Water Myths

I always questioned the 8 glasses of water a day, who can drink that much and not be near a bathroom at all times! I keep my water bottle with me and keep a glass of water near me all day and even at my bed side. I think it is best to sip a bit of water all day. Try adding lemon, lime, orange, cucumber and even strawberry slices.

(Berkeley Wellness)

How much water do you need? Most people would answer eight 8-ounce glasses a day. But no one knows where this rule actually came from.

Without water, life could not exist. Everything from bacteria to elephants must have it. Researchers, however, have been unable to find scientific backing for the advice to drink eight cups a day. Furthermore:

• Drinking lots of water does not improve kidney function or help kidneys eliminate toxins—let alone improve overall health. Sometimes drinking lots of water can make the kidneys less efficient at filtration.

• People absorb and excrete water at different rates—depending, in part, on how fast they drink. Water drunk quickly is fairly quickly excreted. Water mixed with low levels of sugar (as in sports drinks) is quickly absorbed. Drinking a lot of water does not bathe your organs in excess fluid and improve their function.

• There is no evidence that drinking water improves skin tone or prevents headaches, despite the claims.

• Even coffee and tea supply water; it’s a fallacy that they cause a net water loss. A report from the Institute of Medicine, which advises the government about health issues, concluded that “caffeinated beverages appear to contribute to the daily total water intake similar to that contributed by noncaffeinated beverages.”

How much to drink?

For healthy people thirst is the best guide. If your urine is a light yellow, you are drinking enough. Older people, though, should drink water before they get thirsty, especially in the heat, since thirst is a less reliable indicator as we age. Keep in mind that other beverages besides water, also help meet fluid needs. So too do fruits and vegetables (which are about 90% water) and other foods.