Daily water intake: Let's discuss

ambermason16 said:I haven't caught up on the posts past the first page, but here’s my take: it matters, and it matters a lot. Every single body reacts differently. It’s entirely possible you’re just flooding your system with too much water and your kidneys can't keep up. That "eight glasses a day" rule is a massive oversimplification. Honestly, you should probably go get some bloodwork done to check your kidney function. There’s a real chance they aren't performing at 100% and you wouldn't even know it until it's too late.

It's possible 😢

lately I've been feeling some issues with my kidneys... I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but now it's starting to click.

Thanks 🙂

kumek said:This thread is all over the place. Water flushes out salt and toxins from your system? Drinking water gets rid of cellulite? Apparently, drinking eight glasses a day stops us from feeling hungry during meetings or something?
My friends, instead of following these silly fashion trends, maybe try reading an actual physiology textbook—start with Guyton, I guess. It’ll teach you that the body has incredibly efficient ways of managing water and minerals (check out the chapter on kidneys)—and it certainly doesn't wait for permission from someone sitting in a meeting sipping eight glasses of water in the morning. If things were actually going poorly for you, maybe that would snap you out of it.

miki, the body eliminates toxins through urine. I don't really see where the confusion lies.

I’m sorry if this topic has already been brought up before.
I was wondering why everyone seems to insist that people on a diet—or honestly, just anyone really—need to drink such massive amounts of water? I know someone following a meal plan should probably aim for at least two liters a day, which is fine, but I guess I'm just curious about the actual reasoning behind it. I asked my doctor about it, and she just kind of told me, "Well, you have to," without really explaining the science. So, I was hoping maybe someone could explain what exactly water does for our bodies (besides just quenching thirst 🤣) and why it's supposedly so vital in those large quantities when you're trying to lose weight, other than just filling up the stomach to stave off hunger
.

Amy Miller79 said:My apologies if this has been covered before.
I'm curious why everyone insists on recommending such massive amounts of water intake, especially for those on a diet? I know a person dieting should drink at least two liters a day. Fine. But why exactly? When I asked my doctor, she just gave me a blunt, "Well, you have to." She didn't bother explaining the science behind it. If anyone could explain what all that water actually does for the body (aside from quenching thirst 🤣) or why such high volumes are necessary during weight loss—other than simply filling the stomach to stave off hunger—I would be quite grateful.

I’m not currently dieting, though I do drink a significant amount of water. Honestly, it works for me; I actually feel better because of it.
I recall an aunt of mine who also drank heavily—she was dealing with edema, likely due to kidney issues—mentioning that her doctor asked, "Are you eating when you aren't even hungry?" implying that one should really only drink when thirsty. It felt like a way of forcing the body to do something it wasn't asking for... or so I thought. Personally, water suits me just fine. I drink it even when I'm not thirsty, as long as it's within reason... much like how some people eat when they aren't even hungry, or rather, just looking 🤮

Oh goodness... honestly, you really ought to be aiming for at least two liters a day—even if you aren't currently on a diet (I truly despise that word!). Water actually kickstarts your metabolism, which helps you burn through things faster and, more importantly, allows your body to flush out toxins much more efficiently. Furthermore, it improves oxygen delivery to your brain; so, by maintaining adequate hydration, you can actually reduce fatigue and sharpen your concentration levels. Many experts suggest that by the time you actually feel thirsty, you’re already starting to experience mild dehydration—so the key is to sip steadily throughout the day to build a habit, rather than just waiting until you're parched.

Of course, one must exercise caution—if you overdo it excessively without ensuring you're getting enough electrolytes, you could technically suffer from "water intoxication," though I highly doubt that would happen from a mere two liters.

wiredpuma5 said:that would imply we should only drink water when we feel thirsty, which essentially means forcing our bodies to react after the fact...

I read elsewhere that thirst is actually a sign that dehydration has already set in. Most people likely live in a state of chronic dehydration simply because they aren't drinking enough water. 🤔

In your opinion, how much water does an average adult really need daily? Is 1.5 to 2 liters sufficient?

Exactly, that is roughly how much water is lost on a daily basis.
I am not entirely sure how water accelerates metabolism... could you elaborate on that a bit?
Two liters isn't an excessive amount under normal conditions... "water intoxication" generally occurs when drinking massive amounts, typically involving kidney dysfunction, though it can happen to healthy individuals if they overdo it—but it is less likely when consuming water orally...

Look, I know I crush tons of water during the day and I’ve got that athletic build, but honestly? That’s just because of the choices I make. You probably don't even need a strict diet. Just try adding more movement into your daily routine and watch how you hit that perfect weight with just a little extra effort...

I honestly don't even get thirsty that often 😲 ...or rather, it just rarely hits me. Since I'm a girl, I can pretty much go forever without much fluid; I probably only knock back maybe three glasses a day, mostly getting my hydration through fruit, coffee, or soup... but I’ve realized that’s totally unhealthy, so I’m trying to force myself to drink more water more frequently. At my last physical, my doctor looked at me all surprised and was like, "Your blood is way too thick, you really need to hydrate more."

Meanwhile, my man can't even fall asleep without a massive bottle of water right by his bed, which he basically drains before morning. He's constantly thirsty, too, which drives me absolutely insane when we're out doing something and he starts rushing me because he's "thirsty as a desert traveler." 😬

I think I might be subconsciously dehydrating myself 😬 just because I am beyond irritated by having to get up in the middle of the night to hit the bathroom.

Aiming for about two liters of fluid a day is key—and hey, it doesn't all have to be plain old water.
Milk, soups, even fruit... they all count toward your total hydration.

Water cools you down. It evaporates through your skin as sweat to regulate temp, and it flushes out excess urea. Like, what kind of nonsense is this? You need to drink AT LEAST 1.5 liters of water a day—not juice or whatever, actual WATER. Your kidneys need it to function. I know most of you don't have the habit of staying hydrated, but stop lecturing people who don't know better by telling them it's fine to just chug soda or other liquids instead...

Also, for those of you who haven't figured out how to use Google yet— http://www.allrecipes.com/article/importance-of-water

Stop spreading stupidity here.

Hey
why is our little fishy feeling so cranky today? 😬

I've definitely been there 😁

brisktinker15 said:For example, my partner can't even fall asleep without a massive bottle of water right by the bed, which they basically finish before morning. They’re always thirsty, too, which drives me crazy when we're out doing stuff because they start rushing me since they're "thirsty as a desert dog." 😬

But I don't think you should force yourself to chug water if you don't want to.
plus, drinking tons of it won't magically make you skinny—I'm living proof! 😁

Look, mods, my stomach is acting up today so I’m feeling a bit on edge. Don't take it personally. 😳

At the end of the day, we're big people with big bodies that need plenty of hydration. 🤣

Sam Hall15 said:exactly, because such a massive daily water loss is...
I'm not quite sure how water actually accelerates metabolism... could you elaborate on that just a bit?
Two liters isn't an excessive amount under normal body temperature conditions, really... "water intoxication" is possible when consumed in truly enormous quantities—usually involving impaired kidney function, though of course, even healthy kidneys can struggle if one overdoes it, but it’s less likely when taken orally...

And what exactly am I supposed to explain to you? Since you clearly know these things a thousand times better than I ever could! Honestly, I should probably be the one asking you, given that chemistry isn't exactly my strongest suit—I don't even think I could sketch out a water molecule right now without making at least three mistakes. If I tried to start "explaining" things to you in detail, you'd probably die laughing. Here is just the basics (this link isn't for you, but rather for the original poster🙂):
http://www.naturalfoodnutrition.com/...s%20needed.htm.

But, oh—(@ ante/jadesailor14/whoever)—I have to ask this (and yes, I realize I'm drifting away from the topic again): it concerns psychiatric cases, specifically individuals with schizophrenia where one of the symptoms is psychogenic polydipsia—those who drink so much they might consume upwards of 20 liters of water a day and require hospitalization. Is there some sort of organic cause behind this (in the case of psychogenic polydipsia as well) that increases the thirst—assuming, of course, that all standard medical tests come back perfectly normal, which would otherwise indicate a physiological reason for the polydipsia? It seems strange to me, doesn't it? That a person feels such intense thirst while all their tests are fine. Perhaps we simply don't know enough yet, and maybe psychogenic polydipsia isn't truly... psychogenic? Why is the thirst so overwhelming?

Back to the main point: I'm not sure if I expressed myself poorly—I didn't mean to suggest that the amount of water and metabolic rate increase proportionally forever, or that drinking more literally "speeds up" metabolism indefinitely (you know, too much of a good thing)... rather, I meant that metabolic processes simply cannot function properly without sufficient hydration, which unfortunately some people only regulate based on their sensation of thirst.

brisktinker15 said:I honestly don't really get thirsty much😲 ....well, it hits me pretty rarely. Since I'm a woman, I guess I can hold out for quite a while without much fluid. I probably only drink maybe three glasses a day. I mostly just get my hydration from fruit, coffee, or soup....

I'm pretty much the same way; I rarely feel thirsty unless I eat something really spicy.🙂 Lately, though, I've been making myself at least a liter of tea to sip on. 🙂
(For what it's worth, my record was drinking less than 3 liters in an entire week, and that was during the middle of summer 😳 )

jadesailor14 said:eating massive quantities won't magically make you thin—I am living proof of that fact itself.😁

Precisely.

I am right there with you in that scenario. Honestly, how does anyone actually manage to power through an entire workout session without sipping even a single drop of water? Goodness, I think I would simply collapse! I always have my water bottle glued to me—and let's be real, I usually down about half a liter immediately upon waking up in the morning.

The thing is... if I overdo the drinking, I feel like I’m just stretching out my stomach capacity. And do you know what happens when that stomach is empty?😁 .

bluewalker36 said:I’m rarely ever thirsty myself—usually only after I’ve had something particularly spicy🙂 lately, I’ve been brewing up at least a liter of tea just to sip on 🙂
(for the record, my personal low was under 3 liters of total fluid in an entire week, and that was during the heat of summer😳 )

Oh, please, don't you dare go doing that😲 — honestly, you remind me so much of my wife; she’ll barely touch a glass of water all day, and then she has the nerve to complain about a headache! Not to mention how dry and weathered her skin gets... but heaven forbid she drinks while we're out in public, because "then I'll have to find a restroom immediately," as if that's an issue!

As for me, during the summer months, I'm definitely hitting that 2.5 to 3-liter mark daily—and if I'm working hard, hitting the gym, and dealing with a sweltering heatwave on top of it all? Well, I can easily put away 5 liters.

For a while there, I really bought into those extreme wellness trends claiming you need to chug gallons upon gallons of water just to function. Noi, I’ve since had a change of heart.
While I still firmly believe that staying hydrated with actual water—rather than relying on sugary sodas or endless cups of coffee—is vital, I've come to realize that our bodies are actually pretty smart. They know how to gauge exactly how much fluid they need and when they need it. To me, it comes down to listening to your body's signals, much like how we approach hunger. I don't think it's necessary to mechanically force yourself to gulp down liters of Evian or Dasani just because some influencer said so.

Drink when you're thirsty, eat when you're hungry, and remember to breathe. That's really all there is to it! At least, that's my philosophy. 😎

coppergardener said:My mom barely drinks a single glass of water a day, then she wonders why her head is pounding! Not to mention how dry and wrinkled her skin has gotten lately...

I easily knock back about 4 liters a day, sometimes even more
but my head still hurts almost every single day—it’s pretty much constant
and my skin feels super dry and is starting to show some fine lines too 😁

jadesailor14 said:I drink, what, maybe 4 liters a day? Sometimes even more
so I get these headaches almost every single day—actually, more often than not, really
and my skin is just so dry... honestly, I think the wrinkles are starting to show up too 😁

Damn. (Well, now we know what you look like: : wrinkled_face_emoji_stuck_in_your_head : )
As for me, I dehydrate quite easily—I’m constantly thirsty, and if I don't get enough water, I feel exhausted and parched—so I actually pay attention to those signals telling me how much fluid I need. But my mother? She has absolutely zero (z-e-r-o) sense of thirst, and I highly doubt a single glass of water a day is doing her any good.