A lot of what we've been told about water consumption no longer holds water.
In a National Public Radio report entitled "Five Myths About Drinking Water", it states that "Scientists say there's no clear health benefit to chugging or even sipping water all day." In fact, Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, a kidney expert at the University of Pennsylvania, says that "Nobody really knows" where the 8 glasses of water a day advice originated from.
Another myth is that water helps flush toxins from the body, but it's actually the kidneys' job to do this. In fact, drinking too much water will actually reduce the kidney's ability to act as a filter!
In addition, some believe that drinking water makes for beautiful skin. With the body already being composed of 60% water, Goldfarb says that that the additional water consumed has little benefit for the skin.
Finally, some believe that drinking water leads to weight loss. Water itself does not in any way drain calories from the body, as some may believe. Rather, according to Madeline Fernstrom of the University of Pittsburgh, "Water is a great strategy for dieters because it has no calories. So you can keep your mouth busy without food and get the sense of satisfaction." She also advocates the drinking of diet sodas as another zero calorie option (although potential negative health-effects of consuming diet sodas have been revealed with recent research).
I am someone who always has a reusable bottle of water on hand and I definitely believe that drinking water helps stave off headaches and keeps my mouth from feeling dry or pasty. However, I'm not sure if even I, who drinks like a fish, meets the "8 glasses of water a day". I'm sure most of us don't. Thankfully, due to the latest research, the new guideline is to simply drink whenever you're thirsty.
Comments