Water!

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  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
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    I just read an article yesterday on the Mayo Clinics website about this.According to the Mayo it does not have to be just water.They are saying to count all fluids as water,or as liquid intake.Also stated there is no solid evidence backing up the 8 glasses at 8 oz a day.They said its just a theory.Me personally I drink about 3/4 to a 1 gallon a day.Not sure I need that much.I just love ice cold water!

    This is correct.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/821181-myths-and-facts-about-hydration-requirements

    (shameless posting of my own thread)

    ^^ that
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
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    tigerpalm.jpg

    I was waiting for someone to show up with the "if you wait until you''re thirsty, you're dehydrated," fallacy. OF COURSE YOU'RE SLIGHTLY DEHYDRATED, THAT'S WHY YOU'RE THIRSTY. If you weren't slightly dehydrated, you wouldn't require more fluids, so you wouldn't be thirsty. When you aren't thirsty, your fluid level is balanced. When you drink when your fluid level is balanced, your body does not absorb any of the fluid you drink, as it doesn't need any, so it just eliminates it. In other words, if you're forcing yourself to drink just for the sake of drinking, you're just wasting water, as it does nothing for you but make you go to the bathroom more often.

    So sue me if I waste a few ounces of water. The benefits of remaining hydrated are well documented. Whether it's 6 or 8 or somewhat more, there are no health detriments to getting enough water. (I do know about "water poisoning" when people drink more than their kidneys can handle.)

    For many people, the "thirst" feeling is delayed or ignored. It's not about hydrating your mouth, where you feel thirsty, all of your organs need the moisture. What's the problem with having the habit of drinking regularly? And, sure, there are other sources of hydration besides water but remember caffeine drinks are diuretics.

    Caffeine can count to your fluid intake and has a negligible diuretic impact - water makes you pee more. These are in the write up I linked about but...

    http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283 - (any beverage counts)

    "beverages such as milk and juice are composed mostly of water. Even beer, wine and caffeinated beverages — such as coffee, tea or soda — can contribute"

    "What you eat also provides a significant portion of your fluid needs. On average, food provides about 20 percent of total water intake."


    http://www.jacn.org/content/19/5/591.short (any beverage counts)

    "This preliminary study found no significant differences in the effect of various combinations of beverages on hydration status of healthy adult males. Advising people to disregard caffeinated beverages as part of the daily fluid intake is not substantiated by the results of this study."


    http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/12834577 (the diuretic effect of caffeine is minimal)

    "...nor does it cause significant dehydration or electrolyte imbalance during exercise."


    http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/12187618 (the diuretic effect of caffeine is minimal)

    "The literature indicates that caffeine consumption stimulates a mild diuresis similar to water, but there is no evidence of a fluid-electrolyte imbalance that is detrimental to exercise performance or health"

    "Investigations comparing caffeine (100-680 mg) to water or placebo seldom found a statistical difference in urine volume."
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
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    Sara beat me to it.
  • cjsacto
    cjsacto Posts: 1,421 Member
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    Why are you trying so hard to dissuade people from drinking water???

    So, fine, the medical community reverses itself every few years about what counts and what doesn't. I don't see a problem that you count coffee, tea, etc., if you want to. Count juice and milk, even soda. Fine. Fruits and many veggies and other foods contain water, sure. The article you linked to says foods can contribute up to 20% of our daily water intake. Where do you get the rest? Do you drink a LOT of coffee?

    My original point, in response to the OP's question, in a genuine effort to be helpful, is to be sure to remain hydrated. 8 glasses of water a day is a great guideline for many people, because it can be tracked easily. Maybe it's a bit more than you need, depending on what you are eating or what else you are drinking, and your level of activity, but it's a nice, simple rule of thumb with no negative effect on your body. Dehydration can be a real problem for people when they become more active than they are used to being. Many, many people, whether they are trying to lose weight or not, are chronically dehydrated. The fact is you can't rely on your "thirst" response alone.

    Here's a good article about dehydration: http://www.rodale.com/chronic-dehydration
    "As your body gets used to chronic dehydration, you lose your sensitivity to water deprivation and don't get thirsty when you need to."
    I have personally experienced this - I would go all day without drinking, and wouldn't feel thirsty (too busy to notice maybe) until the very end of the day, when I would be gasping for water. It's great if you are more in tune with your body so you recognize the instant you are thirsty, but getting into a routine of drinking water is a healthy habit and I don't understand why you would ridicule that.

    Mayo Clinic: "But, if you're exercising, don't wait for thirst to keep up with your fluids."
    http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dehydration/DS00561/DSECTION=prevention

    Downside to drinking 6-8 glass of water a day: you pee more, takes some getting used to
    Downside to not getting enough liquid: serious health problems

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