NPR report on water myths

Ok, I'm back. I actually think it's incredibly interesting. I don't now, nor have I ever seen what the benefits are of drinking a gallon or more of water a day. I just drink a lot of water at work to keep myself busy--like the article said--so I don't snack. It busy's my hands, mouth, and satisfies that feeling of boredom (usually).

To be honest, I drink a lot of water because (this may be TMI...) I like to see my pee be clear. :D It makes me feel cleaner, healthier and hydrated. It's almost like a comfort thing with me too--I never leave home without a full water bottle. It keeps me busy when driving long distances in the car too. It's all about that hand-to-mouth action. I must have some sort of oral fixation or somethin'...;)

Allison

http://www.picturetrail.com/allisonj90
 
I've been wondering about this for some time. With health and fitness and body matters everything is so individualized, how can "they" make the statement that 8 glasses a day works for everyone? Would a 300lb person need the same as a 90lb person? I think it's one of those things that has been repeated so many times that now we take it for the truth. Lots of people don't even realize that it is possible to drink too much water.

I drink water because I'd rather that then soda or juice and, as Allison says, it gives me something to do! :)

Sparrow

Even after all this time the earth never says to the sun, "you owe me." Look what happens with a love like that.

It lights the whole sky.

- Hafiz
 
I heard about this, too, and it makes sense for the most part. One thing that surprised me was that large quantities of water can reduce kidney function. I never would've thought that.

I don't believe that diet soda is fine substitute for water when weight loss is your goal. This can't be true if you're drinking soda with caffeine. And I thought soda, especially citrus flavored, can take the enamel right off your teeth. Is there a dentist in the house? Is this true?
 
>I don't believe that diet soda is fine substitute for water
>when weight loss is your goal. This can't be true if you're
>drinking soda with caffeine. And I thought soda, especially
>citrus flavored, can take the enamel right off your teeth. Is
>there a dentist in the house? Is this true?

The worst soda for teeth are the ones with phosphoric acid in them - Coke, Pepsi, and Mountain Dew are the worst offenders. My orthodontist gave me a list of every soda known to man along with its pH... Mountain Dew is right up there with battery acid. :eek: Horrible for your teeth! Sprite, 7Up, Root Beer, etc are better (higher pH - less acidic), but still not great.

Unfortunately, sometimes I get a hankering for something fizzy, and nothing but a Diet Coke (or Coke Zero) will do. I don't drink it every day, though.
 
>The worst soda for teeth are the ones with phosphoric acid in
>them - Coke, Pepsi, and Mountain Dew are the worst offenders.
>My orthodontist gave me a list of every soda known to man
>along with its pH... Mountain Dew is right up there with
>battery acid. :eek: Horrible for your teeth! Sprite, 7Up, Root
>Beer, etc are better (higher pH - less acidic), but still not
>great.
>
>Unfortunately, sometimes I get a hankering for something
>fizzy, and nothing but a Diet Coke (or Coke Zero) will do. I
>don't drink it every day, though.

Thanks Evily! This is good to know. Oh man, my DH is HOOKED on Diet Coke with Lime. He just recently tried the Coke Zero and he likes it, too, but he added lime juice to it. He adds lime juice to everything -- lol!
 
Sooo, what about a person whose "thirst-mechanism" is broken? I am never thirsty! I just make myself drink water since I had always heard you need 64* a day....I could go out and jog 5 miles and come back and not need a drink of water. I KNOW I need SOME water so I drink it.


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Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH (AKA "Den Mother Debbie") http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/aktion/action-smiley-066.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance, I Hope You DANCE!
 
My news station asked a doctor how much water SHOULD someone drink. The doc said enough to replace the fluids lost during the day - about 4-6 glasses. I work out, and sweat - so how much do I need? I just shook my head and said that I'd continue the way I am. When I drink more water (I don't drink an obnoxious amount), I feel better and my skin does look better.

Too much of anything is not good for you, so I can see how way too much water would be counter productive.

As for diet softdrinks - I'll have one once in a while, too - about once a month or so. But, there were just reports that correlate obesity with diet softdrinks. Seems the fatter someone is, the more likely they are to drink diet soft drinks. They did not say that the soft drinks cause obesity, but there are so many other reasons not to drink soda that I wonder at the people who drink it daily.

My step son drinks pepsi like it's going out of style - but he doesn't have a weight problem so he sees no reason to stop. However, he has the worst teeth of anyone in the family. He's 23 and has already had several root canals. His sister who does not drink as much, and who recently stopped drinking it at all - has far fewer problems. Any my daughter who was brought up with no soda in the house, has no cavities at all (of course, I don't either, so that could be genetics).
 
I kind of like the article because it agrees with how i feel about water. :p I always just drink when I'm thirsty and don't worry about it. That was pretty interesting that too much water can reduce kidney function though. Good. Another reason I don't have to glug water all day. :7
 
This isn't anything new--stuff like this comes around every few months. It's not so much the water that a runner/exerciser needs. It's a replenishment of electrolites that we need. That is proven through scientific study--though now I can't find the site that I found this on months ago.

It was a fun read, though.
 
You can actually drink too much water. If you are not replacing vital electrolytes (sodium and potassium) you'll dilute you're electrolytes too much. Fluid overload. Very bad. Very dangerous. A good rule of thumb since this is an individual things is to drink until your urine is light yellow, like lemonade. Your body is very smart and deals with varying hydration levels constantly through several mechanisms.
 
Thanks for this link, Robin. I'd heard this before but I'm never sure what the current thinking on these things is. I've been drowning myself in water lately (when I remember to do it). Then I spend half the night getting up to pee. I really have a tiny bladder or something. So I'm very hydrated but my sleep's disturbed. Ack. I'm going to keep this link for next time I hear that I should get more water. Like someone else said, water is better than a lot of the alternatives, and I generally drink it, even if not the full amount I'm told is required.

[font face="comic sans ms" font color=green]***Lainie***
fitness blog: http://fitnessfig.blogspot.com
http://bestsmileys.com/exercising/7.gif
If you want to give God a good laugh, tell Her your plans.[/font]
 
I had a kidney stone in 2000, and my urologist said it was because I wasn't drinking enough. He told me to drink 3 liters of fluid (mostly water) per day. I probably don't get that much per day, but I try to get close most days.
 
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