Mindlessly drinking eight glasses of water or chugging energy drinks during workouts won’t necessarily meet your hydration needs. This week You! busts some common myths about hydration...
health
There is no denying that water is our basic need and it’s one of the essential ingredients that keep us alive. Naturally, drinking water is important but, too much of anything will cause more harm than good. And, water is not exception to that rule. When it comes to hydration, one-size-fits-all formula doesn’t apply here as the body function of every person differs. Mindlessly drinking eight glasses of water or chugging energy drinks during workouts won’t necessarily meet your hydration needs. Keeping this in mind, this week You! debunks some common myths relating to hydration that everyone should know about...
Sorry to break it to you, but this is a myth. There is no scientific data to back this statement that you have to drink a minimum of eight glasses of water every day. Yet, it’s frequently claimed by commercials, billboards and print advertisements that you need to ‘stay hydrated’.
Experts say that there is no fixed measure of water you must take daily in order to survive. As long as you have access to clean water, can easily drink when you are thirsty, there is no need to panic. The human body needs to maintain a certain level of water to function properly and if the need arises, the body will signal you through thirst. The amount of water needed by an individual to survive is subjected to many factors and varies from person to person, tells the experts. The human body needs to maintain a certain level of water to function properly. The rate at which the body loses the water is very subjective. It would be higher in hotter areas and lower in cold areas; plus the size matters so the big you are the more water is required and less water is needed when you have a small size. In fact, experts say that if your heart or kidneys is compromised, drinking too much water can cause congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema, or water intoxication. In these cases, fluid intake should be limited. Even if you don’t have any medical conditions, you can over-hydrate yourself by drinking too much. The high amount of water causes a condition called Hyponatremia, in which the sodium level in your body drops which can lead to convulsions and even death.
A glass of water in the morning will make your body boost better
You are often told that the first thing you need to do after getting up from a good night’s sleep is a glass of water. This is because your body needs water more than anything else to start and function properly. This is a myth. Studies show that if you have normally functioning kidneys, it may be refreshing to reach for water, but it’s not vital. Surely if you feel thirsty or it’s a habit of yours to have that glass of H2O, it is alright. But, don’t expect it to make you more hyperactive than the person who doesn’t do the same. It depends on the amount of water loss that took place in the form of sweat, urine or breathing that will decide if you need that early glass of water or not.
You might have heard this at least once if you are trying to lose weight, or have tried in the past. While the weight loss gurus might ask you to consume more water in order to quench your hunger, life doesn’t work that way. Yes, when you drink water, it increases your metabolism, but that means you will feel hungry more often. This doesn’t reduce your cravings for food and doesn’t make you feel full. So, the reason for consuming water is lost.
It has been said that coconut water is healthier as compared to ordinary water for an individual. However, this, too, is a myth. While it’s a refreshing drink and tastes yum, the label of ‘best hydration drink’ cannot be applied for everyone. According to experts, for people suffering from kidney issues, the high level of potassium present in coconut water can be dangerous and should be avoided completely. It’s better to continue drinking ordinary water as per the doctors’ recommendations. Apart from that, it’s a pretty great and tasty drink that you can easily enjoy on a hot summer’s day. Just remember that moderation is the key!
Most of us need a dose of caffeine to get through the day. If your morning starts with a piping hot cup of coffee or tea, you don’t have to worry about ditching it anytime soon. According to research, drinking caffeine-containing beverages, as part of a normal lifestyle, doesn’t cause fluid loss in excess of the volume ingested. While caffeinated drinks may have a mild diuretic effect - meaning that they may cause the need to urinate - they don’t appear to increase the risk of dehydration. But, mind you, a large amount of caffeine is dangerous and should be avoided.
If your pee is darker (or murkier) in colour, you need to drink more water. This is kind of true, but not entirely. Yes, the colour of the urine shows you the concentration but that colour can be due to other reasons as well. For instance, if you happen to take multivitamins or have a high-protein diet, your urine could be darker than usual. Rather than looking at the colour, look at the volume. The more you put in your body, the more that should come out. If you seldom go to the restroom, that’s a sign you are probably not consuming enough fluids. Moreover, if you find yourself running to the loo every 10-15 minutes, you may be over-consuming fluids.
