Is it true that … we should always all drink extra water?

Sorry Stanley cup devotees, the environmental physiology professor Lewis Halsey at Roehampton College says there was an “overselling of considerations” about consuming sufficient H2O.

“It’s a difficult one,” Halsey says. “Clearly folks can turn into dehydrated. We’re set as much as have fairly a excessive water turnover fee: we sweat it out to maintain cool, and we subsequently must get better these fluids. Nevertheless, we are able to, a minimum of within the brief and even medium time period, lose various fluids and be high quality.”

Halsey, who’s researching sweating and consuming’s impression on physique temperature, says the quantity of water every particular person wants is variable. Larger, extra lively folks usually want extra. If somebody has very low physique fats ranges – both as a result of they’re very slim or very muscular – additionally they want extra water as a result of muscle holds extra water than fats, so extra of their physique tissue wants protecting hydrated. Those that dwell in a much less humid local weather might have extra, as “they lose extra water on their breath”. And since 20-30% of our water consumption comes from meals, in case your weight loss program is made up of extra calorie-dense meals you may additionally must drink extra. “A part of the rationale the meals shall be excessive density is as a result of it’s low in water,” Halsey provides.

So, how do we all know if we’re consuming sufficient? “Drink once you’re thirsty,” Halsey says, fairly than aiming to hit a sure goal. His one exception is aged folks: “Usually, they’ve a lowered sensation of thirst, and they also’re extra weak to persistent dehydration.”

One factor he says all of us undoubtedly shouldn’t really feel obliged to do is continually sip water all through the day. “The physique is totally high quality at coping with intermittent bursts of water ingestion,” Halsey says.

In reality, at relaxation, consuming greater than a litre an hour will be dangerous. Step away from that new bottle the scale of your head.