There’s water, water everywhere – and too many drops to drink. Recent
research suggest previous guidelines that encouraged us to drink eight glasses
of water daily may have been somewhat misleading.
The original recommendation for drinking eight glasses of water every day came from
the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine in the 1940s. But many
people don’t realize that this recommendation also pointed out that a large
portion of that requirement is met by the water in our food.
There’s no conclusive scientific evidence that drinking large amounts of water
helps prevent kidney stones, urinary tract infections, or bladder cancer, according
to Heinz Valtin, M.D., in the June issue of the Center for Science in the Public
Interest’s Nutrition Action
Health Letter. “I think people forgot about [consuming water
through food], so it became the rule to drink two liters of water a day.”
Although it’s important to stay hydrated to maintain overall good health,
Valtin says drinking too much water could be potentially hazardous.
So how much water should you drink a day? Valtin notes that it depends on the individual,
adding that, “Some people need more water if they have certain diseases, engage
in vigorous exercise, or work in hot climates.” He personally drinks five
or six glasses a day. “Drink what you usually drink with meals and between
meals, plus when you’re thirsty,” Valtin suggests.