water water this myth unveiled

SailingMike

1. Your assertion that 8 glasses a day is a "bottled" water company ruse to sell more is FALSE. I heard that LONG before bottled water was even really available. In fact, other than old Evian and local Arrowhead ads, I don't remember any recent advertising for bottled water, let alone for 8 glasses a day.

2. Most of our current drink portions are 16 oz or more, so its really 4 glasses per day.

3. People don't always drink when they are thirsty as you say. Not too long ago a Boy Scout died of dehydration on a hike even though he had plenty of water in his canteen.

4. Don't know if this is true, but I read that if your urine is light yellow like lemon-aide, you are consuming enough water based drinks. If its dark yellow/orange, you probably need to drink more.

5. You are correct that other drinks are hydrating, but sometimes their ingredients (e.g. caffeine) make them less so than water. Certainly alcohol is NOT hydrating.

6. What you say may be true, but just because it was on a TV program does not make it so.

7. The amount of water you need each day will vary with where you are (dry climate v damp) the weather (hot v cold) and the amount of your activity. Lots of activity on a hot day in a dry climate may demand MORE than the 8 glasses per day.

Here is an excellent MEDICAL source for this question: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283

Here is a good video on WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/video/sports-drinks

erinsueburns

To me, some of the myth busted here was at no time were there ever any randomized controlled etc. research done saying that it is necessary.

summalovaable

I prefer to keep hydrated. SO I'm going to go ahead and keep drinking my water ( since it is no fat, no calorie and no sugar) but YOU can go ahead and stop drinking it. Let me know how you feel ok?

.... I also can't believe that people are arguing over whether or not to drink water. I understand the debates over aspartame, or carbs but water really? To each their own of course, but the way I look at it : If you've found success doing things a certain way then keep on doing it. Personally, I LOVE water, especially during a work out. Other drinks don't fulfill my thirst sensation. Also, back when i worked at the board of health, one of our key messages to a healthy lifestyle was "don't drink your calories" .. maybe that's where my water addiction kicked in.

Michellerw1

Even if it is not REQUIRED for healthy function I see nothing wrong with drinking more water than necessary. Just like with everything else health related, 8 glasses of water a day is not applicable to everyone. Some people eat a diet rich in hydrating foods and low in sodium so can get away with barely any additional water. Some people eat mcDonalds and soda 3 times a day.

Water poisoning only happens if you drink EXTREME amounts of water (1.5-2 ounces per pound of body weight) and do not intake enough salt. In these extreme cases, you body cells intake too much water and will explode because not enough water can diffuse out of the cell. I find nothing wrong with encouraging people to drink 8 glasses of water a day considering that so many people will reach for soda and not water when they are thirsty nowadays, but of course everyone is very much entitled to making their own decisions..

togden

It may sound completely absurd but from personal experience and being hospitalized twice overnight I have been told that I was drinking too much water which had caused my potassium levels to fall and send my heart into irregular beats. I now have to ensure that I eat good potassium foods daily as well as I decreased my water intake to 8 to 10 glasses at that point I was closer to 18 to 20 glasses a day

yeah - I'm definitely in the drink when thirsty boat. I was told that too much water dilutes important nutrients in the body, and just the way I feel when i force myself to drink glass after glass of water just for the sake of it, tell me its wrong.

Everyone is different, :blushing:

Water dilutes nutrients?

I must say, I've seen a lot of BS on these boards, but I think that one is the cake topper.

No disrespect to you -- more to whomever told you that.

Rilke

It may sound completely absurd but from personal experience and being hospitalized twice overnight I have been told that I was drinking too much water which had caused my potassium levels to fall and send my heart into irregular beats. I now have to ensure that I eat good potassium foods daily as well as I decreased my water intake to 8 to 10 glasses at that point I was closer to 18 to 20 glasses a day

yeah - I'm definitely in the drink when thirsty boat. I was told that too much water dilutes important nutrients in the body, and just the way I feel when i force myself to drink glass after glass of water just for the sake of it, tell me its wrong.

Everyone is different, :blushing:

Water dilutes nutrients?

I must say, I've seen a lot of BS on these boards, but I think that one is the cake topper.

No disrespect to you -- more to whomever told you that.

Thanks for explaining your situation.

Water in reasonable amounts, however, does not dilute nutrients. I just can't believe someone would spread such a statement :P

Coyla

I think the whole point is that water is good. But anything done to the extreme can go from good to bad. Moderation is the key.

Nana_Anne

I have been in the ER many times and have suffered from dehydration and heat stroke several times. Once I thought I had the flu and when my roommate had to help me to even get off the couch in order to try to pee which wasn't much I was rushed to the ER once again and was on IV's. My whole life I hated water and would not drink it. Actually I never drank much fluids at all. So at first about least see I had my head injury in 2002 and was one year after that I was in the ER and they were able to get me to drink at least one gaterade a day then too two. Slowly I staarted mixing it with water, I started noticing thirst and began to drink more water. Now I can get maybe 6 glsses down. Yes you can count all the vegies I eat. But I refuse to buy any BS that we don't need to drink water. The last time I waas dehydrated I was almost in intensive care. You can read "wikpedia" or believe anything you want to read online. I won't. I learned the hard way. I limit to two cups of coffee a day. Maybe a glass of tea. Then I keep a glass of water on my desk

AlsDonkBoxSquat

Your urine should be almost clear and have no odor. The necessary water per person may vary, but if your urine is yellow to gold and smells (when you haven't been eating asparagus, lol) you are dehydrated. I've always been told that if you are thirsty you've waited too long to drink.

LorinaLynn

I have no problem consuming up to 16 8oz servings a day. I work hard. I sweat. I drink. Some days more than others. On rest days I don't consume nearly as much.

DarkenScorpio

Your urine should be almost clear and have no odor. The necessary water per person may vary, but if your urine is yellow to gold and smells (when you haven't been eating asparagus, lol) you are dehydrated. I've always been told that if you are thirsty you've waited too long to drink.

I've been told that as well. The body doesn't react to thirst as quick as we all believe. The start of dehydration is actually one of the first signs of being thirsty. (This came from more then one doctor I've worked with)