Health and Wellness
Nutrition

Do We Really Need Eight Glasses of Water Every Day?

Ayn Fritzi Pachoco
June 18, 2023
5
min read

Do you know where the eight-glass-of-water-a-day rule originated? Nobody else does either.

Despite this, many dietitians, weight-loss specialists, and general health gurus believe we need to drink that much water every day.

I definitely attempted it. In the morning, I would sip coffee and then push down a glass of water. I wasn’t thirsty by the time I finished my sweet tea with lunch, but I planned to drink two additional glasses of water in the afternoon.

I was full by the time I had a glass of wine and additional tea for dinner – and faced five more glasses of water! I just couldn’t do that every day.

I know many of you can, and I admire you. But there is some good news for the rest of us who are wallowing in self-pity.

Before I proceed any further, I want to emphasize the importance of being hydrated. Adequate water consumption is required to keep the organ systems functioning properly. This is simple to perform while relaxing and may be accomplished in a variety of ways. However, during intense physical exercise or in hot weather, intake must be increased and sustained to keep the body’s core temperature from dangerously increasing and to avoid dehydration.

However, new study has shown that there is no evidence to support the widely held belief that drinking eight glasses of water each day is necessary for optimal health. There was no difference in hydration status between normal individuals of both genders in studies that were repeated.

We are not, as some would have us think, wandering about dehydrated.

When we are thirsty, we should drink water. It is still the greatest indication, and this signal is sent by our brains after we have lost between 1% and 2% of our body’s water. This quantity is not hazardous.

Scientific studies also show that drinking more water has no additional benefits for the skin. There is also no evidence that it substantially reduces appetite.

Nature designed for us to get a large portion of our water from the foods we consume. Fruits and vegetables contain 80 to 90 percent water. Meat has a considerable quantity, and dry bread and cheese comprise approximately 35% water.

Caffeinated drinks, such as coffee, tea, and soda, may not always lead to dehydration. Caffeine does promote water loss, but only a fraction of what you contribute by drinking the beverage.

It’s OK if you prefer to drink eight glasses of water each day. But don’t feel bad if you don’t carry a bottle around with you like everyone else. Instead, consume a well-balanced diet and listen to your thirst mechanism.

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