Do you really need EIGHT glasses of water?

[kate58]

Re: Do you really need EIGHT glasses of water?

I'm not drinking it 'cause somebody said to, i'm drinking it because my body tells me I need it

Me too. I need my water, I want my water, I love my water, I feel good on my water.

Plus I tend to copy the successful - and as far as I can make out most of them drink a LOT of water.

[TitianWasp]

Re: Do you really need EIGHT glasses of water?

Ironically, I don't care for water - have to force myself to drink it. But having worked in hospitals, I know the benefits of hydration. I have also seen the results of poor kidney function, disease or even the common stones. Eek - no thanks!

[samira]

Re: Do you really need EIGHT glasses of water?

Bren:
Your source says, "Why drink at least two quarts a day? Because that's roughly how much water we lose...."
We do indeed lose that much, but we take in about half of that through the foods we eat. No need to drink it all.

Certainly being properly hydrated is not in question. The question is, what constitutes being properly hydrated? My argument is that you need not drink 64oz of water to be so.

Please, drink the water if you like. There are many wonderful benefits of water as everyone who posted (and reposted in the case of the very long post above) said. But a lot of what you hear has been repeated so many times that no one really knows where it came from. It sounds good, like it makes sense, but there's nothing to back it up. No research, no facts.

My post was to encourage those who don't want to drink as much, and to encourage those who "fail" to drink what the "experts" (Oprah's personal trainer? Some Ph.D.?) say they should drink.

Don't take MY word, I'm not an expert. That's why I posted the few links above. There are many more like that, in legitimate medical journals, written by physiologists and kidney experts.

The actual physiology of your body does not need 64oz (or however many liters) in liquid water down your throat each and every day if you live most places in North America. No matter what anyone else says (not even Oprah), whoever is telling you differently, when you dig a little deeper you will see that the emperor indeed has no clothes.

[Debi2007]

Re: Do you really need EIGHT glasses of water?

Personally, I think you can find any source with any information you want to find on the internet. I have been finding this so much lately. The question comes to mind... what are the credible sources and what makes them credible. Lots of things sound credible, but that doesn't make them so. What is important to remember is that our bodies are a large percentage of water and we need to replenish as much as possible.

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Do you really need EIGHT glasses of water?

I was drinking 144 ounces of water when I weighed almost 300 pounds and now, since I have lost over 100 of those pounds, I thought about cutting back, but I can't. I make myself stop at 128 ounces, and that doesn't count herbal teas. I know that even a little dehydration causes fatigue and loss of mental acuity. To get my brain going in the morning, I down 16 ounces as soon as I get to the kitchen. I don't care who says I HAVE to drink 64 ounces of water per day, my body says it's 128 ounces or else, so I listen to it. No way we get 64 ounces of water from our veggies.

[Chicklady]

Re: Do you really need EIGHT glasses of water?

Actually, my Fitday says I took in 147 oz of water today and I only entered 60 (so far)
It's amazing how much water is in stuff, but I still don't think it's enough. I'm pretty sure I pee much more than that

[Chicklady]

Re: Do you really need EIGHT glasses of water?

So what amn I thinking??? That includes my 60 ounces of coffee too. So my meat veggies, etc gave me a whopping 27 ounces!! I am no longer amazed

[not2late]

Re: Do you really need EIGHT glasses of water?

My post was to encourage those who don't want to drink as much, and to encourage those who "fail" to drink what the "experts" (Oprah's personal trainer? Some Ph.D.?) say they should drink.

Don't take MY word, I'm not an expert. That's why I posted the few links above. There are many more like that, in legitimate medical journals, written by physiologists and kidney experts.

The actual physiology of your body does not need 64oz (or however many liters) in liquid water down your throat each and every day if you live most places in North America. No matter what anyone else says (not even Oprah), whoever is telling you differently, when you dig a little deeper you will see that the emperor indeed has no clothes.

It's good that you are reading up on topics like this. This is precisely why I linked the Holliday-Segar maintenance fluid formula to my post because alot of people, including "experts" don't know the scientific basis for many things.

[UrbanShaman]

Re: Do you really need EIGHT glasses of water?

I was drinking 144 ounces of water when I weighed almost 300 pounds and now, since I have lost over 100 of those pounds, I thought about cutting back, but I can't. I make myself stop at 128 ounces, and that doesn't count herbal teas. I know that even a little dehydration causes fatigue and loss of mental acuity. To get my brain going in the morning, I down 16 ounces as soon as I get to the kitchen. I don't care who says I HAVE to drink 64 ounces of water per day, my body says it's 128 ounces or else, so I listen to it. No way we get 64 ounces of water from our veggies.

There are two points here that are important and need to be emphasized.

The first is that every body is different and that dehydration occurs at different points for everyone. Remember, if you're thirsty, you're already on the path to dehydration. Thirstiness is your body yelling at you to start hydrating it before you start experiencing more exacerbated symptoms of fatigue and forgetfulness.

Secondly, it is unlikely, given the "typical" diet of a lot of people in this world, that anyone is obtaining enough water from their food. Perhaps in a utopian world where everyone ate fresh, farm grown food or fruits plucked fresh from vine and tree this would be the case. However, there is no way I will be convinced that I was getting enough hydration from the Big Mac and fries I use to eat a few days a week. If that were true, then there would be no such thing as the Super Sized sodas that go with them.

[Mirya]

Re: Do you really need EIGHT glasses of water?

I posted his on another forum but apparently it answrs this one too. UrbanShaman I agree with youo that if your thisty then you should drink. Just some people overdo it.

The doctors say each time you urinate you should drink a glass of water. The is to keeo you hydratedl. Personally I drink 128 oz of water a day I have a 32 oz sipper glass I use and i drink 4 a day. I barely have room for tea, coffee, soda or anythign other than food but god forbid I dont drink all 4. I will feel like crap.

It will last until your body gets used to having an abundence of water unlike it had before. once you get used to it your body will not have to go AS often. Personally If you lose your job due to needing to use the restroom then I would do whatever you can to get somethign going against them for medically discriminating against you as its illegal to fire someone because of needing to use the restroom. Supreme court has already set precedence reagarding this in another case.

Sorry got off on a tangent.... anyway your body .... a camel.... they store water in their fat cells through drought. Once they have an abundence of water the humps will decrease in size as they have no need for them anymore. This is the same with our cells. When we deprive our body of water it latches onto it for dear life afraid it needs to ration it out. In the process the body develops toxins and water retention and neither is good. The excess water you are drinking is good for your body to wash out the toxin and get your body used to having water and most of the water you lose in the first 2 weeks was stored up water thus an overabundence of urination.

The body can filter up to 15 liters of water a day. 1 liter is equivalent to 1 quart. It is recommended to drink 64oz water a day... I drink 128-138. if you are drinking 6 20oz bottles of water that is 120oz. which is roughly 4 liters. Your electrolytes will not suffer under 2-3 gallons of water. You are supposed to drink the 64 oz of water over the course of the day.. You would have to drink a **** of a lot of water to hurt your electrolytes.

Here is an excerpt I found that may help to ease your mind.

Water intoxication (also known as hyperhydration or water poisoning) is a potentially fatal disturbance in brain function that results when the normal balance of electrolytes in the body is pushed outside of safe limits, ironically by that which makes up the majority of it—water.[1] Normal, healthy (both physically and nutritionally) individuals have little to worry about accidentally overconsuming water. Nearly all deaths related to water intoxication in normal individuals have resulted either from water drinking contests, in which individuals attempt to consume more than ten litres over the course of just a few minutes, or long bouts of intensive exercise during which electrolytes are not properly replenished, yet massive amounts of fluid are still consumed.

Eating regularly can provide needed electrolytes if only normal water is available for rehydration.
Note that a person's innate sense of thirst is more sensitive to overall dehydration than to changes in electrolytes. Thus, it is possible to develop water intoxication while trying to satisfy thirst, if one drinks a great deal of water over a short period. A dangerous drop in electrolytes, such as the hyponatremia that leads to water intoxication, will not have any effect on thirst if one is sufficiently dehydrated.

For people suffering from dehydration due to the heavy perspiration associated with heavy exertion or heat stress, drinking water to rehydrate is much more important than avoiding water intoxication, since the former is extremely common and the latter is rare. One should never avoid drinking water under such conditions; instead, other steps should be taken to ensure that electrolytes are replaced as well, as noted above.

References

1. ^ Bird, Patrick J. (2000). You Can Drink Too Much Water. University of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-01-21.
2. ^ Noakes, T.D.; G. Wilson, D.A. Gray, M.I. Lambert, S.C. Dennis (October 2001). Peak rates of diuresis in healthy humans during oral fluid overload. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved on 2007-01-21.
3. ^ Facts about Dietary Supplements, Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health, March 2001.
4. ^ Jay S. Cohen, MD, Statin Drugs, 2005, page 129, ISBN 0-7570-0257-9.
5. ^Water Intoxication in Infants
6. ^Woman dies after water-drinking contest. MSNBC (January 13, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-05-10.
7. ^Local10.com/WPLG report of water intoxication murder arrest
8. ^Sun-Sentinel article: Nancy Gayoso declared competent to stand trial
9. ^Local10.com/WPLG report: "Judge: Baby Sitter in Water Intoxication Death Still Not Competent"
10. ^Hyponatremia ("Water Intoxication"). The DEA.org. Retrieved on 2007-05-10.
11. ^ Lore, Mark (2005-02-10). Another death in the family. Chico news & review. Retrieved on 2007-05-10.
12. ^ Grier, Peter. "Airman's Death Brings Training Changes", Aerospace World, Air Force Magazine Online, January, 2000. Retrieved on 2007-01-20.
13. ^Reasons for dispensing with the holding of an inquest. Retrieved on 2007-05-10.
14. ^Doctors: Marathoner Died From Too Much Water (August 13, 2002). Retrieved on 2007-05-10.
15. ^District Officer Dies After Bike Ride: Over-Hydration Cited as Factorwhggggggggggggg10.

[samira]

Re: Do you really need EIGHT glasses of water?

Not2late:

Thanks for posting that chart. The connection you missed, however, is that when a child is not getting any food by mouth they need to give all those fluids. We healthy people get about half of our hydration needs each day through the foods we eat.

No one is disputing the AMOUNT of water one needs to stay hydrated (again, thanks for posting the chart). It’s whether you need EIGHT GLASSES OF WATER BY MOUTH each day.

Which you don’t. Which is my point.

Mirya:

That’s a myth, that your body will “get used” to all that water and you won't have to run to the bathroom all the time. You have neural receptors on your bladder that signal your brain when you have to go, and they do NOT change.

When you are running to the bathroom every half an hour, that's your body telling you you're drinking too much water!

"The doctors say each time you urinate you should drink a glass of water... Personally I drink...."
Anecdotal, and I think that since I posted links and studies you should do the courtesy of same. Not for the over-watering part (which you documented admirably and which has nothing to do with my post), but for the "doctors say" bit. Please, link me up to that!

But by all means, drink the Koolaid, it's your choice. My post was to encourage those who don't wish to force all that water. Please, if you're only going to defend your water drinking, don't bother!

[Chicklady]

Re: Do you really need EIGHT glasses of water?

Not2late:

Thanks for posting that chart. The connection you missed, however, is that when a child is not getting any food by mouth they need to give all those fluids. We get about half of our hydration needs each day through the foods we eat.

No one is disputing the AMOUNT of water one needs to stay hydrated. It’s whether you need EIGHT GLASSES OF WATER BY MOUTH each day.

Which you don’t. Which is my point.

When you are running to the bathroom every half an hour, that's your body telling you you're drinking too much water!

But by all means, drink the Koolaid, it's your choice.

1.this diet is diuretic, that's why we pee so much
2. Is this snarkiness necessary?

[samira]

Re: Do you really need EIGHT glasses of water?

Chicklady:
Yes, the diet is diuretic, because we lose all the carbs, and carbs hold onto water. That's the majority of weight lost during induction. Your point is a good one, but not original.

When people refuse to believe when the truth is put before them, I have to belive they've already drunk the Koolaid (and probably peed it right back out!)

[UrbanShaman]

Re: Do you really need EIGHT glasses of water?

Not2late:

Thanks for posting that chart. The connection you missed, however, is that when a child is not getting any food by mouth they need to give all those fluids. We get about half of our hydration needs each day through the foods we eat.

No one is disputing the AMOUNT of water one needs to stay hydrated. It’s whether you need EIGHT GLASSES OF WATER BY MOUTH each day.

Which you don’t. Which is my point.

When you are running to the bathroom every half an hour, that's your body telling you you're drinking too much water!

But by all means, drink the Koolaid, it's your choice.

I'm really trying to take your posts in the spirit they're given, which is to be helpful, but there are just some assumptions that people reading might take as truth that are not.

Firstly, everyone has a different water intake need. If you have managed to subsist on less water than the required daily amount, then that is wonderful for you. No study, medical or otherwise, is a perfect blanket, and every person will find their own individualized need for water thorugh experimenting with their intake. As a singer, I drink a good deal of water now, 128 oz to be exact. I'm not going to suggest that everyone drink that amount, or that it will benefit any other person but me to do so.

Also, if someone is running to the bathroom every half hour, it's not necessarily because they are drinking too MUCH water. They are most likely drinking too much, too fast. Water has to be spaced throughout the day. Your bathroom breaks will increase if you increase your intake no matter what, so that is no clear indication of whether or not that intake is appropriate.

This debate goes on and on. It's a personal decision. Many people benefit from more, and water intoxication is so rare, as to really be irrelevant in discussions about your average water intake so I say drink up.

[Prya]

Re: Do you really need EIGHT glasses of water?

I originally followed this post with some interest, since there are MANY things disputed about our bodies and nutrition and I am interested in seeing different perspectives on these questions.

However, this has degenerated into repetitive arguments that are no longer productive. Noone's mind is going to change here; you either believe in what Dr Atkins said about drinking 8 8oz glasses minimum or you don't. There is plenty of information to support either way, from reputable doctors on BOTH sides.

Can we either bring this back to a reasonable discussion or discontinue it entirely?