3 ms·

What toxins? By the way, I mentioned specifically too much water. You only need to drink when you're thirsty. I'm asking what benefit you get from drinking w

What toxins? By the way, I mentioned specifically too much water. You only need to drink when you're thirsty. I'm asking what benefit you get from drinking water when you're not thirsty. By the way, "people are dehydrated a large majority of the time" -- citation needed.

nzmsv 16y ago
This is an interesting question. The guideline I have heard over and over is 2L/day. I wondered what this is based on. Wikipedia says the 2L/day guideline comes from the EPA, and the corresponding British guideline is 1.8L/day. Following the links on Wikipedia I got to this article: http://www.aafp.org/afp/991115ap/2269.html http://www.aafp.org/afp/991115ap/2269.html It lists low fluid intake (as well as restricted access to a bathroom) as a risk factor in kidney stone formation. However, another article (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12576800 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12576800) reports some conflicting results. Apparently, as people drink more water, they consume more sodium to compensate, negating some of the benefits. I wonder what someone who actually knows about this would say. Also, 2L isn't that much, but I wonder if I drink 8 glasses of water a day. An experiment is in order.
- timcederman 16y ago
  It doesn't need to be pure water to get benefits out of it. There was a study published on whether diuretic drinks (coffee, caffeinated sodas) provided equal hydration benefit. Pretty much, they do. Coke now uses it as part of their advertising campaign. http://www.dietcoke.com/wellness-balance/hydration.jsp http://www.dietcoke.com/wellness-balance/hydration.jsp
tmountain 16y ago
Pesticides, steroids, residual contaminants from environmental deposition, and many other sources. Drinking water when you're not thirsty is controversial and may actually overwork your kidneys if done too often; however, with the large amount of caffeine, soda, and alcohol (all diuretics) consumed by the general population, that's rarely an issue. Obviously, I can't speak for any large body of humans without some kind of rigorous scientific evidence, but passive observation of coworkers, friends, and family leads me to believe that most people don't drink nearly enough water. It could be different where you live though.
Quiark 16y ago
From what I know, the statement "You only need to drink when you're thirsty" is incorrect. Also, you are unlikely to "drink too much" when you just have water at your desk. Toxins? Again, no specific answer, but the food is not necessarily "clean", so that's what our kidneys and liver are for.

nzmsv 16y ago

This is an interesting question. The guideline I have heard over and over is 2L/day. I wondered what this is based on. Wikipedia says the 2L/day guideline comes from the EPA, and the corresponding British guideline is 1.8L/day. Following the links on Wikipedia I got to this article: http://www.aafp.org/afp/991115ap/2269.html http://www.aafp.org/afp/991115ap/2269.html It lists low fluid intake (as well as restricted access to a bathroom) as a risk factor in kidney stone formation. However, another article (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12576800 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12576800) reports some conflicting results. Apparently, as people drink more water, they consume more sodium to compensate, negating some of the benefits. I wonder what someone who actually knows about this would say. Also, 2L isn't that much, but I wonder if I drink 8 glasses of water a day. An experiment is in order.

timcederman 16y ago
It doesn't need to be pure water to get benefits out of it. There was a study published on whether diuretic drinks (coffee, caffeinated sodas) provided equal hydration benefit. Pretty much, they do. Coke now uses it as part of their advertising campaign. http://www.dietcoke.com/wellness-balance/hydration.jsp http://www.dietcoke.com/wellness-balance/hydration.jsp

tmountain 16y ago

Pesticides, steroids, residual contaminants from environmental deposition, and many other sources. Drinking water when you're not thirsty is controversial and may actually overwork your kidneys if done too often; however, with the large amount of caffeine, soda, and alcohol (all diuretics) consumed by the general population, that's rarely an issue. Obviously, I can't speak for any large body of humans without some kind of rigorous scientific evidence, but passive observation of coworkers, friends, and family leads me to believe that most people don't drink nearly enough water. It could be different where you live though.

Quiark 16y ago

From what I know, the statement "You only need to drink when you're thirsty" is incorrect. Also, you are unlikely to "drink too much" when you just have water at your desk. Toxins? Again, no specific answer, but the food is not necessarily "clean", so that's what our kidneys and liver are for.