Is it important to drink 8 cups of water a day?

raven56706
raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
edited November 18 in Food and Nutrition
The website has that factor of water intake at the bottom. Is drinking water the important factor in it or just a good to have measure?


curious

Replies

  • Cocoa1020
    Cocoa1020 Posts: 197 Member
    My professor that is a registered dietitian and has a master's in nutrition said someone literally made that number up. And that many factors play into how much water you need. Environment, (living in the desert will require more water) and altitude also plays a role and of course activity levels.

    I drink water when i wake up and with every meal. And for what ever reason, when i use the bathroom. Use your urine color as an indicator. Pale yellow!
  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
    What @cocoa1020 said. The whole 8 cups thing is overblown, include liquid from foods (had a juicy apple as a snack, it counts) and is just one more thing about health that isn't needed.

    Pale yellow urine for the win. If it's clear, your run the risk of being deficient on electrolytes.
  • Cocoa1020
    Cocoa1020 Posts: 197 Member
    Tacklewasher wrote: »
    What @cocoa1020 said. The whole 8 cups thing is overblown, include liquid from foods (had a juicy apple as a snack, it counts) and is just one more thing about health that isn't needed.

    Pale yellow urine for the win. If it's clear, your run the risk of being deficient on electrolytes.

    I totally forgot about water found in foods. But if I'm thirsty I go for water
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,188 Member
    It's good to stay hydrated. Too much or too little water isn't good. I agree with the others. Pale yellow urine means you are drinking the right amount. You also receive hydration from sources besides water. Fruit, soups and even coffee and soda provide some hydration.
  • Ironandwine69
    Ironandwine69 Posts: 2,432 Member
    Tacklewasher wrote: »
    What @cocoa1020 said. The whole 8 cups thing is overblown, include liquid from foods (had a juicy apple as a snack, it counts) and is just one more thing about health that isn't needed.

    Pale yellow urine for the win. If it's clear, your run the risk of being deficient on electrolytes.

    This
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    The important thing is to be hydrated. Drink as much or as little as you need to get there.

    Urine-Hydration-Chart.jpg
  • rsclause
    rsclause Posts: 3,103 Member
    I drink a decent amount of water but don't try to force it. You are already getting dehydrated by the time you get thirsty so I just try to take a sip every so often. I carry a HydroFlask everywhere I go so its always cold and convenient.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    edited May 2017
    8 cups or any other number or formula is totally dumb as a recommendation for everybody, in every climate, under all conditions, whether they are exercising or not, or happen to sweat a lot or a little, or get a load of fluids from other sources. etc. etc. etc....

  • nikkipoooo
    nikkipoooo Posts: 33 Member
    Obviously it's just an estimation, and not a hard and fast "this is exactly how much water everyone needs" rule. I think of it as more of a general goalpost that's a good amount for just about everyone... even if you don't need that much or could use a little more, it still isn't going to hurt to drink that much and it's still more than most people drink without trying.

    One thing the 64oz/8 glasses goal does for me is ensure that I always try to have water available, and if you're trying to avoid meaningless snacking or drinking pop like me then the increased water consumption can help curb the urge, or limit how much you can have before feeling full.
  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWASUMMQjj8
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    It's important to stay hydrated. I think common sense would dictate that individual hydration needs would be quite variable. If I only had 8x8 oz glasses of water daily, I'd probably be a 4-6 on that dehydration chart. I exercise regularly and sweat a lot and live at over a mile high in elevation in the desert...
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