm thirsty, I get maybe 40 ounces of fluid and my urine is at the upper level of the "dehydrated" bit of the chart. I'm also on a medication right now that can cause more dehydration than usual, so I really need to stay on top of my intake.

    I shoot for half my body weight in ounces (I'm 116lb, so 60 ounces) as a baseline. I log every liquid I consume so I've got a good idea of how I'm doing, and keep an eye on my urine color. So far, so good :)

    ~Lyssa
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