According to a report in the British Medical Journal, it is not necessary to drink 8 glasses of water a day for good health. Scottish doctor Mary McCartney calls this recommendation "nonsense" and cites that there are no clear studies or convincing evidence to support this claim made by the organization Hydration for Health.
I don't know about you, but I drink more than eight glasses of water a day, especially in the summer. Of course, in the back of my mind I have that "eight glasses a day" thing, but I also find water to be the best thirst quencher. I also prefer to drink water with my meals rather than soda, juice, or coffee. This is a personal preference, but I know as I drink water I always think it is a healthier practice than imbibing drinks loaded with sugar or caffeine.
McCartney points to the motives behind Hydration for Health's call to drink water and notes that they are supported by the French company Danone, which just so happens to own Evian, Volvic, and Badoit water bottlers. Obviously, it is no coincidence that this group promotes good health through water.
I am sure if Pepsi and Coca-Cola supported some group to tout the benefits of drinking soda, we would all see it as a sham, but since water equals healthy in most people's minds, we don't think twice about it.
Dr. McCartney is not suggesting we stop drinking water, and she does note that drinking more water can be a good thing for patients who have a need for it, like "those with current kidney stones or polycystic kidney disease." She also notes that the eight glasses theory doesn't make sense for everyone; children and the elderly certainly will not need to drink as much as adults and so on.
Article comments
1 - Bill Sherman
Living in the AZ desert, I know I go for at least eight glasses a day.
2 - MAC
I would drink tap water except for the fluoridation. Typical water filters don't remove the fluoride so I drink bottled. Maybe two bottles per day in addition to milk and juice.
3 - Victor Lana
Thanks for the comments.
Bill, if you're living out there that just makes perfect sense.
MAC, I did not know that thing about fluoride. I can see why you would go for the bottled water then.
4 - Dr Dreadful
It's really not necessary to drink eight glasses a day, unless like Bill you live in an extremely hot climate and/or have a physically demanding job which gets you dehydrated quickly.
Advice like this tends to overlook the fact that there's already water in practically everything we drink and eat.
Our regular dietary intake accounts for a good portion of the body's daily water needs.
5 - Dr Dreadful
As for the fluoride, I'm not going to lose any sleep over my Brita filter not removing it. Even though this undoubtedly means I will soon be one of the millions who die tragically from fluoride poisoning every year.
6 - Victor Lana
Dr. D, groiwng up and living in NYC I've always had fluoride in the water, and I know it's supposed to be good for my teeth. I am not sure what level starts making it dangerous, but my Dad has been drinking it unfiltered for over 90 years.
7 - maskay
Last November I switched to only drinking water, with the occasional juice or pop a couple of times a month, and have since lost 20+ pounds. May not be 8 glasses a day, but its enough reason for me to just drink water.