Are you drinking eight glasses too many? Hydration myth busted!

Dear editor:

At the beginning of every year, resolutions are formed and new commitments are made. For some, this means being more physically active or making better food choices. Another popular resolution is to drink more water every day.

Water does a number of great things for our bodies. In addition to cushioning our joints, removing toxins through our kidneys and bowels, protecting our spinal cord and other sensitive tissues, it keeps our muscles energized so we can move strongly and freely each day.

At Doctors Nova Scotia, we’re committed to encouraging Nova Scotians to think about what they drink. Try to avoid beverages like caffeinated energy drinks and pop which contain caffeine and high amounts of sugar. When you’re thirsty, water is your best choice.

While many people believe they should be consuming eight, eight-ounce glasses of water a day to attain optimal health, the fact is, the evidence is not that clear.

In the British Medical Journal article Waterlogged?, family physician Dr. Margaret McCartney examines the facts behind the notion that people need eight glasses of water a day.  She concludes that there isn’t good evidence on just how much water we should consume each day.

When two litres of water is consumed in a short period of time, the water will likely not reach the space where it is needed and such has no real affect on hydration. In fact, drinking too much water can be harmful to a person’s health. Over-consumption of water, or water intoxication, is a condition caused by drinking too much water resulting in the balance of electrolytes in the body to exceed normal limits.

The water we consume is removed primarily through the urine and sweat and regulated to manage the levels of salt in the blood. When we drink too much water, our kidneys can’t keep pace to remove sufficient amounts from the body, so the blood becomes diluted with low salt concentrations.

For optimal health, hydration and energy, consume water-containing foods and drink water throughout the day. All beverages and water-containing foods count toward your daily water allowance. Consider fruits and vegetables like grapefruit, cucumbers, celery, tomatoes, lettuce, and even baked potato which is 75 per cent water.

At the end of the day, thirst is the best indicator of how much water you should consume.

Keeping all this in mind, I encourage all Nova Scotians to make healthy choices throughout the year, including good hydration practices and a well-balanced diet.

For more information on healthy living, please visit www.yourdoctors.ca/blog

Sincerely,

John Sullivan, MD, FRCSC
President