Holy Water

hunneric
hunneric Posts: 15 Member
in Food and Nutrition
This question might be a bit daft but, exactly what is the significance of the water? It's like holy writ. It seems like it's just about the only thing that EVERYONE agrees on around here?

I get that drinking lots of water might make you feel fuller and that might stop you eating.

And I get that it's bad to be dehydrated and that if anyone ought to be drinking plenty of water it's me (Jesus you should see me sweat when I hit the gym or get back from a run) but I still don't really know why.

Literally the only person I have ever hear disagree that lots of water was a good thing was T.E. Lawrence but, since I am not waging a long-distance guerilla war in the desert, I'd better get my 2 litres down me. I'd just appreciate it if someone could please explain to me why I have to drink so much water?

Replies

  • Ericaaa89
    Ericaaa89 Posts: 48 Member
    I just look at it this way, with the human body basically being a giant water balloon (65% water) its probably a good idea to keep refilling it so that it functions at peak performance level. I'm guessing you're looking for a more scientific explanation though :)
  • DanaDark
    DanaDark Posts: 2,187 Member
    Everything your body does requires water. You lose water breathing, peeing, and even through simple evaporation.

    Try swimming in a swimming pool full of rocks. Now try swimming in a swimming pool full of water. Which was easier to accomplish? Everything in your body is "swimming" in a sense.

    It is far more detailed and complex than that, but in the end, you're mostly water, and you're losing water even right now... think about it.
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    Stick around a bit longer and you'll see plenty of disagreements about water. :)
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    Its a bit like oil in your car. It lubricates your whole body.
  • 126siany
    126siany Posts: 1,386 Member
    This question might be a bit daft but, exactly what is the significance of the water? It's like holy writ. It seems like it's just about the only thing that EVERYONE agrees on around here?

    I get that drinking lots of water might make you feel fuller and that might stop you eating.

    And I get that it's bad to be dehydrated and that if anyone ought to be drinking plenty of water it's me (Jesus you should see me sweat when I hit the gym or get back from a run) but I still don't really know why.

    Literally the only person I have ever hear disagree that lots of water was a good thing was T.E. Lawrence but, since I am not waging a long-distance guerilla war in the desert, I'd better get my 2 litres down me. I'd just appreciate it if someone could please explain to me why I have to drink so much water?

    I'm not sure if MFP is simply set up with the long-disproven dogma that every human being must consume 64 ounces of water per day or suffer indescribable consequences, or if it's specifically aimed at dieters.

    I can see why it's recommended for at least most *new* dieters though:

    -Most of us didn't get here because our diet was 50% fruits and veggies; therefore we weren't getting a lot of water from our food.
    -Restricting calories makes it harder to get a lot of your water from food.
    -Some people are exercising literally for the first time in their lives, and yeah, they do have to be told to drink more water.
    -If you drink 8 8oz glasses of water per day, there is less opportunity for soda and other sugary drinks
  • LadyIvysMom
    LadyIvysMom Posts: 391 Member
    When I drink a lot of water I feel better. I feel more engergetic. When I'm running, I will usually stop at a halfway point and down a bottle of water. After the water settles, I feel like I could run another mile. It also helps me prevent bloating.
  • hunneric
    hunneric Posts: 15 Member
    Thanks for the replies, I'm not sure about this.

    I realise that a certain amount of water consumption is necessary for general health but I don't believe it to be nearly as much as 2 litres a day.

    From a weight loss point of view, I can see that drinking a lot of water might send a signal to the body that it need not retain so much "for emergencies" and you might therefore get a little more weight loss - albeit reversible.

    I also took the trouble to work out how much energy it requires to warm up 2 litres of water from the 15 celsius at which it emerges from the tap to the 38c of my body temperature. That turns out to be significant but not what you'd call decisive (about 40calories by my reckoning but you could almost double it with a few ice cubes).

    But its assertions like these that I wonder about - both are from caloriesperhour.com

    "The process of burning calories requires an adequate supply of water in order to function efficiently; dehydration slows down the fat-burning process.

    Burning calories creates toxins (think of the exhaust coming out of your car), and water plays a vital role in flushing them out of your body."

    The thing is, later on in the article it alludes to the potential danger of drinking too much water. The article says that is rare but I have experienced it twice. On both occasions, I got very dehydrated whilst travelling abroad in hot weather - and consequently sweated a great deal. As soon as I found a supply of safe drinking water, I had rather too much - thus crashing the salt level in my bloodstream. I can vouch for the effect. Dehydration is a serious but gradual problem - you feel tired and weak. Drink too much water under these conditions and the effects are much worse - headache, nausea and more weakness. Should you conclude that these symptoms are the consequence of dehydration and continue to drink it can be very grim indeed. A salty snack or some dioralyte will sort you right out in ten minutes but nevertheless...

    I'm not saying 2 litres a day takes you anywhere near this level - merely that the mantra of AT LEAST two litres in combination with vigorous exercise might be viewed with some caution.
  • Sean_The_IT_Guy
    Sean_The_IT_Guy Posts: 168
    As a mild sufferer of gout (a condition caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood, causing crystals to form in the joints) if I dont take in at least 3L of water a day, I tend to have pains in the feet and knees. I was on allopurinol (prescription medication) for the condition, but since I've upped my water intake to 3L or more a day, I don't even need to be on it anymore.

    Drinking that much water is inconvenient at first, but eventually your body gets its pee schedule under control. I feel much more alert and comfortable when I'm hydrated, etc. Some people "hate water" and I feel bad for them. The more I drink, the better I feel.

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