We would be more productive if we drank less - water

[formerlurker]

We would be more productive if we drank less - water
July 18th, 1963
ANN MARIE HOURIHANE

There is little if any scientific evidence that drinking two litres of water a day has any health benefits

SO, ANOTHER modern health myth has bitten the dust. You don’t have to drink eight glasses of water per day, if you don’t damn well feel like it. Last week Glasgow GP Margaret McCartney examined the claim that drinking eight glasses of water per day was beneficial, and concluded that it was “thoroughly debunked nonsense”. On the contrary, Dr McCartney wrote in the British Medical Journal , drinking too much water can actually be harmful. Here was a shot that went round the world. There hasn’t been this much excitement since it was established that the American recommendation to “Strive for five” servings of fruit and vegetables every day had been arrived at pretty much at random.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2011/0718/1224300883730.html

[longview]

I'm told that the recommended amount of water is much more complex and individualized than a blanket "8 glasses a day."  

It makes sense to me that it also depends on a person's diet, activity level, environment, and own metabolism.  And all that is too complex and changes to often to be prescribed with a concrete amount to any benefit.  

[NHSparky]

Tell ya what, asshole--I was outside in 95-degree heat doing yardwork, painting my deck, etc.  Think 8 glasses of water would have covered me?

[seahorse513]

Tell ya what, asshole--I was outside in 95-degree heat doing yardwork, painting my deck, etc.  Think 8 glasses of water would have covered me?

I agree Sparky.... I was working out in the heat, I can't tell you how much water I drank, and paying a penny on the hour.....

[thundley4]

I don't think they are saying that you should never drink that much water.  Drink when you're thirsty and in danger of overheating.  I think they are saying that someone just sitting around in air conditioning and not exerting themselves would not need as much water as someone working outside in the sun.

[thelaughingman]

drinking too much water can actually be harmful.

Yep.  People have died from it.  A woman died after a radio station held a water drinking contest the called "Hold Your Wee for a Wii."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16614865/ns/us_news-life/t/woman-dies-after-water-drinking-contest/

Everything in moderation, folks.  Even water. 

[Evil_Conservative]

It's hot in Las Vegas.  I drink water from morning to night.  You're crazy if you don't drink water to keep yourself hydrated.

[Evil_Conservative]

I don't think they are saying that you should never drink that much water.  Drink when you're thirsty and in danger of overheating.  I think they are saying that someone just sitting around in air conditioning and not exerting themselves would not need as much water as someone working outside in the sun.

You should still drink water throughout the day.  If you wait until you go outside before drinking water, I'd think your body would start to dehydrated quicker.

I had some guy at work make fun of me a few days ago about carrying around my 32oz water bottle.  I work in all conditions.  Indoors/outdoors/extreme heat/etc.  I drink just as much water when I am indoors as I do outdoors.  The co-worker told me, "you won't die if you don't drink water and go outside to work all day."  Nope, may not DIE but I do not want to be in the hospital due to heat exhaustion/stroke/dehydration or whatever would happen.

[Rebel]

I agree Sparky.... I was working out in the heat, I can't tell you how much water I drank, and paying a penny on the hour.....

Maine and New Hampshire. Yeah, ya'll know something about heat. 


 

[NHSparky]

Maine and New Hampshire. Yeah, ya'll know something about heat. 


 

Hey, 95 degrees, heat index of 100-plus.  You don't have to live in the asshole of the South to know that's HOT.  We used to do the hydration lectures on the boat, etc.  High heat condition and heavy physical activity can mean you need to drink as much as 2 GALLONS of water per day.

I know when I ran my first marathon, I hit every water station every mile, and still lost 6 pounds.  Never once did I have to take a potty break.

[DumbAss Tanker]

The 8 per day thing is directed at everyone, including housewives and cubefarm denizens, outside work isn't even a part of that old say...I think most of us know damn' well 8 glasses of water a day would barely begin to touch the water debt your body would be in, doing heavy labor outside for a full day with a heat factor near or over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

I really do strive to eat the 5 portions of vegetables, though...per week!

[LC EFA]

I drink upwards of a gal of water a day in high summer if I'm doing anything physical outdoors.

Of course that's in full tropical 100F heat at between 80 and 98% RH.

Sweat most of it right back out.

[seahorse513]

Maine and New Hampshire. Yeah, ya'll know something about heat. 


 

No it was quite hot this weekend, even for us. If I wasn't drinking water and kept hydrated, I was sick to my stomache. Unlike the supercenters, we don't have a "greenhouse". Our patio and corral are exposed to the sun...

[Celtic Rose]

I guess I'm not seeing where productivity comes into play here. Neither drinking water or peeing take a great deal of time, so if anybody is blaming a lack of productivity on those things then they have some issues.

[thelaughingman]

You should still drink water throughout the day.  If you wait until you go outside before drinking water, I'd think your body would start to dehydrated quicker.

I don't know about quicker, but it does take time for your body to process the water, so drinking before going outside makes a lot of sense.  Get ahead of the game, as it were.

[debk]

The article quoted was written in 1963. 

There was something recently that came out, about how much water to drink. It was based on body weight, how much exercise you do in a day, type of work (inside/outside, manual labor/sitting a a desk) and other stuff.

Mine is basically body weight / 2 = # of ounces.

Obviously execise, job type, alcohol intake, pregnant/breast feeding, smoking all have an impact and will dehydrate the body of not only water, but of necessary vitamins and nutrients, which is why gatorade or something similar is good for extreme exercise/physical labor especially in higher temperatures. A woman's body needs more of everything when pregnant or breast feeding. Alcohol dehydrates the body, and I'm guessing smoking does too, since it's taken into consideration.

http://nutrition.about.com/library/bl_water_calculator_results.htm

[Chris_]

The article quoted was written in 1963. 

Back then, smoking was good for you.

Wish I had a time machine.

[docstew]

You should still drink water throughout the day.  If you wait until you go outside before drinking water, I'd think your body would start to dehydrated quicker.

I had some guy at work make fun of me a few days ago about carrying around my 32oz water bottle.  I work in all conditions.  Indoors/outdoors/extreme heat/etc.  I drink just as much water when I am indoors as I do outdoors.  The co-worker told me, "you won't die if you don't drink water and go outside to work all day."  Nope, may not DIE but I do not want to be in the hospital due to heat exhaustion/stroke/dehydration or whatever would happen.

Last month, we had a guy get heat stroke during a run. Core temp of 108 when he got to the ER, after 20 minutes of pouring water on him. Not fun...