How much does drinking 8 glasses of water help?

sjiphone

Thanks for the well sourced informative post.

Haven't posted this for a while!


The average person needs the equivalent of 8 cups of water a day on average, from any source. These sources can be pure water/tea/coffee/juice/soda/milk/fruit/veg etc. It does NOT have to be pure neat water!

http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/8glasses.asp

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jul/13/myth-eight-glasses-water-day

http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2008/07/wellness-water-8x8-myth.html

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/12/08/the-myth-behind-drinking-8-glasses-of-water-a-day/


As for tea/coffee being a diuretic, so many people just spout that word as a reason, without actually understanding what "diuretic" means.

di·u·ret·ic (d-rtk)
adj.
Tending to increase the discharge of urine.
n.
A substance or drug that tends to increase the discharge of urine.

Neat water is also a diuretic. The diuretic effect of caffeine is far, far outweighed by the actual water in the tea/coffee. Also, regular consumers of caffeinated beverages will build up a tolerance to said effect, eventually reaching the point where caffeinated drinks provide practically the same amount of hydration as a cup of neat water will.


http://www.divinecaroline.com/22178/46361-coffee-makes-dehydrated-say-what

http://worldofcaffeine.com/2011/06/14/caffeine-does-not-dehydrate/

http://advance.uconn.edu/2002/020722/02072207.htm

http://nomoredirtylooks.com/2011/04/surprise-caffeinated-tea-does-not-dehydrate-you/

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/health/nutrition/04real.html

http://www.sharecare.com/question/does-caffeine-dehydrate-not

http://www.artofdrink.com/2009/12/caffeine-in-coffee-does-not-increase-dehydration-during-hangovers.php

http://www.caring4cancer.com/go/cancer/nutrition/questions/do-caffeinated-beverages-cause-dehydration.htm

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=5552790&page=1#.TrQWc0O5_oo

HornsUT32

I don't know the scientific answer, but I know my body. When I drink water, I feel better, my skin is clear and I don't snack. Oh, and I tend to be 3 to 4 pounds lighter on the scale. When I don't drink water, it is the opposite..period. My goal is to drink close to 100 oz. of water a day, especially on running days. When I don't, I can surely feel it...and my weight goes up for a day or two. I know it is water retention, but not what you want to see when you are trying to lose weight.

elenathegreat

idk all the sciency benefits, but personally upping my water intake has helped me stop snacking, kept me feeling more alert and awake has just really helped my weight loss. Ive swapped about 80% of my diet drinks to water

Exactly:)

JoolieW68

It's certainly helped me increase me exercise. I'm constantly having to walk to the bathroom (like 6-8 times when I'm at work, and it's 55 steps TO the bathroom from my desk).

I have also noticed my skin tone is much healthier.

suthrnladey

Woman’s Coca-Cola ‘habit’ cited in death

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/woman-coca-cola-habit-cited-death-161323721.html?vm=r&s=1

ScatteredThoughts

Woman’s Coca-Cola ‘habit’ cited in death

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/woman-coca-cola-habit-cited-death-161323721.html?vm=r&s=1

That was not a case of dehydration.

"According to New Zealand's Fairfax Media, pathologist Dr. Dan Mornin testified on Thursday that Harris likely suffered from hypokalemia (low potassium levels), which he believes was caused by her overall poor nutrition, including the unusually high levels of Coke consumption."

dmmont38

Water plays an integral part of life, keep in mind that our bodies are 70 to 80% water and that like the gas you put in your car the water you drink needs to be replenish on a daily basis. Why? well its simple,our bodies use it for EVERYTHING and without it we cant function properly. To replenish what we use it is recommended anywhere from 8 to 12 glasses a day and there is no substitute for it, no sugary drinks or coffee or juices, none of those can give you what water can. Think of it as the oil that keeps your engine running clean and unobstructed, without it that engine doesnt run so well.
Here's an article that you might want to read.

http://tinamariejones.com/2011/11/your-bodys-many-cries-for-water/

HeftyHeather7

I noticed water helps me a lot I cut all soda I do water only I flavor mine so it helps it taste good but I will do full 16.9oz bottles with each meal and one before bed with my bedtime snak and it makes me feel full so Im not doing any unwanted snacking.

glengiles

Most Dr.'s would state that a majority of Americans walk around dehydrated.

I see that "majority of Americans walk around dehydrated" phrase mentioned a lot, but never with any evidence to back it up.

I know I've heard this one say it plenty of times

http://www.georgiabariatrics.com/aboutus

I don't any actual evidence given on that site, such as peer reviewed studies.

I've just heard her say it on the radio; I only referenced the site to reference her. Even "modern-day Taoist Wizards" agree -

http://www.enlightennext.org/magazine/j33/dehydrated.asp

lol

It would seem w/a little web searching effort a study or two should pop up. Here's one article that states "On the Internet the consensus is that 75 percent of Americans are dehydrated but medical science does not weigh in on this statistic." , so I guess that would suggest there's no study on it.

http://blog.imva.info/medicine/dehydration

Silver_Star

its done wonders for my skin...

at first i didnt realise i wasnt drinking more than 4 cups a day total....now i cant live without 8 glasses...a lot of days it goes to 12 glasses

i have also noticed my err... system is flushed very regularly!

glengiles

so, you just download the app then pee on your phone?

JoolieW68

I feel the need to post again and include some links to random articles .......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DBuk91phkI

Wonder if this counts as recycling.....

Elizabeth_C34

I drink a lot of water, but usually flavored. I do feel better, recover better from hard workouts, and my skin is much better when I stay hydrated.

ChristineS_51

Your body needs water, as shown by many above, this can be from lots of different sources.

Drinking juice can add a lot of extra calories without you noticing - eat the orange and you will get the vitamin C etc but also the fibre. Maybe dilute your orange juice with water, so you get the orange flavour but more water? Sodas have sodium, but are a nice treat now and then.

Look at diaries of people who have lost lots of weight - they seem to drink lots of water.

Water improves your skin, gives your kidneys a good workout, helps your bowel movements, can fill you up if you are feeling hungry.

I would suggest you really give it a go - try lots of smaller glasses if a bucket of water doesn't appeal :laugh: ; or a chilled jug in the fridge, or keep a botle of water with you at all times - especially if you are exercising. Have a drink of water first thing in the morning, before exercise, after exercise, with lunch, mid afternoon snack, before dinner - that's six without trying!

taytaylynn3

I only drink water, it has done great things for me. In the past it has helped me drop weight faster.

thefreebiemom

Woman’s Coca-Cola ‘habit’ cited in death

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/woman-coca-cola-habit-cited-death-161323721.html?vm=r&s=1

Jeepers!!! Did anyone notice in the article it said she drank between 2-3 GALLONS of coke a day. I love soda and can't even fathom cutting it out of my diet completely but I don't drink more then 1 or 2 GLASSES a day. Yikes!!!

That brings to light everything in moderation nothing in excess.

ElizaRoche

The doc told me you can drink juice,milk,coffee, tea and count it as water.. So im going with that.

angelovearth

Considering that your body is 70% water and your BRAIN is over 80% water, you need to stay hydrated to function properly physically AND mentally. 8 glasses a day is outdated. Half your body weight is more accurate.

DuanaTCWC

I just received a handout from my Nutritionist which says 8 ounces of water for every 20 pounds of body weight. For me that's 10 glasses per day. It's do-able!

ribena1958

I was told by my doc that drinking more water means we expel more water from our bodies causing us to hold excess water.