4/22/05 Show 20/20 H2O myth

[bellcollector]

I have been watching tonights 20/20 on food mythis. They just debuncted the fact that we need 8 8oz glasses of water a day. Their expert says you get most of the H2O you need from the food you eat and then your body will tell you when you need more by thirst.

Do you agree or disagree? Personally I disagree. I DO think our bodies need way more water than we normally get. In my nutrition class we were taught that by the time you feel thirst you are already mildly dehydrated. I agree I think thirst is a symptom of needing more water. I can agree with what the expert said about people being different and therefore need different amounts of water. However I do think 8x8 is a good rule of thumb. I try to drink roughly that much. What say you??

[Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN]

Totally disagree with the "20 / 20 experts."

Always try to get in my two liters plus.

[HerbalGypsy]

I also disagree with 20/20. However, it is important to increase the amount of water consumed gradually. This allows the body to adjust to the increase and use the water and not just eliminate it. I always understood that caffeine is a diuretic and for each ounce of caffeinated beverage, 2 ounces of water should be consumed. To avoid hyponatremia, trace minerals can be added to the filtered water or just drink spring water.

:)

[~Kitty~]

No way I can drink that much water. I actually go days without drinking water. Although, most days I have to take a Claritin or Tylenol or something.

Every so often I will have some water like last night at work and it really hits the spot. But not always. Sometimes trying to take a few sips of water seems way more like a chore than anything. No way I could drink 2 liters daily.

I am a Pepsi-holic. That is my primary beverage.

I wish my family and I enjoyed water more. It would save on dining out bills big time if we enjoyed water with our meals.......which we don't.

[redwinggirlie]

I was always under the impression when our bodies signalled it was time for water, we were already dehydrated to a certain degree. Drink up, folks!

[live4today, RN]

I love to drink bottled water versus any other type of fluid. It's practically all I drink besides my daily or every other day soy fruit shake that I make for breakfast.

I agree with Tweety that we do not eat enough fruits and veggies. I can handle eating more fruit than veggies probably because I don't have to cook the fruit. :)

[bobnurse]

i think the amount of water depends on your activity and lifestyle.......naturally a couch potato wont require as much water as an active person........

I work out daily, so naturally i drink at least a gallon of water per day.....But someone who "lounges," naturally wont need this.....I think the 8 glasses a day is a good general amount to meet the needs of most people.....sure an elderly CHF patient might disagree, but they are a class outside these guidelines due to their disease processes.....

[CHATSDALE]

it takes a lot of disipiline to drink that much water but once you get in the habit that it becomes easier

i know that i felt a lot better and i lost weight when i was drinking that much...i will just have to grab myself by the scuff of the neck and make myself to it again

as for going to bathroom that is the good thing if your kidneys are working

and as for experts...you can find an expert to agree with anything esp with a camera poiinted at them

do what makes you feel best..your body is the best indicator of what you should be doing

[PJMommy]

I agree with earle58....my complexion doesn't lie and I need the water (coffee, soda, fruit and veggies do NOT have the same effect).

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Why would I want to include a beverage as part of my 'daily allowance' when I'm just going to pee it out (plus probably more) because to its diuretic effect?? That doesn't do my body any good.

Who can answer this..... If 8-8oz glasses of water aren't necessary, then why do I feel so much better when I *do* drink this much?? If this much isn't needed, then why does it help people lose/keep weight off when they do keep their intake up? (I have my own theories in this matter.)

If in your first paragraph you are referring to coffee or tea, with caffeine, it has a slight diuretic effect - not enough to do any harm if you are getting enough fluid from other sources.

And if you feel good after 8 glasses then do it . . there just isn't any proof that we really need that many glasses of H20 . . . we can get our fluid elsewhere and actually do.

steph

[HisTreasure, BSN, RN]

I drink 64 oz. cold green tea with ginseng and honey a day. By drinking green tea, cutting out Pepsi, and making no other alterations to my diet, I have lost 25 pounds in the past couple of months and my urine is running clear. I called my urologist (I too am a kidney stone survivor) and was told that this beverage was just as good as drinking water because it was made mostly of water and contained no caffeine. So, I don't necessarily believe it has to be water itself specifically, just 64 oz. of sufficient water from beverages or foods.

[Kabin]

Alot depends on climate and activity level, but drinking slightly more is better than slightly less.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I drink 64 oz. cold green tea with ginseng and honey a day. By drinking green tea, cutting out Pepsi, and making no other alterations to my diet, I have lost 25 pounds in the past couple of months and my urine is running clear. I called my urologist (I too am a kidney stone survivor) and was told that this beverage was just as good as drinking water because it was made mostly of water and contained no caffeine. So, I don't necessarily believe it has to be water itself specifically, just 64 oz. of sufficient water from beverages or foods.

Your last sentence is the main point - you don't have to drink 8 glasses of WATER. You get your fluids from lots of other places.

But if you want to drink that much and feel good, then go for it.

The myth that makes people feel guilty for not drinking 8 glasses of WATER a day needed airing. People really do forget fruits and vegetables - as an example I just ate some of the SouthBeach Diet's mashed "potatoes" which are really cauliflower . . . lots of water in those babies.

We just bought a 12 pack of Lipton Diet Green Tea . . really good.

steph