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by Doctors at the University of Pennsylvania are debunking a long held health myth that we should all drink 8 or more glasses of water a day. Misconceptions ranging from "it improves skin tone" to "it flushes all the toxins out" have no scientific backing, and no one seems to even know where the advice originated. With common sense abounding, Dr. Stanley Goldfarb of the University states, "If you're thirsty, drink. If you're not thirsty, you needn't drink."
It stands to reason people who exercise or otherwise exert themselves need to replace the water they lose, but the researchers could find no conclusive evidence that 8 glasses a day under normal conditions attributed to better health, and too much water can actually affect the balance of body salts (hyponatremia) leading to a condition commonly known as water poisoning. "Those individuals that enjoy going to the bathroom would benefit from high fluid intake. But others definitely would not," Goldfarb said.
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This whole time I thought it was 8 glasses of beer, wine, or brown liquor a day, and I gotta tell you, that is hard to get down everyday....wewww....I may need to program or something.......maybe a glass of water.,..
While in Iraq, I started drinking water as opposed to fruit juice, soda, etc. The main reason I did this was avoid drinking anything with "high-fructose corn syrup" or HFCS. I've found from personal experimentation (some like to call it dieting, but I'm a nerd) that the highly soluble HFCS affects weight gain (no way!?@#%). I actually lost 15 lbs without doing any exercise heavier than walking to and from chow.
Now as far as the clarity of my urine....it got darker than if I drank just soda.....again, weird. Upon reflection, I always notice that when I'm at a restaurant/bar pounding the mugs and drinking jack n coke, my urine is practically clear at the end of the night...more so than if I drank just water.
So in the two instances above, this whole 8 glasses a day thing is no closer nor further from truth or fable in my mind. Although, I do feel 15 lbs lighter from drinking just water, which should mean that I am that much healthier....
I bet if you cut out HFCS's partner in crime, hydrogenated oils, you'd be able to compound your no-exercise health improvement even further.
While at the pediatrician the other day, I saw a severely overweight toddler walk into the office with a bottle (wait for it...) full of soda. I hoped the doctor gave the (similarly overweight) mother a good roughing up.
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Dehydration by Brandon :: NR9 :: on 03 April 2008
While this urban myth may be debunked, this doesn't mean there aren't a lot dehydrated people out there.
I've heard of two ways to determine if you are properly hydrated (without submitting to a modern health check): the color/clarity of your urine, and pinching the skin. The former I've found to correlate to my water intake and exercise (i.e., when I exercise, my urine darkens unless I drink a ton of water), but the latter doesn't seem to give any quality indication.
There must be a way someone can accurately and easily tell if they are getting enough water...
RE: Dehydration by VnutZ :: NR8 :: on 03 April 2008
I suppose amperage resistance might be a good way to check ... though a little uncomfortable.