Neither 8 glasses nor 2 liters of water a day, this is the "hydration equation" that shows whether you are drinking enough water

2023-06-28 09:03:21Lifestyle SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Neither 8 glasses nor 2 liters of water a day, this is the "hydration
Illustrative photo

Experts around the world recommend six to eight glasses, or up to 1.2 liters of fluids a day, which shows that we also get water from food. But, on the other hand, Harvard Medical School recommends four to six glasses a day. But what we hear most is the most extreme recommendation, for two liters of water a day.

In 2016, the idea that it's best to get most of your fluids from water was debunked by Dr. Stuart Galloway, Associate Professor of Physiology, Exercise and Nutrition at the University of Stirling. His study showed that a variety of beverages, including diuretics such as instant coffee or tea, did not cause more fluid loss than water when consumed in normal amounts.

But no one can say exactly how much fluid we should all be drinking because we all have different bodies, diets, and activity levels, not to mention varying environments (hot, dry, humid, etc.) . Most people can tell if they need more water because they feel thirsty, but this requirement diminishes in old age.

Galloway says that for most adults, when in doubt, the number of bathroom trips can be a potentially useful guide to adequate hydration. It takes into account changes in fluid intake as well as changes in fluid losses due to environment or activity level.

If water adequately meets your needs, four to six visits to the toilet to urinate in a typical day would be a rough rule of thumb. Going to the bathroom more than six means you're overdoing it, while fewer than four means you probably need to drink more. He says urine color is also helpful with similar caveats.

 


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