water consumption question

[RhiannonW]

I've read the amount of water a person is supposed to drink per day is 1/2 ounce per pound of body weight. Does that sound correct?
If I drank more than that amount would it provide more or less benefit, or neither? I know some things(usually pills, though) don't provide any benefit above the maximum amount.
Thank you.

 

[Debra L]

I don't think there's a simple formula. It depends on more factors than just weight. Your activity level, how much you sweat, the climate where you live, whether you're eating lots of "watery" foods like soup, melon or whether you consume that trigger fluid loss, etc.

A researcher recently debunked the 8 glasses a day guideline (64 oz). But he studied healthy, sedentary adults. (Healthy but sedentary sounds like an oxymoron to me.)

Water is critical to bodily functions, so err on the side of excess. It generally just means more trips to the bathroom. It is possible to overconsume water and upset electrolyte balance. This happens in endurance events when people hydrate with water instead of a fluid w/ electrolytes. I guess the point is not to get too excessive.

Debra

 

[FitnessGoddess]

Debra has really hit this one right on target. As an example of how much the climate affects the amount of water you need, I live in NJ & can drink 80-96 oz of water a day & maintain "hydration." I recently went to Miami for my vacation & drank the double that amount of water everyday that I was there. I retained so much water it wasn't funny! I can tell because my fingers swell when I retain water. As soon as I came home, that bloat went away.

I think you do need to drink at least the 8-10, 8 oz glasses recommended by most "experts" but then judge how for yourself your body responds when you add to that amount. I would never recommend more than a gallon a day, though.

 

[kathryn]

I've even read 1 once per pound of body weight.

A good indication of if you are getting enough fluids is the color of your urine, though even that has varying guidelines. Some say you should drink enough so that your urine is clear (though if you take a multi-vitamin with certain b vitamins in, that will color your urine). Others say clear OR very light yellow, like diluted lemonade. The first urination in the morning usually will be darker, though. I've also read that you should have at least 2 or 3 (can't remember which) clear urinations per day, in addition to others that may be colored.

Thirst is most definitely NOT a good guideline as to how much to drink.

 

[naughtoj]

Just drink LOTS of water. I drink GALLONS per day and have never had any negetive side effects. Too really overdose on water is almost impossible. More is most always better.

Janice

 

[robyn6002]

Yes for most of us too much water isn't a problem.

I do know that too much can be deadly. A year or so ago a woman died in the boston marathon from too much water (I forget what it was called).

I really think drinking water makes my face look "fuller" or maybe it's psychological!

Funny was just having a glass of water before I went to sleep!

 

[nancy324]

My nutritionist told me to drink 64 ozs. per day, which is 2 quarts, which is 1/2 gallon. She said to start first thing in the morning and keep it going all day long.

I drink close to 2 of those long, thin Glaceau smartwater bottles per day. Oddly, it's the only container I like to drink from, and it makes it easy to drink all the water I'm supposed to.

It does come out to about 1/2 oz. per lb. of body weight, but I don't know if she based it on my size or not.