Drink eight 8-oz glasses of water a day

[sudsmaster]

It's another urban myth, apparently.

In fact a normal person gets enough water from prepared foods that no extra water intake for normal bodily function is theoretically needed.

Of course hot weather, physical exercise, or some medical conditions require extra water intake.

But the "8x8" water rule is a myth and could do more harm than good. It does help bottled water company profits, though.

Another myth is "if you feel thirsty, it's too late, you're already dehydrated". Also not true. Thirst happens with a 2% drop in water level in the blood (or 2% increase in salt concentration). It takes a 5% drop before one is considered to be dehydrated.

Yes, in some cases thirst can be mistaken for hunger, so if one is trying to lose weight, drinking some zero calorie water instead of eating a snack might be one way to help limit calorie intake and lose weight.

Fire when ready... ;-)

'Drink at Least 8 Glasses of Water a Day' - Really? - Geisel School of Medicine

'Drink at Least 8 Glasses of Water a Day' - Really?

dms.dartmouth.edu

 

[alanlendaro]

And then there is Tallulah Bankhead's response...

When asked if she would like som water, she responded with the following:

"Water!!??, Fish F*ck in it!"

Then again she probably was on the outside of several martinis at the time.

 

[yogitunes]

I get a kidney stone every 11 months.....

and normally you would think to drink lots of water or better yet Canberry drinks.....that's the myth......

My urologist recommends 2 BEERS a week keep my kidneys flushed out, I can't stand beer!....but it works, I havent had a kidney stone in 3 years,....NOW don't go overboard on this guys, it's just a recommendation that works with "LIMITED" use, Think about it, when you drink beer, you can't stop urinating......just a thought!

 

[chuffle]

Same here with kidney stones

Been through three of them, two took me to the emergency room. After the last one three years ago, I was told the same thing about beer. I was also told that should I feel that strange feeling of a stone attack coming on, I should drink one or two beers, as that would help relax the ureters, and help the stone pass. Not trying to be overly graphic...

 

[andrewinorlando]

I drink water, I pee. I don't drink water, I pee. I drink more water, I pee more. What's the point?

 

[joeekaitis]

Remember when Florida citrus growers . . .

. . . promoted THIS nutritional fallacy?

A "full big glass" of orange juice is only marginally better for you than the same size glass of Orange Crush. The only thing missing from the latter is vitamin C and a few trace minerals. Same calories, same sugar, same carb count.

 

[toggleswitch2]

This country is ENTIRELY too faddish with reagard to diet.

I think the Greeks had this concept "down" really well...

"ALL THINGS, IN MODERATION".

 

[sudsmaster]

Oh, um, I don't think that flavored sugar water holds a candle to real fruit juice. The minerals and vitamins are not the only thing. There are substances like bioflavinoids and other factors in real fruit juice that only recently the value of which has become known.

Still, if one is counting carbs or calories it's important to realize that fruit juice contains just about the same number of carb calories as soda pop. As Toggs says, there can be too much of a good thing.

 

[rocketwarrior]

Wet is Wet

If the issue is hydration, you should check this link. I am general counsel to a scientific research entity whose CEO until her retirement this summer was Dr. Ann Granjean. You might google the terms Grandjean and hydration. Grandjean was the chief investigator in a couple of recent studies that debunk the bottled water industry's claims that if you consume caffinated beverages, you should buy more bottled water.

Our Approach to Stakeholder Engagement and Research | The Coca-Cola Company

www.beverageinstitute.org

 

[rocketwarrior]

Hyrdration, Fluids for Life

Here is a great monograph that Dr. Grandjean authored. Her expertise in hydration takes her around the world (India, China most recently and Bangkok this fall. And I still haven't been able to get her to sail with me.

http://www.ilsina.org/publications/hydration_fluids.htm

 

[sudsmaster]

Seems to me I recall some nonsense also that drinking coca cola or other sugared soft drinks actually dehydrate one because of the calories included.

Never did buy that one, esp because for a very sedentary person, in a perfect climate, theoretically one gets enough water from prepared foods not to have to drink a drop of water (or any other drink). Not that I'd like to try it.

 

[jeffg]

It's the caffeine in soft drinks that cause dehydration, not the calories. The diuretic effect is mild unless you drink a lot of them or have kidney problems.

Sorry to be gross, but if your urine is not clear or almost clear at least half the time, you need to drink more water and fewer caffeinated beverages, especially soft drinks, coffee and tea.

 

[countryford]

The opposite side.

I work at a psych ward in the state prison. We have a few inmates that are water intoxent. If they drink too much water they get "drunk". So we have to limit thier water intake. The result of too much water.

 

[tolivac]

Gosh If I drank that much water in a day-would "slosh" like a full water jug when I walk-8 8Oz cups per day-thats over a GALLON! I would think thats too much as well.Sometimes peoples water "humidstats" don't always work-so that is where that suggestion must have come from.During my meals do drink liquids though-fruit smoothies and milk--those contain mostly--WATER.

 

[jamiel]

Huh? 8 8 oz glasses is 64 ounces...1/2 gallon.

 

[re563]

The fact of the matter is...

That you probably drink this amount anyway. Most glasses that we use to drink from are 16oz anyway. and If you drink 3 of these a day your pretty close to the 8x8 rule. Not to mention your cup or two of coffee or tea in the morning.

 

[sudsmaster]

Actually the stuff about clear urine and caffeine etc has also been debunked.

 

[rocketwarrior]

JeffG, Caffeine

Jeff, where is your science? That was the whole point of the studies - to deal with unsupported claims about the diuretic effects of those beverages. Have a look at page 26 of Fluids for Life:

http://www.ilsina.org/NR/rdonlyres/D508CE36-E7DB-4E51-888E-E1622E1352EC/0/Hydration_20Fluids_20for_20Life.pdf

 

[rocketwarrior]

Hydration Science

The science is not new, I believe there were studies back in WWII. The first study that the Beverage Institute became interested in was developed by Dr. Grandjean and the subjects were medical students. Each morning they stopped by to pick up all of the fluids they would drink for the next 24 hours (unlabeled) and had to bring back all of the fluids they voided.
This study confirmed the point here, but it was follow-up by a second study. Other researchers have also confirmed the findings.

Subjects who were not caffeine consumers had (as Jeff suggests) a mild diuretic effect initially, but the body very quickly adjusts and that effect goes away as consumption of caffeine continues.

It is apparent that caffeine is a piss poor diuretic. (smile).