A person does not need to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day, it is sufficient to drink water or other beverages when thirsty. Olga Frolova, a specialist in general practice of the medical online service SberHealth, told socialbites.ca about this.
“There are many myths about the water and drinking regimen. For example, it is believed that every person should drink 6-8 glasses of clean water a day. In fact, this is a common myth that has not been confirmed after a number of studies,” said Frolova.
The doctor stated that the most important thing to focus on is sensations. At the same time, you do not need to force yourself to drink: this can lead to a lack of electrolytes in the cells.
On average, a person needs about 30 milliliters per kilogram of body weight. If he is sweating a lot due to heat, illness or training, it is recommended to increase his fluid intake. You should also drink more if you have diarrhea, constipation or heat stroke.
Sometimes it is necessary to reduce, not increase, fluid intake. For example, in some kidney diseases or heart failure, excess water can increase the load on the organs and worsen the general condition.
Another myth is the need to drink only clean water. In fact, tea, other beverages, and even food are also considered water sources.
“If you don’t like drinking pure water but prefer tea, this is also a great option for replenishing fluids. We can also get plenty of fluids while eating soup or stew. About 20% of the fluid comes from foods with a high water content. These include cucumber, grapefruit, orange, spinach, watermelon, etc. Of course, it is impossible to replace water with sweet lemonades and juices, as well as alcohol and other tonic drinks, because in such a situation the body will suffer from excess salt or sugar, ”Frolova explained.