8 glasses of water a day keeps the doctor away… right?!?
Staying hydrated is vital, but drinking 8 glasses of water per day… not so much (1,2). Here is why (1,3,4):
- You can drink other beverages than water* to stay hydrated.
- You can also get water from your food!
There is also no scientific proof that drinking more water than you need will help your kidney detox your body, make your skin wrinkle free, or make you live longer (5,6,7).
Staying hydrated is important, especially in warm weather. If you are dehydrated, you will, of course, feel thirsty, but you might also have dry mouth and lips, a flushed skin, have a headache, feel dizzy or like you could faint, dark urine, low blood pressure and/or increase heart rate (8). As long as you are hydrating when thirsty, you don’t have to force yourself into drinking more water (1,9,10).
However, during really hot weather, you might lose more water and faster than you usually would. It might be a good idea to keep a beverage or a watery snack (e.g. watermelon, cucumber) with you and make a proactive effort to stay hydrated (1).
*While you can stay hydrated drinking a variety of beverages, water remains the healthiest beverage option (2,11). If you don’t really like drinking water, try giving it some flavor by adding some fruits and herbs (ex. Blackberries and mint, Raspberries and cucumber, Strawberries and basil) (11).
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8 glasses of water a day keeps the doctor away… right?!?
Staying hydrated is vital, but drinking 8 glasses of water per day… isn’t a requirement, because:
1. You can drink other beverages than water
2. You can get water from your food#ScienceUpFirst[1/2]
— ScienceUpFirst | LaScienced’Abord (@ScienceUpFirst) June 28, 2023
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- The Water Myth
- 8 glasses of water a day—myth or fact?
- Water: How much should you drink every day?
- Medical myths
- Myth of 8 Glasses of Water a Day
- Effect of Coaching to Increase Water Intake on Kidney Function Decline in Adults With Chronic Kidney Disease: The CKD WIT Randomized Clinical Trial
- Nutrition and water: drinking eight glasses of water a day ensures proper skin hydration—myth or reality?
- Facts on fluids: How to stay hydrated | FR : L’hydration, ça coule de source
- No, You Do Not Have to Drink 8 Glasses of Water a Day
- Body fluid changes, thirst and drinking in man during free access to water
- Make water your drink of choice – Canada’s Food Guide | FR : Faites de l’eau votre boisson de choix – Guide alimentaire canadien
