Another myth bites the dust

Peter Wu

10 Feb 2011

I saw this in the National Geographic and condense it slightly to share with you.

I've heard about these eight glasses a day rule for a few years now and am often intrigued as to how it came about. I have to say I never follow that rule so I have no idea whether my total daily consumption deviates from this rule.

'Magazine, websites, even medical texts recommend guzzling eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. The bottled-water business loves it. Hydration experts, however, aren't so sure where the 8 x 8 rule came from, or whether it holds water. Mike Sawka, a US Army research scientist, thinks the origins lie in a 1933 study on rodent hydration. The research led to a recommendation of 2.5 litres a day, or 84.5 ounces of fluid, for a moderately active human to make up for water lost to sweat and excretions.

Only you don’t need eight glasses of water. The consumption of foods high in water, like soup, water melons, ice-cream, celery count towards that eight glasses rule. Other beverages also count, like beers or coffees.

The body isn't shy about liquid desires. Drink if you feel thirsty. If you don't, don't. When in doubt, check your urine. Dark yellow is the hue of dehydration.' You can’t have a simpler rule than that.