We dispel the myths about your water needs
Kiwi Water doesn’t subscribe to the ‘eight glasses of water every day’ mantra – we tell the truth about your water needs.
Experts say:
- Drink at least six to eight cups of liquid per day – that’s from water, tea, coffee, other drinks and food.
- Drink enough to make you pee four or five times a day.
- Don’t ignore your thirst, even if it’s only mild. And the elderly and young should drink water frequently, even if they are not thirsty.
- We need water in larger amounts than we can make it from food – so we must drink it every day.
- Water and oxygen are the two most essential materials for human life. Most people will die if they go for more than five days without water.
- Water is 50–80% of our body weight, with the average adult male body containing about 40L water.
- There is no sound proof that 8 glasses of water a day gives you healthier skin.
- Drinking extra water doesn’t lead to weight loss, but if you drink it instead of sodas or juice or food – it may do.
- Accessible, clean drinking water is vital to life!
Advantages of bottled spring water
- It tastes delicious.
- It is chemical and germ free.
- It’s always cold and ready to go out with you.
- It’s convenient to have in the car when you’re driving long distances.
- You always have it on hand when kids are thirsty.
- It is a far healthier choice when you are out and about than fizzy drinks or fruit juice.
Why do we need water?
Water is found in all our body tissues – three-quarters of the human brain is made up of water. Water is necessary for so many things, eg, lubricating joints, regulating body temperature, transporting dissolved molecules to parts of the body, getting rid of poisonous waste products.
How much water do we need?
Our digestive systems use about 12L of water every day and, even without exercising, we lose 3L a day through breathing, sweating, urine and faeces. We retain some water by reabsorbing it from the bowel. To keep functioning normally, we need a steady supply of water from the daily intake of food and drink. Men need about 3L of water (from all sources) per day and women, about 2.2L. Food gives us about IL of that, with about 0.3L coming from the water produced by the breakdown of food. The remainder needs to come from fluids, eg, water, milk, tea, coffee and other drinks.
What if I dont get enough water?
Dehydration sets in when a person has lost 2% of his or her body weight. So for a 100kg man, this means losing 2kg of water. Dehydration is caused by not getting enough fluids, or by losing too much fluid. Chronic, mild dehydration and poor fluid intake can increase your risk of:
- kidney stones
- urinary tract cancers
- colon cancer
- heart valve disorders
- decreased physical and mental performance.
What causes chronic, mild dehydration?
Several things can cause this, including: not drinking enough water during the day, drinking a lot of caffeine and alcohol, environmental conditions and exercise. Young people and the elderly are more at risk from dehydration.
Water and exercise
If you exercise vigorously you should drink 250ml water before starting and then have 125ml every 15 minutes. This will prevent dehydration and improve your performance.
References: NPR Health; www.liveto100.co.nz; Metro magazine