Busting the Water Myth

sjiphone

Interesting article from the New York Times. Sure to be of interest to this group.

http://india.nydailynews.com/article/5dd1eaf315db695b6a02710b63a8f320/busting-the-water-myth

Mumbai, June 7 -- As the city's humidity levels soar, most of us double our water intake thinking it's an easy cure for everything from skin disorders to chronic weight gain. Though it is important to stay hydrated, experts bust common myths around increased water consumption.

Myth 1: Bottled water is always safe

Most of us think that bottled water is safe, but it can sometimes be more harmful than regular tap water. "Not all bottled water is safe. I saw a line of hawkers filling plastic bottles with tap water and selling it to travellers as mineral water," says Dr Rahul Gupta, gastroenterologist, Fortis Escorts Hospital, adding, "The traditional method of boiling water is much safer."

Myth 2: It's important to drink three litres daily

We should try to consume the equivalent of around two to three litres of fluid a day, but the intake should not only be water. Much of this intake can be obtained from the food we eat: fresh fruits and vegetables like watermelon, cucumber, bottle gourd and also from milk, tea and coffee.

Myth 3: Water facilitates weightloss

Water is known for its detoxification qualities. But there is no definitive research that proves it. "Water helps detoxify the body and regulate its metabolism, but it does not have a major role to play in weightloss," says Dr Madhu Gupta, director, Indian Institute of Yoga and Naturopathy.

"It is not just how much quantity, but also the time when you drink water that determines its benefits. Drinking two to three glasses of water first thing in the morning works wonders to detoxify your body," adds Dr Gupta.

Myth 4: Coffee and tea leave you dehydrated

These drinks mostly contribute to your body's need for water without adding to the risk of dehydration. "It's alcohol that dehydrates the body by absorbing fluid from cells," says Dr Gupta.

Myth 5: Water can't be harmful in any way

Water can prove harmful if not taken in moderate quantities. Drinking too much water can cause an electrolyte imbalance, also known as water intoxication. "Anyone who drinks more than four litres of water a day is more prone to hyponatremia, a condition caused by low sodium levels in the body," says Dr Gupta. Hyponatremia is a serious condition that leads to fatigue and headache. It could also cause drowsiness and even lead to unconsciousness, in extreme conditions.

Athletes such as marathon runners often suffer from this condition because they sweat profusely, leading to a loss of both water and electrolytes, including sodium. But if they drink lots of water in a short period of time, without replacing the electrolytes, sodium levels in the blood fall further. This can be life threatening.

HT Media Limited

emnk5308

Here is what I wanna know then.. at what point do we need to drink more than water. It says athletes have the problem with sweating and running out of water.. what about when we sweat? Is there a point where we should have Gatorade or something like that? =|
Hmm.... =D I drink coffee in the morning, and water the rest of the day, rarely do I have anything else.

Basically, I stay well hydrated all day especially before a work out.. but how much will I work and sweat before I need to 'replace electrolytes and such'.. and how do you do that? All I really know to do is to have a Gatorade. =/

EricNYC646

According to what I learned in my nutrition course, most of us get more than enough electrolytes in food, sodium, potassium and magnesium. Problems with low electrolytes happen if exercising for hours especially in the sun. One symptom of low electrolytes is cramping during exercise or at rest. You have to be careful though because too many electrolytes cause bloating and high blood pressure. People on diuretics for high blood pressure are at risk of low potassium but usually sodium is not a problem in our society. Usually sodium is too high.