A lot of misinformation about water has been floating around
lately. True or false?
1. Whether you're thirsty or not, you should force yourself
to drink water throughout the day.
2. You need 8 glasses of water a day.
3. The water in other beverages, fruits, and soup —
counts.
4. Drinking anything caffeinated results in a net loss of
water.
5. All alcoholic beverages are dehydrating.
6. Drinking lots of water cures or prevents hypertension,
ulcers, heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, headaches, and
back pain.
7. Drinking while eating does not help digestion.
ANSWERS
1. False. Boruch Hashem, in healthy people, the body
is very good at regulating fluid balance, and thirst is a
reliable indicator of water needs. Under normal
circumstances, there's no reason to tote a water bottle
around all day. Exceptions: when you're exercising
strenuously or doing hard physical work, especially over long
periods and in hot weather, you should make an effort to
drink even if you don't feel thirsty. Very dry environments
such as plane cabins may also dehydrate you: you'll be more
comfortable if you drink extra fluids when flying. Cold, dry
winter air also depletes the body of water.
2. False. This is a myth. Water is essential, but most people
can stay perfectly healthy with six or even 3 glasses of
fluids a day, depending on how active they are, how hot it
is, and what else they are consuming.
3. True. Milk and other beverages consist almost entirely of
water. Most foods are mainly water, particularly fruits,
greens, and other vegetables (some are 95 percent water).
Soups are mostly water. Even meats contain lots of water.
4. False. Caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, or cola
tend to promote urination, but they also count, in part, as
fluid intake. Drinking a cup of coffee does not result in a
net loss of water. You do retain some of the fluid from it.
In fact, a study from the University of Nebraska (2000) found
that people showed the same "hydration status" (as determined
from urine analysis and other medical tests) when they drank
caffeinated colas and/or coffee as when they drank only water
and/or fruit drinks.
5. False, for many alcoholic beverages. Concentrated
alcoholic beverages, such as vodka or brandy, if drunk
undiluted, are very dehydrating. But beer and many mixed
drinks contain lots of water (the alcohol in wine is also
fairly diluted). Still, if you're exercising or working in
hot weather, you're better off with nonalcoholic
beverages.
6. False. If only it could, Be"H. There is no evidence
for any of this, though these and other claims are often
made. Several years ago, for instance, one book blamed most
illnesses on lack of water, without offering any scientific
support. Of course, severe dehydration can lead to serious
problems such as muscle spasms and sharp drops in blood
pressure, as well as impaired exercise/work performance.
7. True. Drinking liquids with meals is a matter of
preference. The stomach needs water to digest foods, but it
draws in what it needs from the rest, temporarily. And as we
said, nearly everything you eat contains water.
(C) 2006 Dr. Reuven Bruner. All Rights Reserved.
Contact him at: POB 1903, Jerusalem, 91314, Israel; Tel: (02)
652-7684; Mobile: 052 2865-821; Fax: (02) 652-7227; Email:
FitnessDoctor@hotmail.com
