Crystal Nelson
Drinking enough water seems to be a cure for almost every ailment. But is that even true? How much water is really healthy?
“Between two and three liters of water, every day” has so far been the motto, which has probably made each of us feel guilty at some point. How can you manage to drink so much water every day? Are you constantly dehydrated when you fail again?
Even if the water bottle in your hand has almost mutated into a fashion accessory, the all-clear is now clear: It doesn’t have to be two to three liters of water a day for our fluid balance to be balanced. We busted some myths about drinking water for you.
Drinking water – myths and facts
The fact is: Our body consists of almost 70 percent water, so a person weighing 80 kilos has a little more than 50 liters of water in his body. You lose around 2.5 liters of fluid per day, mainly through excretion, but also through sweating and breathing. But that doesn’t mean you have to get the same amount from drinking water. In fact, you take in up to 20 percent of your daily fluid balance through food, such as fruit, and vegetables, but also meat and fish.
Another myth says that you should “always keep your water tank well stocked”. However, drinking in reserve does not work, since the body can only process small amounts at a time and simply excretes the rest. 40 ml of liquid per quarter of an hour is ideal – this way all cells are really reached.
The color of the urine should also not be taken as a guide. Although dark urine can be a sign of dehydration, foods such as beetroot, blueberries, or asparagus can also discolor the urine.
Does drinking a lot of help against asparagus urine?
Another legend we need to debunk here says that drinking water frequently will prevent or minimize wrinkles. It is true that the skin needs a lot of moisture to be fresh and elastic. However, this moisture can be better achieved with skin creams. Can too much water not also be harmful? Yes, but you have to drink a lot of water to risk serious health problems. With seven to ten liters of fluid a day, the blood is diluted too much and the electrolyte balance gets out of balance. There is a risk of disorientation and kidney failure. But honestly, a normal person really doesn’t drink that much water in everyday life.
Healthy water drinking – there isn’t one answer
But what is correct now? Science cannot (yet) give a definitive answer. “We still don’t fully understand how hydration affects our health and well-being, not even the impact of water intake in chronic disease,” states Barry M. Popkin, nutritionist at the University of North Carolina in the journal Nutrition Reviews. “Almost all research on the subject of water has so far focused on specific organs, such as the kidneys or the lungs. Complete body systems are still not fully understood.” Luckily, our body has developed a sure sign that tells us when we need to replenish our fluid reserves: thirst. In this case, you should simply listen to your body more often – and if in doubt, drink a glass of water too much. Incidentally, the German Society for Nutrition currently recommends one and a half liters of water per day.
