you need to drink 64oz of water a day, if you drink crystal lite or flavored water (sparkling) does that count towards that. Also would juice, like diet v8 splash and diet cranberry count towards that.
I've also done a lot of research on the fluid requirements, especially after my mother was hospitalized for water intoxication (on only about a gallon of fluids a day). A relatively low dose of blood pressure meds did make her more susceptible to the hyponatremia (dangerously low blood levels of sodium, caused by drinking too much water), but her kidney specialist told us (and more research on my part is in agreement) that 3 quarts of water is more than enough fluid for almost anyone (unless you're an extreme athlete and/or live in the desert, it probably applies to you).
And all fluids count, even coffee and other caffeinated and even most low alcohol, alcoholic beverages (wine and beer) contribute to fluid requirements. You can get all of your fluid requirements from food if you eat high water content foods, though most people don't eat enough fruits and vegetables to be able to do so. The drink half your weight in ounces can be quite dangerous for people who are morbidly obese, particularly if they're on even the mildest of diuretics or blood pressure medications.
Because rumors and myths abound regarding what counts and how much water a person should have (and the myths keep getting more and more extreme, calling for more and more water intake), the risk of water poisoning is becoming less rare even among relatively healthy people (until recently it was almost unheard of except in marathon athletes, folks trying to pass drug screens by gorging on water, and mentally ill people with a compulsive water drinking habit).
If you're on any diuretics or blood pressure meds, please talk to your doctor regarding your fluid intake, especially if you are going to drink more than 3 quarts of any fluid on a daily basis.
my thoughts are just listen to your body. i do not drink 64 oz of water a day i think i am at only about half that most days and that does not include any soda or coffee or any thing like that that is just plan boring water. but if i feel like i cannot drink anymore water ( the plan boring water) then that i will not. i have learned to listen to what my body is telling me.
I find the water recs to be really outrageous also, and ITA with the 'just listen to your body' camp. I'm nursing and I'm sure I don't drink anywhere near 64oz water/day. I'm not worried about it.
I'm in the "listen to your body" camp too, but at the other end of the spectrum - I normally drink at least 128 ounces of water/day, with other beverages on top of that. But I also maintain a regular hot yoga practice; in a 90-minute class, I sweat out approximately 4 pounds of water. My fluid intake seems outrageous, until you consider my exercise regime.
It's important to stay hydrated, but many of the recommendations over the years weren't based on any real research! The new research suggests that for most of us, there isn't really any need to pound down a lot of water. We get what we need from what we drink and eat. In other words, even the notion of needing 64 ounces a day of water is a myth, and by that I mean based on no real research whatsoever.
Please don't think I'm suggesting it's bad to drink water!! Lots of people like it, and find a lot of benefits from it, including keeping them feeling full! And you should drink more when you exercise or sweat a lot. And certainly if you like it, drink it! But I think a lot of people worry too much about it...
I drink at least 80 oz. a day, but only because I'm always so *thirsty*. (And no, I am not diabetic, the doctor has checked over and over.) I have to pee constantly. Very inconvenient. I do use flavoring with artificial sweeteners, and my mother lectures me regularly about them. So now I just drink my Crystal Light with a dose of guilt.
Yea, Dr. Oz did a "myth busters" type of program on Oprah last year...They did a study involving 2 identical twin sister who both drank several quarts of water a day. They had one sister continue and the other only drank when thirsty, She consumed many ounces less per day than her sister throughout the course of a week or so. Then they ran all sorts of test and come to find out, there was absolutely no benefit of consuming all that water.
I was thrilled! I drink a few glasses a day and am totally satisfied.
Drinking lots of water is not beneficial IF and ONLY IF the average, healthy person is considered. Most of us who are obese or overweight are not in this boat -- our body weight is not healthy and there are often other health issues involved. Those also in high temperature zones or who are exercising need to ensure that they take in enough fluids to prevent dehydration.
Water is essential to promoting kidney function, in particular, clearing the body of those salts that when concentrated form kidney stones.
If you've ever had a kidney stone, you'll err on the side of caution and drink lots of water to prevent these salts from concentrating to form a stone if for no other reason.
As for the "no benefits" arguement, there is ALSO no evidence that there is harm in drinking a reasonable (and I emphasize REASONABLE) amount of water. I personally choose to err on the side of prevention as I have had a kidney stone before and really don't want to have that particular joy again if something as simple as a few extra glasses of water a day might prevent a recurrance.
Kira
I drink several bottles (refillable) of water a day, along with several cups of tea. I doubt that I get up to 64 ounces a day, but I don't know if I COULD drink that much--I already feel like I'm constantly peeing! I think I'd be in the bathroom every 10 minutes if I drank as much as 'they' say you're supposed to!
Kira -- I agree with you that staying hydrated IS important and that there's no harm in a reasonable amount of water. I know in my post I noted that staying hydrated is important especially "when you exercise or sweat a lot."
So, I don't think we disagree on much. My problem is that so so many people feel like failures for not drinking "enough" water, when, according to research, there's no evidence we need to be drinking that much in the first place. The research shows that we get a lot of the fluids we need from our food, and certainly from all of our other beverages.
Now, I do agree that there's not much research on "not healthy" people, but I don't know that many obese people fall into a category where they need to worry about their hydration. I don't know that simply being obese, in and of itself, has hydration issues. I know it didn't for me. But certainly if someone does have health issues -- kidney issues especially -- they should take care.
I basically drink no pure water (it's almost all tea and crystal Light for me). I don't track how much fluid I drink but I make sure I drink enough by the color of my urine. I can usually tell if I am drinking enough, but if there's any doubt I check to make sure it is straw colored and if it starts to get darker than that I up my fluid.
i was still under the impression i should be gorging myself on water and I've been having trouble getting in even 64oz ...
today i had 1 cup of coffee, 8oz milk, and roughly 44 oz of water so far... i will be up for a while yet but i have to get another 8 oz glass of milk in yet too (per dr. request to keep blood sugar from bottoming out while i sleep)
i'm glad to see that i dont need to try to work up to over 100oz. i think if i can maintain 64 i will be fine.
i pee a LOT ... plus my bladder isn't that strong so yeah..
a water vs other beverages discussion
