Five Myths About Drinking Water

[faller]

Whats your guys take on this??

Is bottled water better for you than tap? Or should you choose vitamin-enriched water over sparkling? Experts say, skip it all. None of these products are likely to make you any healthier. Below, we look at five major myths about the benefits of drinking water.

But first, how do you know if you're drinking enough water? Experts say there's an easy way to judge. If you're not thirsty, you're fluid intake is likely "just right."

Myth No. 1: Drink Eight Glasses Each Day

Scientists say there's no clear health benefit to chugging or even sipping water all day. So where does the standard advice of drinking eight glasses each day come from? "Nobody really knows," says Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, a kidney expert at the University of Pennsylvania.

Myth No. 2: Drinking Lots of Water Helps Clear Out Toxins

The kidneys filter toxins from our bloodstreams. Then the toxins clear through the urine. The question is, does drinking extra water each day improve the function of the kidneys?

"No," says Goldfarb. "In fact, drinking large amounts of water surprisingly tends to reduce the kidney's ability to function as a filter. It's a subtle decline, but definite."

Myth No. 3: Lots of Water Equals Healthier Skin

The body is already 60 percent water. So, if you take a 200-pound man, he's 120 pounds of water.

Adding a few extra glasses of water each day has limited effect. "It's such a tiny part of what's in the body," says Goldfarb. "It's very unlikely that one's getting any benefit." His full editorial is published in the current issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

One study published in 2007 on the cosmetic benefit of drinking water suggests that 500 ml of water increases capillary blood flow in the skin. "But it's unclear whether these changes are clinically significant," says Goldfarb.

Myth No. 4: Drinking Extra Water Leads to Weight Loss

A more accurate statement may be: Drinking water is a helpful tool for dieters.

"Water is a great strategy for dieters because it has no calories," says Madeline Fernstrom of the University of Pittsburgh. "So you can keep your mouth busy without food and get the sense of satisfaction."

But water is not magical, she adds. Other zero-calorie options such as diet sodas are fine, too.

Myth No. 5: It's Easy to Get Dehydrated During a Workout

Dehydration sets in when a person has lost 2 percent of his or her body weight. So for a 200-pound man, this means losing 4 pounds of water.

Marathon runners, bikers and hikers all need to recognize the signs of dehydration. "It is also obvious that individuals in hot, dry climates have increased need for water," says Goldfarb.

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that athletes drink 16 ounces of fluids a couple of hours before starting sports practice.

But for a stroll in the park, no water bottle is necessary. Goldfarb's advice: Just drink when you're thirsty.

[gettinbigger]

Great article. I never buy bottled water - the testing of tap water is much more stringent and frequent than bottled water and it's really cheap.

[Forever]

Whats your guys take on this??

Is bottled water better for you than tap? Or should you choose vitamin-enriched water over sparkling? Experts say, skip it all. None of these products are likely to make you any healthier. Below, we look at five major myths about the benefits of drinking water.

But first, how do you know if you're drinking enough water? Experts say there's an easy way to judge. If you're not thirsty, you're fluid intake is likely "just right."

Myth No. 1: Drink Eight Glasses Each Day

Scientists say there's no clear health benefit to chugging or even sipping water all day. So where does the standard advice of drinking eight glasses each day come from? "Nobody really knows," says Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, a kidney expert at the University of Pennsylvania.
Eight is a number, most people want someone to tell them a number to shoot for. Is "eight glasses" the right amount? Depends on the person, but to someone who needs a number to shoot for it seems like a solid mid point assuming a "glass" equals 1 cup (250ml)
Myth No. 2: Drinking Lots of Water Helps Clear Out Toxins

The kidneys filter toxins from our bloodstreams. Then the toxins clear through the urine. The question is, does drinking extra water each day improve the function of the kidneys?

"No," says Goldfarb. "In fact, drinking large amounts of water surprisingly tends to reduce the kidney's ability to function as a filter. It's a subtle decline, but definite."
Now if you drink less then a camel and don't urinate very often how is it exactly that anything is leaving your body through your urine? I would think drinking more water and emptying the tank more often would indeed help clear the "toxins" from your body. Also if you don't drink enough water the "toxins" can grow into "kidney stones". Good luck pissing one of them out Goldfarb

Myth No. 3: Lots of Water Equals Healthier Skin

The body is already 60 percent water. So, if you take a 200-pound man, he's 120 pounds of water.

Adding a few extra glasses of water each day has limited effect. "It's such a tiny part of what's in the body," says Goldfarb. "It's very unlikely that one's getting any benefit." His full editorial is published in the current issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

One study published in 2007 on the cosmetic benefit of drinking water suggests that 500 ml of water increases capillary blood flow in the skin. "But it's unclear whether these changes are clinically significant," says Goldfarb.
""It's such a tiny part of what's in the body," says Goldfarb" Pardon? What happened to us being 60% H2O? That seems kind of like a large part to me.....
Myth No. 4: Drinking Extra Water Leads to Weight Loss

A more accurate statement may be: Drinking water is a helpful tool for dieters.

"Water is a great strategy for dieters because it has no calories," says Madeline Fernstrom of the University of Pittsburgh. "So you can keep your mouth busy without food and get the sense of satisfaction."

But water is not magical, she adds. Other zero-calorie options such as diet sodas are fine, too.

Myth No. 5: It's Easy to Get Dehydrated During a Workout

Dehydration sets in when a person has lost 2 percent of his or her body weight. So for a 200-pound man, this means losing 4 pounds of water.

Marathon runners, bikers and hikers all need to recognize the signs of dehydration. "It is also obvious that individuals in hot, dry climates have increased need for water," says Goldfarb.

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that athletes drink 16 ounces of fluids a couple of hours before starting sports practice.

But for a stroll in the park, no water bottle is necessary. Goldfarb's advice: Just drink when you're thirsty.
I am less worried about becoming dehydrated and more concerned with maintaining optimal hydration levels during a workout. A "stroll in the park" is not a workout. I will continue sipping water during my workouts to maintain optimal hydration levels. Not because I will become dehydrated and have to go to the hospital if I don't, but because I might not perform at my peak if my hydration levels dip a little bit near the end of my workout

My opinion in bold.
Sometimes I hate articles like these because they are trying to debunk something so they have biased views, and when you have a biased view you can spin anything around into what you want it to sound like. Biased science is bad science. In the end, drinking a good amount of water isn't going to hurt you and many studies have shown it to be beneficial, so I don't understand why they would be trying to discourage people from it.

They even suggest that "water is not magical" so you might as well just pound back diet cokes..... I would much rather pound back the H2O then H2O mixed with phosphoric acid and artificial sweeteners. Sure I drink diet cola's every now and then, but not as a substitute to a healthy amount of water.

I didn't even know 3-5 were myths lol.

[ange_d]

Wrong handle.

[steve_d]

Depends alot on what you eat. Say your food consists of salads, fruit, veggies, watermelon, etc and you only drink 1 glass of water a day. Compare that to the next guy who eat froot loops all day and 8 glasses of water.

the number of glasses of water you "need" is all relative. How about, the more you drink, the less you retain? Is that a "myth"? No...and then you get all these doctors prescribing diuretics to folk who retain too much water. hmmmm...Sure, some people have a legit problem that can be helped by diuretics...but a tun more would be better off just drinking a couple litres a day.

That and the fact that our diets are way higher in sodium than they ever were. Again, retaining water. So yeah, I think the comments these experts make are garbage. They have perfectly decent arguments in that there is no harm in NOT drinking a lot of water, but based on my just 1 argument about retaining water I would think would be enough to agree water is key for most

[Forever]

Wrong handle.
:sexy
:laugh

[tiramisu]

Despite the fact that I read it on the internet...

I believe that drinking plenty of fresh water every day is fundamentally healthful.

I may break down and go searching for studies to prove it later but I think the myths posting selected a small sample of abstracts and their conclusions and declared victory rather than actually considering the health differences between individuals who drink plenty of fresh clean water daily and those who do not.

So in a nutshell, my response is phhhhhhttt! drink water.

[RagingRandy]

Good post Faller.

I heard a debate on the radio once where a a few people were debating the issues you posted. One of the participants took positions similar to what is posted and was demonized by all others calling him a quack and that he did not have a clue. He then posed the question "What supporting medical evidence or studies do you have to prove that 8 glasses of water were required or that large quantities flush the system?" There was silence and then someone replied that these were well established facts but was unable to provide any proof.

The same guy also proposed that excessive water drinking could have a negative effect. He stated that if in fact water can flush your system then it is just as likely to remove the good along with the bad. A solvent does not discriminated.

We seem to demand proof for many assertions around here but this water myth is still propagated with hardly a challenge. I have asked in the past and I will ask again for anyone to produce any verifiable evidence that even 8 250ml glasses of water is required for an athlete let alone the average person on the street.

[steve_d]

the myths posting selected a small sample of abstracts and their conclusions and declared victory rather than actually considering the health differences between individuals who drink plenty of fresh clean water daily and those who do not.

So in a nutshell, my response is phhhhhhttt! drink water.


Plus, a study that shows an absense of difference is not the same as showing equivalence. What I mean by that is that just because a study fails to show 1 is better, it doesn't mean its not better, it just means they didn't have the sample, or the evidence to show it.


And yes, excessive water isn't good...but that doesn't imply more water is worse. But the body is pretty good at doing its job. There probably isn't a whole lot of difference to your health in drinking 1 litre compared to 3 for the average joe. Especially if you're eating healthy to begin with. But with the amount of sodium people consume, it only makes sense to flush some of it out.

[Forever]

I have asked in the past and I will ask again for anyone to produce any verifiable evidence that even 8 250ml glasses of water is required for an athlete let alone the average person on the street.
I see this the same as the recommended 1g of protein per lb of body weight. It may not be required, but there is no way of knowing exactly how much water/protein your body will need in a day and it varies from day to day. Since a high level of water/protein won't harm you, but a low level may hinder your performance, why not aim high?

I'm sure the average Joe who works in an air conditioned office and drives his car home at the end of the day doesn't need 8 glasses of water, but what about the construction worker who does physical labor outside all day in the heat, then has to ride his bike home? He just might need those 8 glass's to stay well hydrated. So when asked for a blanket recommendation, since 8 glass's isn't going to hurt the office worker, why not make it 8?

[RagingRandy]

I find the 1g\lb. of protein to be too generic as well. If the person is 35%BF and sits on their ass they have much different nutritional requirements than someone who is less than 10% and active even though they both may be 250 lbs.

If the 35% person is eating that much protein it will contribute to their obesity where the -10% person will need it to add\maintain muscle mass.

Dieticians will often use a plan of 25% protein 25% fat and 50% carbs as a calorie content breakdown for the average person. Using your logic you end up with

250 grams protein = 1000 cals
500 grams carbs = 2000 cals
111 grams fat = 1000 cals

This is not realistic for the average person.

[Shortdave]

It's actually supposed to be 1g/lb of lean body mass, not just body mass. So it covers the basics for even the fatties.

[#8]

I am thirsty a lot. I just drank a huge glass of water and it was tasty.

[BDH]

I am thirsty a lot. I just drank a huge glass of water and it was tasty.Tasty? How the **** does water have a taste? Fool. LOL

[faller]

I'm sure the average Joe who works in an air conditioned office and drives his car home at the end of the day doesn't need 8 glasses of water, but what about the construction worker who does physical labor outside all day in the heat, then has to ride his bike home? He just might need those 8 glass's to stay well hydrated.

Thats kinda my take on this as well. When i was falling i'd drink anywhere from one to one and half gallons of water a day and only take a piss once or twice. But i'd be in a hard sweat all day long. Now if i try and drink a gallon of water it makes me feel sick. I now drink six to eight glasses a day, depending on the temp. and thats where i feel at my best.

[RagingRandy]

Tasty? How the **** does water have a taste? Fool. LOL

I have a well at my place and the water here tastes far better than the crap they pump out of the taps in any city. I can't drink the water at restaurants when I visit civilization.

[jfusion]

I have a well at my place and the water here tastes far better than the crap they pump out of the taps in any city. I can't drink the water at restaurants when I visit civilization.

this, water does have a taste if its really fresh u can tell the diff easily.