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» What is the recommendation to drink water correctly throughout the day? Is it harmful to drink a lot of water - new facts and opinions. Why is drinking a lot of water harmful? What happens if you drink a lot of water?

What is the recommendation to drink water correctly throughout the day? Is it harmful to drink a lot of water - new facts and opinions. Why is drinking a lot of water harmful? What happens if you drink a lot of water?

The correct drinking regime, along with a balanced diet, plays an important role in ensuring the normal functioning of the body. What water is healthier to drink and how to do it correctly so as not to harm your health? Read about it below.

Water is a versatile solvent. As part of the liquid component of blood, it participates in the transport of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients and waste products, thermoregulation and chemical processes in cells.

How much water should an adult, pregnant woman, newborn child, children drink per 1 kg of weight per day?

Scientists have calculated that the body of an adult man is 60% water, and that of a woman is 50%. For an adult:

  • To maintain water balance, you need to consume 1.5 - 2 liters of clean water per day.
  • The physiological requirement in terms of 1 kg of adult weight is 30 ml of water daily.

During pregnancy water is involved not only in the metabolism of the mother's body, but also in the future fetus. This is why doctors recommend:

  • Drink 2.5 liters of drinking water per day.
  • To prevent the occurrence of edema, it is necessary to reduce not the amount of fluid you drink, but salt, and this should be done throughout pregnancy.

The doctor will help to establish the correct drinking regimen based on the test results.

Insufficient fluid intake can affect the quality of the amniotic fluid and the mother's body.

The amount consumed newborn baby water depends on the type of feeding.

  • With artificial or mixed feeding, the norm should be given to the baby from two weeks of age, while the rate of water he drank during the day is 100-200 ml.
  • When breastfeeding, the baby needs supplementation, since the breast milk he drinks is 90% water. The kid will have enough 50-70 ml of drinking water per day.

Important: it is a misconception that a breastfed baby does not need supplementation. Remember that breast milk is food, not drink!

Compliance with the water balance in the body children- this is the guarantee of their health. Drinking enough liquid of the right quality will help avoid problems with growing teeth, gums, joints, and kidneys.

  • Children need to drink 1-1.5 liters of clean water per day.
  • The physiological need for water in children is 50 ml per 1 kg of body weight


What happens if you drink too much water - is it good or bad: the consequences

Despite all the benefits of clean drinking water, with a large amount of consumption, it can harm the body.

  1. When drinking a lot of water at a time, vomiting appears. This property is used for gastric lavage in case of poisoning, but under normal conditions this phenomenon brings only discomfort.
  2. The risk of edema increases, which can even affect the brain and lungs.
  3. Together with excess water, salts and minerals are washed out of the body, the water-salt balance is disturbed, which can lead to a decrease in muscle and mental activity and even seizures.
  4. The body will try to flush out a lot of fluid through diarrhea.

“Everything is poison and everything is medicine. And only the dose makes the medicine poison, and poison - medicine. " (Paracelsus)


Is drinking too much water harmful to the kidneys?

There is an opinion among doctors that the best prevention of kidney disease is their continuous work. In order not to suffer from urolithiasis or inflammation of the urinary tract, you need to consume a sufficient amount of liquid per day (at least 2 liters). This volume must be reduced if kidney disease is already present.

With excessive use of water, the kidneys work in an enhanced mode, and it can be assumed that over time, such overloads will begin to affect their health and performance. However, to date, a reliable relationship between kidney disease and a large amount of fluid intake has not been established.

Situations in which you need to drink more water

In some cases, the amount of fluid consumed can be increased to 3 liters per day.

  1. Physical exercise
  2. Vomiting and diarrhea
  3. Increased urination
  4. Increased sweating
  5. Body burns
  6. Poisoning and intoxication of the body
  7. SARS, flu


What happens if you drink too little water - is it good or bad: signs of dehydration, consequences

A person can live without food for more than a month, but without water only 3-4 days. A decrease in the level of fluid in the body is extremely dangerous for all systems of the body. You suffer from mild to moderate water shortages if:

  1. You have dry skin. This manifests itself in flaking, a tendency to chapping, the appearance of deep wrinkles and other signs of premature aging.
  2. There are digestive problems - heartburn, indigestion, frequent constipation.
  3. There is a feeling of thirst and dryness in the mouth and eyes, as the mucous membranes dry out.
  4. You get sick longer, because the viscous blood does not have time to transport the toxins formed during the illness to the organs of their elimination.
  5. You experience joint pain due to the fact that the amount of fluid in the joint capsule decreases, and the bones begin to rub against each other.
  6. You often get headaches, especially at the end of the day. This is how the brain reacts to a decrease in the level of water in its composition.
  7. Feeling of hunger occurs more often than usual. The body sends hunger signals to replenish fluid stores with food.


Severe dehydration requires prompt medical attention and has the following symptoms:

  • rapid breathing and heartbeat
  • increased body temperature
  • drooping fontanelle in babies
  • confusion and distraction in children and adults
  • no sweat and tears
  • dark urine in small amounts
  • strong feeling of thirst
  • low blood pressure

Such dehydration is rare, but requires careful treatment in a hospital setting.

Which water is better to drink: cold or hot?

Neither cold nor hot. Cold water causes spasms of the walls of the digestive tract and stomach, moreover, the body still "heats up" the incoming fluid to body temperature. Hot water, boiling water - not very pleasant in taste, and can burn the mucous membrane.

It is correct to drink warm water warmed up to room temperature or human body temperature.

Why do Chinese people drink hot water?

There is no single correct answer to this question, however, there are versions that:

  • According to traditional Chinese medicine, drinking cold drinks can disrupt the flow of yin and yang energy in the body.
  • Heated water promotes better assimilation of food, especially fatty ones, because fat easily dissolves in boiling water.
  • A more earthy version - the water is heated for hygienic reasons to kill pathogens.
  • The use of pure boiling water is a feature of the mentality, a tradition developed over the centuries that does not have a specific connotation.


Is it useful to drink water on an empty stomach in the morning, how much water to drink, cold or hot?

According to doctors, the ideal start to the day must necessarily include drinking water on an empty stomach. It should be warm water, comfortable for our body.

  1. Drinking water on an empty stomach washes the walls of the stomach, helping to clear it of undigested food debris.
  2. It stimulates the contraction of the walls of the digestive tract and thus has a mild laxative effect.
  3. The gastric juice is diluted and the feeling of morning heartburn disappears.
  4. Decreased appetite due to the feeling of fullness in the stomach.

To achieve such positive effects, it is enough to drink 1.5 - 2 glasses of warm water in the morning on an empty stomach.

Is it useful and how to drink lemon water in the morning?

It will not be superfluous to add a slice of lemon or a teaspoon of lemon juice to warm water in the morning.

Lemon perfectly stimulates the immune system, invigorates, accelerates the elimination of toxins, enriches the body with vitamins.

In addition, it is known for its fat burning and antibacterial properties. You need to drink this homemade "lemonade" on an empty stomach, 20-30 minutes before meals.

Give lemon water to children with care. Sour juice can harm the delicate mucous membrane of a child's stomach, and lemon can cause an unpredictable allergic reaction.


Which water is better to drink: boiled or raw?

Heat treatment of the drink is one of the most effective means in the fight against pathogenic microbes. However, many consider boiled water to be dead, useless; moreover, when boiled, harmful chlorine-containing compounds are formed. To avoid this, it is recommended to stand in an open container for a day before boiling, so that impurities such as chlorine, ammonia, etc. evaporate.

Raw water tastes better, but contains pathogens and disinfectants when it comes to tap water. Before use, such water must be defended or passed through household filters.


Which water is better to drink: mineral or plain?

Plain water, tap, is usually taken from land-based sources and has a variable composition. It depends on the amount of precipitation, the time of the year, the remoteness of the reservoir from settlements and other factors. The chemical composition of ordinary water does not always satisfy the body's needs for the quality and quantity of microelements contained.

Mineral water has a constant chemical composition and is more saturated with inorganic microelements. Depending on the content of salts in it, the following are distinguished:

  • curative
  • medical dining room
  • table mineral water.

The first two types of water are taken as directed by a doctor and in limited quantities. You can drink table mineral water (with a salt content of less than 1 g / l) without restrictions and preferably from those sources that are geographically close to your place of permanent residence.


Mineral water perfectly quenches thirst and restores the water-salt balance, but its regular use requires significant financial costs.

Can I drink distilled water from a car shop, rainwater?

Distilled water from a car shop intended for household purposes of machine maintenance, for example, for flushing radiators. Therefore, the container in which it is stored is not intended for food products, and you should not drink such water unless absolutely necessary.

Distilled water does not contain impurities and minerals, and it is impossible to replace absolutely all consumed water with it.

Against, rainwater has an undefined composition. It absorbs the impurities contained in the atmosphere - dust, heavy metals, ammonia, pesticides. Drinking such water and even using it for domestic purposes is not recommended.

Is sea water safe to drink?

Sea water is the strongest poison for humans. The salts it contains are enough to damage the kidneys and poison the body. After its assimilation, there is a sharp increase in the concentration of trace elements and salt in the blood, which leads to the outflow of fluid from the tissues, which leads to rapid dehydration of the body.


Can I drink tap water from a well?

Tap water it undergoes several stages of cleaning and meets all sanitary and epidemiological standards before entering the pipes. However, in the water supply system, it is polluted for the second time - with iron oxides, organic matter, bacteria, and the chlorine compounds contained in it can have a negative effect on the health of allergy sufferers and asthmatics. Therefore, it is not recommended to drink tap water that has not been boiled or cleaned with household filters.

Delicious and invigorating well water in the conditions of modern ecology, it most often contains a large amount of nitrates and fluorides. These compounds are difficult to remove, and they pose a particular danger to the child's body. The quality of water in different wells is different, and without laboratory tests it is difficult to establish whether it is possible to drink water from one source or another.


Can you drink limescale water?

The characteristic milky limestone sediment after settling of the water indicates a significant content of calcium salts in it (increased hardness). Sanitary standards prohibit the use of such water for drinking needs. Without additional softening and purification, regular drinking of limestone-rich water can lead to metabolic disorders and the formation of kidney stones.


Is it possible and healthy to drink water at night?

The body metabolizes water even at night. To avoid the feeling of thirst, half an hour before bedtime it is recommended to drink half a glass of pure water, maybe mineral water. But you should refuse to drink fluids before bedtime if:

  • swelling in the morning
  • restless sleep and frequent urge to urinate

Is it possible to drink water with high pressure, hypertension?

A diet for hypertensive patients must necessarily include an amount of liquid sufficient for an adult (at least 1.5 liters of water per day). Water for hypertension plays an important role in the body:

  1. Cleans the walls of blood vessels from cholesterol plaques.
  2. Increases the volume of circulating blood, thus dilating blood vessels and lowering blood pressure.
  3. Thins the blood, making it easier for the heart.

The amount of water consumed and its quality should be discussed with the attending physician.

How to drink frozen water in a bottle?

Frozen water has altered qualities. It is more conducive to cleansing and rejuvenating the body, accelerates metabolism. To obtain it, the settled water is poured into a bottle and placed in a freezer, and then the opaque ice and unfrozen part are removed.

  • At first, it is recommended to drink no more than 100 ml of frozen water per day to become addictive.
  • Then you can drink up to 1.5 liters of frozen water per day. This volume should be divided by 4 - 5 times and drunk for medicinal purposes 30 minutes before meals.


How to drink water for weight loss?

The correct drinking regime will help not only to get rid of extra pounds, but also to maintain the achieved result.

During the day, you need to drink 8-12 glasses of water.

Try to stick to an approximate water intake schedule:

  1. In the morning on an empty stomach, at least half an hour before breakfast.
  2. During the day, 30 minutes before meals and 2-3 hours after meals.
  3. Between meals, focusing on the feeling of thirst.
  4. A small amount of water before bed.

In this case, water will help get rid of the false feeling of hunger, reduce the amount of food consumed, and cleanse the body of toxins and toxins.


How to drink water in hot weather and can you drink cold water?

In hot weather, the thirst is stronger, and you want to drink as many cold refreshing drinks as possible.

The amount of water drunk on a hot day should be increased by 0.5 - 1 liter from the norm. Thus, an adult needs 2.5-3 liters of liquid to maintain water-salt balance.


Choose the right water temperature. Do not overuse cold drinks.- it is fraught with colds and sore throat. Ice water causes vasospasm, is absorbed more slowly and quenches thirst worse.

It is much more effective to drink warm or even hot water to speed up metabolism, increase sweating, and thus cool your body naturally.

Is it good to drink plenty of water at temperatures?

  • Water is additionally spent on increased sweating and rapid breathing
  • The liquid helps the body to cope with intoxication by removing the products of the activity of viruses, bacteria and toxins from the body.

Instead of water, you can drink herbal teas with raspberries and rose hips.

How long after a meal can you drink water and why not with a meal?

The tradition of drinking food while eating makes it difficult for digestion because the incoming water dilutes the gastric juice and carries the necessary enzymes out of the stomach. For the same reasons, you should not drink water immediately after eating.

It will be correct to drink a glass of clean water half an hour before a meal and 0.5 to 4 hours after a meal.

  • after 30 minutes - after eating fruit
  • after 1 hour - after vegetables
  • after 2 hours - after carbohydrate food
  • after 4 hours - after meat products.

How long after exercise can you drink water and why not drink during exercise?

It is worth refraining from drinking water during exercise so as not to create a feeling of fullness in the stomach and to avoid discomfort during active loads. In addition, an athlete who drinks water uncontrollably during exercise to quench increased thirst is at risk of water poisoning.

  • You can drink water after physical exertion, every 15 minutes, 150-200 ml. The total volume of liquid drunk should not exceed 1 liter.
  • Drink 1 to 2 glasses of clean water half an hour before exercise to replenish body fluids and keep you from feeling thirsty during exercise.


Why can't you drink water quickly, but you can take small sips?

Drinking water in one gulp has a sharp load on the kidneys and the digestive tract. Without having time to assimilate, it is largely excreted from the body without being absorbed.

On the contrary, water taken by sips is completely absorbed and perfectly quenches thirst.

Hold drinking water in your mouth before swallowing. This will moisturize the oral mucosa and "trick" the receptors that signal thirst, creating the effect of drinking a lot of liquid.

Why can't you drink water after melon, corn?

To avoid unpleasant effects from the gastrointestinal tract, do not wash down melon and corn with water. This will lead to increased flatulence, colic and even diarrhea. For the same reasons, it is not recommended to eat them on an empty stomach.

Why can't you drink water after surgery, anesthesia?

The postoperative state is accompanied by intense thirst, but doctors do not allow drinking water after surgery and anesthesia.

  • The incoming water against the background of general weakness provokes nausea and vomiting, and vomit can enter the respiratory tract and cause pneumonia.
  • In the case of abdominal surgery, the drunk fluid exerts pressure on the walls of the gastrointestinal tract and seams.

Drinking water is allowed only 2 hours after anesthesia.


Water is the main chemical element of the human body; it takes part in all metabolic processes. In the absence of fluid, the human body is unable to function: the process of removing metabolic products becomes impossible, and the heat balance cannot be maintained. Vital signs deteriorate sharply even with mild dehydration.

Dehydration of the body negatively affects the higher neuropsychic activity of the individual. The inability to replenish fluid reserves leads a person into a depressed and irritable state, a feeling of fatigue rapidly progresses, moral and volitional qualities weaken, and the ability to work sharply decreases.

Water makes up 70% of the body weight of an adult. Each cell of the body, regardless of the functions assigned to it, is a microcosm in which an infinite number of ordered and complex transformations take place.

Water acts as a carrier of organic and inorganic elements participating in all life processes. Intracellular fluid accounts for 70% of the total body water reserves. The intercellular fluid is 30% (about 12 liters).

The amount of water in the organs and tissues of the human body

  • blood - 83%;
  • skeleton - 22%;
  • vitreous body of the eye - 99%;
  • adipose tissue - 29%.

Water is vital for digestion, absorption of nutrients, removal of toxins and blood circulation.

The right amount of fluid to maintain water balance

In hot climates, a person can live without water for no more than 5 days. To maintain water balance, an adult needs to consume from 1.5 to 2.5 liters daily. clean water.

The amount of water required to maintain human life at the proper level directly depends on the ambient temperature. At 32 ° C - the daily rate is 3 liters; at 21 ° С - 1.5 l; for 10 ° C - 1.3 l.

During physical work of moderate severity, it is recommended to consume at least 5 liters of water per day; working outdoors or in the open air, the rate should be increased to 6.5 liters.

The fatal outcome is the loss of fluid, which is 25% of the total body weight. The metabolic processes of the body quickly return to normal if the loss of fluid does not exceed 10% of the total body weight.


  • 1500 ml is excreted in the urine;
  • 600 ml - through the pores of the skin during perspiration;
  • 400 ml - while breathing;
  • 100 ml during bowel movements.

The feeling of hunger occurs in a person under the influence of low blood glucose levels. An increase in salt and glucose levels triggers the thirst signal.

What is the cause of excess thirst?

Thirst is a natural reaction of the body to changes in the water-salt balance. Thirst increases at elevated ambient temperatures, during physical exertion, after eating fatty and salty foods.

The state of chronic thirst, independent of external factors, is an alarming symptom. Polydipsia - unquenchable thirst, acts as a sign of a hidden disease.

Normally (according to WHO), an adult man needs 2.9 liters of liquid per day; an adult woman - 2.7 liters.

Thirst is a signal that comes from the drinking center of the central nervous system. The drinking center is in charge of:

  • limbic section of the cerebral hemispheres;
  • areas of the cerebral cortex;
  • the nucleus of the posterior lobe of the hypothalamus.

Disruption of the drinking center is the main cause of uncontrollable thirst. The center processes the signals coming from the fluid structures of the body and compares the level of osmotic pressure, the level of Na +. The process involves thyroid and pancreatic hormones.


Taking certain medications can make you feel very thirsty and dry in your mouth and throat. Among them: antipsychotics, diuretics and antibiotics.

Intense thirst during pregnancy

During the period of bearing a child, the rate of fluid intake should slightly increase. Doctors recommend that pregnant women consume 300 ml of water more than the usual daily rate, while the daily rate should not exceed 2 liters of liquid.

Thirst can increase in the last trimester of pregnancy due to the entry of a specific protein into the bloodstream, which is produced by liver cells.

During the period of intrauterine development of the child, the mother's kidneys experience additional stress. The hormone angiotensin provokes additional thirst.

Thirst in a child

The World Health Organization has calculated the daily fluid intake for young children based on total body weight.

For a 5 kg baby, the daily fluid intake (including breast milk) is 800 ml.

For a 10 kg child, the rate increases to 1 liter per day.

Daily rate of fluid intake for children, depending on age

  • 1-3 years - 1.3 liquids (of which 350 ml of milk, soups, juices, fruits);
  • 4-8 years old - 1.7 l;
  • 9-13 years old - 1.8 l;
  • 14-18 years old - (boys: 1.9 l, girls: 1.6 l).

In especially mobile children and adolescents, increased thirst is normal, but in order to exclude a pathological process, you should undergo an examination.

Diagnostics

To identify the causes of excessive thirst, the therapist must take an anamnesis and take into account the peculiarity of the patient's daily regimen, the number of daily urinations, and the daily diet.

If necessary, laboratory blood tests are carried out for:

  • determination of plasma glucose levels;
  • osmotic concentration of potassium, calcium and sodium in the blood;
  • blood chemistry;
  • determination of the level of general indicators and the relative density of urine.

Based on the results obtained, the thirsty patient will be referred to the appropriate specialist.

How to deal with increased thirst

In consultation with your doctor, you should determine the optimal and maximum daily fluid intake. Much will depend on the individual characteristics of the organism, gender and age.

It should be remembered that alcoholic and carbonated drinks with additives do not weaken the thirst, but, on the contrary, increase it. Mineral water saturated with salts is not recommended for quenching thirst. The optimum water temperature to quench your thirst is not lower than 22 ° C. Cold and excessively chilled water is not the best solution for severe thirst.

Fried and fatty foods, all kinds of spices and pickles provoke a strong thirst.

Benefits of drinking plenty of water

Scientists who have conducted research in the 21st century have come to the conclusion that consuming excess water is acceptable only for:

  • athletes;
  • people engaged in hard physical labor in the open air;
  • residents of hot climatic zones.

Excess water intake leads to the leaching of sodium from the body. There is no scientific evidence that excess fluid has a positive effect on human systems and organs.

Excess water also does not increase skin turgor, which is what cosmetics manufacturers persistently convince consumers of.

The harm of drinking plenty of water

Doctors of all countries agree that the daily amount of drinking should be moderate. Modern advertising of excessive consumption of bottled water is aimed only at increasing sales. You should trust the wishes of the body and not go to extremes.

If physical activity during training leads to weight loss, then it is not recommended to replenish this weight due to excessive fluid intake.

Systems and organs affected by excess water intake

  • the work of the digestive system worsens;
  • an additional load is created on the kidneys (the body begins to remove excess fluid through the pores and kidneys, which leads to the leaching of useful salts and microelements);
  • the cardiovascular system functions with increased stress;
  • muscle tone is disturbed;
  • there is a feeling of fatigue, rapid fatigability, sometimes muscle spasms are observed.

Symptoms and causes of excess water in the body (overhydration)

Hypotonic hyperhydration - a condition that is otherwise called water poisoning. Excess fluid accumulates in the cells of the body themselves.

  • one-time intake of more than 10 liters of water (including when washing the stomach);
  • impaired renal excretory function (renal failure, cirrhosis);
  • heart failure.

Symptoms:

  • diarrhea;
  • vomit;
  • apathy, weakness;
  • loss of consciousness;
  • muscle spasms.

Hypertensive dehydration - a condition characterized by dehydration of cells with the simultaneous removal of potassium ions from them. Accumulation of extracellular fluid. The most dangerous condition among all types of water poisoning.

  • sea ​​water was used to quench thirst;
  • intravenous injection of saline solutions;
  • an excessive amount of the hormone aldosterone.

Symptoms:

  • intense thirst (drinking complicates the condition);
  • arterial hypertension;
  • increased venous pressure;
  • damage to the central nervous system, mental disorder;
  • muscle spasms;
  • heart failure, pulmonary and cerebral edema is rapidly developing.

Isotonic overhydration - extracellular fluid increases in volume.

  • heart failure;
  • liver failure;
  • toxicosis during pregnancy;
  • protein starvation of the body;
  • violation of the outflow of fluid into the lymphatic vessels.

Symptoms:

  • general body swelling;
  • heart failure;
  • arterial hypertension.

Dehydration is a dangerous condition that can be fatal if not treated with emergency medical attention. To stabilize the condition, doctors use diuretics and hemodialysis.

How to remove excess fluid

Excess fluid that has accumulated in certain areas of the body is most easily noticed on the face in the form of swelling under the eyes. The main task is to identify the cause of the puffiness and only then take appropriate measures to eliminate it. The daily fluid intake should be established taking into account the recommendations of the attending physician therapist.

You need to thoroughly review your diet and minimize the consumption of salt, spices and foods that contain preservatives.

Alcohol and refined sugar, along with salt, are the main foods that cause puffiness.

Plant fiber is involved in the process of removing fluid. You can reduce the amount of fluid you consume and opt for vegetables that contain fiber and unsweetened fruits. Switch to clean water and eliminate all surrogate drinks.

Lack of B vitamins can cause fluid retention and morning swelling. On the recommendation of a doctor, you need to choose a vitamin complex.

A glass of warm water on an empty stomach - normalizes the stool. It is recommended to drink small amounts of water during physical activity in the gym.

Drinking water in the usual amount is vital during the diet. But it should be remembered: water will not relieve hunger, although it will help to cope with inappropriate snacks.

You should not abuse the liquid before bedtime - swelling may occur in the morning.

Drinking water immediately before eating is strictly contraindicated. The liquid will flush out the beneficial enzymes used to break down food in the stomach. You need to drink liquid no earlier than 30 minutes before a meal. Drinking food is also not recommended if your goal is to lose weight.

Additional sources of fluid

Apples are an alternative for those thirsty. Half of the weight of an eaten apple enters the body as a liquid.

The feeling of thirst in the hot summer months will be perfectly quenched with a cooled decoction of apple peel and green tea. Water with the addition of lemon or other fruit should be at room temperature

An excess of fluid, as well as its lack, has a detrimental effect on the general condition of the body, disrupts the work of internal organs, and has a bad effect on the condition of hair and skin.

Important information about what will happen if you drink a lot of water daily is outlined in the following video:

To date, there are no scientifically based studies proving the beneficial effects of excessive fluid intake on human health. Do not fall for the inventions of traditional healers, advertisements of well-promoted brands and other unreliable information. Remember, common sense is still your best guide. Follow it and be healthy.

Both Western and domestic nutritionists unanimously assert: a person, regardless of workload and season, needs to drink a lot of water. It helps to improve the water-salt balance in the body. But is this statement so true? It turns out that excess fluid can cause serious damage to internal organs.

How thirst arises

According to biologists, the main reason why a person is thirsty is a change in the water-salt balance in the blood. On average, one liter of blood contains 9.45 grams of salt. Slight fluctuations in the content of this substance are possible, but only in hundredths of a gram. However, if the concentration of salt, for example, increases, then the activity of all cells of the body is disrupted, because they are supplied with blood. Its water component at such a moment decreases, and the blood thickens. And this, according to phlebologists, threatens the occurrence of blood clots, which means that the nutrition of a specific area of ​​tissue or organ will be blocked. But this is in critical cases.

As a rule, already in the first moments of a slight increase in the concentration of salts, a person feels dry mouth. This is the first signal that calls for increased fluid levels in the body. This happens, for example, in the heat, when a person sweats and the liquid evaporates.

Drinking a lot of water is destructive

It turns out that it is better for the body to drink more fluids? Not at all. It is known that the more you drink in the heat, the more you want. The body sweats more profusely at this moment, and along with the increased amount of evaporated moisture, more salt is removed from the body. And in this case, the skin of the face and hands, as well as hair, are the first to suffer.

If a person deliberately accustom himself to increased water consumption, then in normal cold weather it harms many internal organs. Domestic gastroenterologists warn: drinking plenty of water seriously dilutes gastric juice, it ceases to be concentrated and destructive for microbes that enter the stomach with food. Water allows them to survive, which means that the risk of developing infections increases.

Some people find that drinking plenty of fluids can help improve kidney function. French nephrologist Pierre Ronceau explains in his scientific work how they actually function. In order to maintain the required level of fluids in the body, the kidneys reabsorb some of the water that has already been filtered. This provides a standard urine concentration. But the more a person drinks, the less the kidneys have to save water, and the tubules, created specifically for reabsorption, work worse over time. If the body in hot weather is without the usual access to water, then the kidneys will not be able to saturate it with the saved fluid, and dehydration will begin rapidly.

Excessive fluid intake soon fills the tissues of the liver, kidneys, they swell, and their functional properties weaken. Meanwhile, these organs play an important role in the excretory system, and when it fails, the body does not completely remove water from itself. The liquid is retained in tissue cells, edema occurs, which provoke an increase in pressure in the walls of blood vessels. Then headaches begin. Swollen lymph nodes due to increased moisture also do not cope with their task - immunity decreases, and only a few hours remain before the development of gastrointestinal infections.

Does water help you lose weight?

However, many ladies, having increased the amount of fluid intake, despite the side effects in the form of slight edema, declare real weight loss. So, for effective weight loss, you still need a lot of water?

At first, drinking plenty of water really improves the function of the intestines, it increases peristalsis, the passage of food through the departments is faster, which means that digestion products are more efficiently excreted, and the weight decreases. But after three months, the situation is changing. The pancreas and gallbladder are saturated with water, and problems arise in their work. Food is not fully processed, because the level of secreted bile and other secretions is reduced. Gradually, the intestinal mucosa also swells - more and more constipation occurs. This leads to a general slagging of the body and weight gain.

In addition, endocrinologists warn: the cells of the hormonal glands overflowing with moisture cannot fully participate in metabolic processes due to a lack of energy.

Therefore, the burning of fat and carbohydrates slows down, and this does not contribute to weight loss in any way.

Do athletes need a lot of water?

It turns out that ordinary people should not force themselves to drink a lot of fluids - this is harmful. It is possible that increased water intake is needed by athletes. But this is not the case either. Dr. Timothy Noakes, professor of sports medicine at the University of Cape Town (South Africa), in his book "Exercise Dehydration: Myths and Facts" argues that high water saturation does not improve athletic performance at all, but rather worsens them and puts the body at risk hyponatremia (violation of water and electrolyte balance).

The professor argues that it is simply impossible to drink before the onset of thirst. This reduces concentration of attention, physical activity of muscles in both athletes and ordinary people. And if we want to be vigorous and healthy, we need to drink as much liquid as the body physically needs.

One friend of mine believes that if she does not drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day, then she is jeopardizing her health. Could drinking too much water lead to dangerously low sodium concentrations in the body by diluting it with water?

Treatment for dehydration caused by disease must be removed and imperfections that occur when tissues in the body are due to a lack of water. Setting up any of the dehydration caused by the disorder, you need to change your lifestyle. The water treatment program is based on.

Water is a nutrient. Water dissolves all minerals, proteins, starches and other elements in the form of blood and carries them throughout the body. The human body constantly needs water. A good pond measurement is guaranteed by urine assembly. Good body moisturizing distinguishes human colorless urine - in addition to vitamins and coloring additives in foods. Relatively few people who have lost water emit yellow urine.

The answer from the site administration: People always drank water when they were thirsty, but nowadays it is widely believed that the more water we drink, the healthier we will be. There is currently no evidence that drinking very large amounts of fluids throughout the day is beneficial for health (except in the case of kidney stones).

The real person experiencing dehydration emits orange urine. The body needs at least 1.9 liters of water and half a teaspoon of salt daily to compensate for the natural loss of water that occurs during urination, sweating, and breathing. Less extra workload on the liver. They would have to work that collected urine and remove so much chemical toxic waste in a minimum amount of water.

The simplest rule of thumb for calculating how much water you need for an overweight person is as follows: 15 ml of water 0.45 kg body weight. Information prepared by the doctor. We all know, and we constantly hear, that drinking plenty of water is essential to be healthy. Water scarcity or dehydration occurs when the amount of water released from the body exceeds the amount of water consumed in foods and beverages. Generally, it is recommended for an adult to take at least one liter of clean water, ideally, water absorption in an amount of 1.5 to 2 liters of clean, still water.

If the kidneys are working properly, all medical recommendations agree that thirst is a good sign that you need to drink water. In addition to the elderly, in whom the mechanisms of kidney function and the appearance of a feeling of thirst may be mismatched, and then they need to drink a certain amount of fluids per day, despite the absence of thirst.

In order for the cells, tissues and organs of the body to function properly, they must receive a sufficient amount of water, since about 70% of the body consists of this substance. So, here are 6 reasons why drinking plenty of water is important. If you are not dehydrated, do not ignore these signals and how to drink, since liquid is ideally pure water, but if not on hand, it can be natural juice or tea, but not alcohol, which is counter-productive and promotes faster fluid elimination. Water, in itself, has no magic weight-reducing properties, but if sweet or carbonated drinks change the water in the calories of the water intake instantly drops without much effort. It's also worth adding more high-water foods to your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, low-fat soups, oatmeal, and beans. These water-rich foods tend to look larger, require more chewing, and are slowly absorbed by the body, thus providing a long-lasting feeling of well-being. Water is essential for muscle regeneration. As muscle cells begin to lose water and electrolytes, the muscles become less depleted, which is why it is important to drink plenty of water during exercise. Small amounts of water should only be started after training and then taken at regular intervals. Water is essential for healthy skin. The skin, which creates a shield against excessive fluid evacuation, is rich in water in the structure. Dehydration has a significant effect on the skin, contributes to the formation of wrinkles and dryness, so if you are looking for healthy and firm skin, it is important to remember to drink enough water. Water helps the kidneys. Body fluids help to get rid of harmful substances from cells. As long as you drink enough water, your kidneys do a very important job of removing toxins from the body. When there is enough fluid, the urine is bright and odorless. But when the body is dehydrated, urine concentration, color, and odor are more intense because the kidneys try to store as much water as possible to support vital functions. If you drink a lot of water for a long time, there is an increased risk of kidney stones, especially in warmer climates. Water is essential for healthy intestinal activity. By drinking plenty of water, food does not stay in the intestines for too long and does not cause constipation. The best weapon against stomach problems is a lot of water and fiber-rich foods. This combination acts like an intestinal broom and helps to remove stagnant substances.

  • When the amount of fluid in the body decreases, the brain sends signals of thirst.
  • Water helps control your calorie intake.
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People who sweat a lot, such as marathon runners in hot weather, are more likely to feel thirsty, which makes them drink a lot of water. But they must be careful and remember that this poses the risk of leaching out of the body electrolytes ─ salts consisting of electrically charged ions, with the help of which electrical impulses are executed that pass through the cell membranes of nerves and muscles.

It turns out that water can become as addictive as alcohol. Who does not know how healthy and beneficial to drink water? According to some reports, water can heal 99%. All diseases, from migraines to cancer. Even less controversial is its beneficial effect on beauty: constant water purification, like a good rest, is considered the most important condition for healthy skin, as it prevents dehydration, and this is the main reason for aging. Until recently, with water bottles, we only saw mannequins, which are now filled with graphics stacked on each desk.

In particular, depletion of sodium salt (hyponatremia) can be life-threatening.

Sometimes people say that drinks like coffee, tea or juice do not count and they should also drink ten glasses of water a day. However, we firmly believe that water in all food, including all drinks and all foods, is used by the body to meet its water needs (including sweat and other waste).

Water is considered unconditional good, and can it be good to be too much? Everyone has even the healthiest fashion without fanatics. Although a person is advised to drink about 2 liters of fluid a day, there are those who, even after drinking 20 liters, cannot stop.

While most modern parents encourage their children to drink as much water as possible, 26-year-old Sasha Kennedy does the opposite: she tries to prevent children from seeing her drinking water because they are afraid they will not remove this addiction. Sasha himself drinks about 20 liters of water a day. She understands perfectly well that this is not normal, but she cannot do anything - her desire to drink is stronger than reason and will. She constantly carries a bottle of water with her because the woman is filled with fears that she has nothing to eat, where she goes, so she tries to take care of her in advance.

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Several years ago, North Carolina experienced unusually hot weather, with temperatures rising above 40 ° C for extended periods of time. I work outdoors, so I was very hot and only occasionally went into an air-conditioned room. In addition, my doctor prescribed me hydrochlorothiazide (a moderate diuretic) for hypertension, which I have been taking for many years.

Sasha cannot sleep well, because she goes to the bathroom several times a night and, of course, at the same time does not miss the opportunity to drink the cartel. She says the habit began with models and actors, in which they regularly carry bottles of drinks with them and their beauty tips, which each time mention water as a magical beauty and youth elixir. Natasha and Natasha began to wear such a liter of a bottle. At first she drank 2 bottles a day, now filling it 8 times or more.

She never thought it was a problem. On the contrary, colleagues and acquaintances noticed that she constantly drink water, they heard a healthy lifestyle. How dangerous is excess water? According to nutritionist Catherine Collins of St. Petersburg George Hospital in London, excess water not only overloads the kidneys but can damage the heart because it raises blood pressure. How to tell when there is too little water and when there is enough? If you go to the bathroom three times a day, you are probably drinking enough.

The end result of this was dehydration and tachycardia, which is an irregular heartbeat.

It should be noted that I never sweated much and did not have the classic symptoms of dehydration, so the diagnosis of "dehydration" was a surprise to me. This diagnosis was not made immediately, only after several visits to the doctor, when urine ceased to flow normally and a strange sensation appeared in the region of the heart.

If you walk or go to the toilet more often at night, you may need to reduce the amount of fluids, the doctor explains. Water is washed away from the body by the body's body, and therefore runners who sweat and consume a lot of water can become angry with hyponatremia. Sodium deficiency causes inflammation. Symptoms of hyponatremia include drowsiness, disorientation, seizures, and even trouble breathing. Salty snacks can help avoid this, and minerals are compensated for by mineral water.

Psychological problem Passion for water causes not only physical but also psychological problems. Although the popular habit of drinking alcohol is called addiction, according to psychologist Robert Brown of the University of Glasgow, scientifically, it is not as addictive as drugs or alcohol because people do not become physically addicted to water. “In some cases, it can be considered obsessive-compulsive disorder,” he explains. - It's a kind of mania, sitting, adhering to this habit, gives a sense of security, and not being able to do this, a person feels like a disaster.

I want to warn everyone who sweats a lot and drinks a lot of water in the summer heat - drink enough electrolytes to stay healthy.

My father drank a lot of sweet tea one summer and as a result was rushed to the emergency room with a diagnosis of hyponatremia (sodium deficiency). Doctors told him that he flushed electrolytes from his body by drinking too much tea, which is a diuretic.

You need professional help to deal with it. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help these people. Most people do not consider this problem for a long time because the negative health or psychological effects of water are not very noticeable. On the contrary: the more liquid a person drinks, the more he is pleased with himself.

Of course, increased thirst can be undeniable. For example, this is one of the symptoms of diabetes. But if the doctors don't find reasons why we should drink a lot of water and you still can't empty your bottle of hands, you may have become accustomed to this habit. Obesity has become an epidemic, of which there is no effective drug, and every patient must find the right one.

I live in a region with a very hot and humid climate, so I started adding a little Himalayan salt to my drinking water - so little that I didn't taste the salt. I also drink small amounts of a commercially available electrolyte solution throughout the day.

When I visited a nursing home, one of a group of older women (aged 90+) was working in the yard on a hot day without feeling thirsty. As a result, she ended up in the hospital with a diagnosis of dehydration. This case shows how difficult it is sometimes to feel and maintain your water-salt balance.

It is recommended that the person drinks at least 2 liters of water per day. The simplest rule is to calculate how much water a person needs to swell - 15 ml of water with a weight of 0.45 kg of body weight. There is evidence that Lithuanians consume a liter of water in moderation per day - about half of what they need. If the body does not have enough water, stones can develop in the kidneys, toxic substances accumulate in the blood. Water plays an important role in the brain, muscles and heart. The human body expresses its general or local water needs in different ways: asthma, allergies, stiffness, dyspepsia, rheumatoid arthritis, back pain, migraine head, colitis, angina pectoris.

I understand that tea and coffee are diuretics, which means that the one who drinks them ultimately loses more water than drinks with a cup of tea or coffee?

In the past, humans could indeed rely on their bodies to signal to drink fluids, but in this hectic world, our ancestors created so many distractions for our attention that we forget to listen to our bodies. There are fountains of water everywhere for us, but now we are too busy to think about drinking water.

Complications such as hypertension, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, diabetes, and blockage of cholesterol in the arteries can also be associated with dehydration. People often confuse hunger and thirst, and instead of canceling their true needs, they consume a lot of extra calories by stomping on things they don't need at all. Water is very important in the metabolic process, as most of its reactions take place in liquid media. In the absence of sufficient fluid, metabolism slows down.

Chop the water if scalded and another hour before your next meal. Coffee, soup, tea and more beer are not water. It is recommended to choose alkaline water. Boiling water removes all minerals from it, so it is best to use it in a nutshell. Meanwhile, drinking alkaline water, the body receives not only more minerals, but also oxygen. When blood contains more oxygen, it is lighter, which makes it easier for the heart.

I have been practicing acupuncture for 30 years and have come to the conclusion that it is vital for my clients to drink and eat wisely, to consume enough water and nutritious foods to create and maintain energy in the body. It is important to take into account that black and green tea, coffee, alcohol, sugar act as diuretics in our body. I advise my patients to drink more water after each cup of coffee to compensate for the dehydrating effect coffee has on the body.

Some time ago, a memo was presented in a psychiatric hospital about a woman who drank too much water and thus brought herself to death. Apparently her cells were so diluted with water that they stopped functioning.

I cannot imagine that 8 glasses of water a day can over-hydrate the body. This is the recommendation of doctors, which remains in force for a long time. It is strange that people reject the advice to drink a lot of water, and they themselves constantly drink soda in large sips, without thinking about how much sugar is in it. If someone carries plain water with them all day and sips it often, then they are unlikely to drink too much soda, iced tea, or other sugary drinks. For our family celebrations, we set up a large container with cold water and lemon wedges. The water with lemon tastes great and is in great demand.

On the advice of my doctor, I increased my fluid intake to 2 liters per day. Plus each cup of coffee requires 2 extra glasses of water. This has helped to reduce constipation problems and the frequency of migraine attacks. It’s hard to think all day about whether I’m drinking too much fluids, but in the end, I learned to determine the optimal dose by the color of my urine.

“… In this hectic world, our ancestors created so many distractions for our attention that we forget to listen to our bodies.”

First, we make personal choices and don't blame “our ancestors”. Second, I doubt that we "forget to listen to our bodies." Most people seem to remember to eat and drink ... If people are healthy, then God's built-in thirst mechanism is probably enough to keep us on optimum hydration.

I find that coffee, tea, sodas with sugar or sugar substitutes are poor substitutes for plain water and may not fully meet our daily hydration needs. These drinks cause dehydration. Water itself is the best drink for a person's daily fluid intake. Add a little lemon or lime to it too. I understand the need to drink electrolytes to compensate for their losses during strenuous exercise. For example, Gatorade or a similar electrolyte will work well along with water.

Good day, dear blog readers! We know that we are 70-80% water, that we can withstand no more than three days without it, and that it is very useful. But why drink a lot of water, what exactly does it give our body? How to do it correctly and how much is needed? I will try to tell you about this today.

What is the benefit of drinking water?

To begin with, what benefits water brings us in general:

  1. Provides the body with energy, therefore, if you followed the recommendations from the article, but still remain lethargic, inattentive and confused, then think about whether there is dehydration?
  2. As if "flushes" the internal organs, cleansing from any harmful substances, removing toxins, decay products and so on through the skin, in the form of sweat and urine. This is especially important when losing weight, otherwise this process will negatively affect health.
  3. In addition to cleansing, it is one of the sources of oxygen consumed by the internal organs.
  4. Helps in the process of assimilation of vitamins, minerals ...
  5. Moisturizes hair so it grows healthy, shiny and smooth. Also, skin that becomes elastic retains its youth longer, because wrinkles appear in dehydrated areas. And thanks to moisture, nails are strengthened and less likely to break.
  6. Affects digestion.
  7. Its deficiency can lead to various diseases. For example, if joints hurt, then try first to increase the amount of fluid consumed, the same for headaches.

How is it related to weight loss?

  • The most common causes of excess weight and stomach problems are a lack of water, because then little gastric juice is produced, which slows down the work of the digestive system, not having time to process all the substances, saving fats and carbohydrates for later. And there will be no strength to fight this excess fat.
  • When a person loses weight, toxins and all sorts of decay products are formed, which are removed only with the help of liquid.
  • Lubricates joints and keeps muscles in good shape, relieving severe pain. This is why it is recommended that you increase your drinking during vigorous exercise.
  • During the diet, a person needs to consume fiber, but without a large amount of water it is almost impossible to digest it.
  • If you drink with food - satiety will come very early, since the stomach will fill up faster and the brain will receive a signal that there is enough food and it is time to stop.
  • It speeds up the metabolism, and, therefore, food is quickly processed, useful substances are absorbed, and harmful ones are excreted. And then even a piece of cake or another favorite, but high-calorie dish will not be scary.
  • People who have managed to lose a very large amount of excess weight know that their difficulties do not end there, because the skin hanging down in those places where it was stretched takes a very long time to recover. But if you drink a lot, the cells will start working faster, adding elasticity to the skin and eliminating the tightening effect.

How to calculate the volume correctly

I think why we need a large supply of moisture, you understand, now you need to calculate it. Doctors recommend 0.5 liters for 15 kilograms. For example, if your weight is 60 kg, then you should consume at least two liters per day. When playing sports, add at least one more. Just keep in mind that if you decide to drink the required amount in two approaches, this will not be beneficial. To maintain balance, moisture should be replenished gradually as it is released.

It is best if during the day you measure the required amount and drink 250 ml at a time, which is exactly what a regular glass can hold. Just don't torture yourself and force yourself if you don't want to. By the way, a child must also consume enough water, for full growth and development he just needs it, given that children usually spend more energy than adults. And vegetarians can adhere to a different norm, boldly reducing the indicator by 0.5 liters.

  1. Do you know that when you are sick, you need to drink plenty of fluids? Especially with a temperature and an upset stomach, because dehydration occurs, and a person loses energy in the fight against viruses and bacteria.
  2. While on a diet, just drinking and not eating will not work, as it is impossible to feel full without getting any nutrients and at least a minimal amount of calories. It is best to pour a glass of purified water just before meals for 40-50 minutes. If there is no opportunity to eat, but really want to, warm, or at least room temperature water will help, this trick will deceive the brain for a while, because it contains alkali and salts that reduce the feeling of hunger. But before going to bed, it is better to limit yourself, you do not need extra awakenings at all, otherwise you will not feel vigor in the morning.
  3. During active physical activity, it is not recommended to use cold water, even if it is very hot, otherwise you may catch a cold. If your workout is longer than an hour, be sure to include drinks rich in electrolytes and glucose in your diet.
  4. Unfortunately, with toxins and other harmful substances, useful ones are washed out, so you should not overuse water. As a last resort, you can start taking vitamins.
  5. Tea, coffee, juices, broths and the like are considered food, so they should not be added to the amount of fluid consumed per day.
  6. If you have kidney problems, you should definitely consult a doctor, otherwise high water intake will increase their work, which they may not be able to cope with.
  7. It is also necessary to consult a doctor for urolithiasis.
  8. At first, you will often run to the toilet, do not be afraid of this, your body will rebuild, get used to it and everything will stabilize.
  9. Avoid alcohol, as it leads to dehydration, among other devastating consequences. You can view.
  10. Squeeze a lemon, this will add flavor to the water, acidify it and fill it with vitamin C. It is especially useful on an empty stomach, if there is no gastritis or stomach ulcer, so the body wakes up faster, starting all the necessary processes to function actively all day.
  11. Is it always good to drink plentifully? But no, it can both speed up the digestive process and significantly slow it down. Therefore, pause, an hour after eating and at least half an hour before.
  12. Do not worry that by increasing the amount of fluid you consume, your body, and especially your face, will begin to acquire puffiness. All that is superfluous and processed will come out necessarily, usually only eating salty and spicy foods will retain fluid in the body, sometimes the diseases that I mentioned above.
  13. In order not to ask myself a question like "Do I need to increase drinking?", I will say one thing - if the body does not have enough moisture, a person begins to experience an increased feeling of hunger, and overeating, his stomach expands, which makes it necessary to increase the portion for saturation and meals.
  14. With neurotic disorders, it is also not recommended to overdo it, since the excretion of sodium and potassium negatively affects the state of health.
  15. Experts advise using this method in the warm season, best of all in summer. Since it will be easier for the body to adapt and rebuild, because the secretion through the sweat glands will be much more active, and you will not catch cold due to wet clothes, especially in frost or in a draft.
  16. Avoid carbonated drinks when dieting. Yes, sometimes you want to pamper yourself with them, but believe me, you will only slow down the process of getting rid of those extra pounds. If you are not allergic to lemon, try squeezing lemon again or adding honey to add flavor.
  17. To bring health benefits, you should not pour tap water, there is chlorine and other nasty things that your body absolutely does not need. Boiled will not harm, but it will not give a positive effect either, because during cooking it becomes completely neutral. Mineral is not advised to use daily, although it is useful. Filtered is best.

Effects of dehydration

Finally, I will tell you what happens to your body when there is a lack of moisture. Imagine breathing only 0.5 liters per day. And if a person still goes in for sports or has physical activity, then it comes to one liter. And if he only uses one liter per day? Then breathing will be complicated, his muscles will not be in good shape, his skin is flabby, even the pressure may decrease, and the worst thing, no, not obesity, and even worse - the formation of blood clots, which tend to break off, which can lead to death. The work of the liver, kidneys and heart also deteriorates, the efficiency of brain activity decreases, and hallucinations may even occur.

Conclusion

So, if you decide to lead a healthy lifestyle, want to restore or maintain beauty and youth, drink plenty to maintain water balance. Subscribe to the blog to keep your brain and body in good shape. I also recommend the article,. And that's all for today, dear readers! Be healthy and take care of yourself!

Drink at least six glasses of water daily. When the thirst hits, it's too late, nutrition researchers say. Is it really so? Do we need so much liquid?

Water is considered to be a miraculous elixir. Drinking water is good for health, promotes slimness and awakens a healthy mind, according to nutritional studies and health magazines. Some mineral water companies even claim that their product helps to eliminate harmful substances from the body, to obtain "pure joy from life" and improves complexion. According to the German Nutrition Society (DGE), you need to drink 1.5 liters of water daily (six to eight glasses). You should not drink when you are thirsty. “The feeling of thirst is the result of a negative water balance. Only in exceptional cases should it be an incentive to drink liquids, ”the Nutrition Society notes.

But is it really so? Do you need to drink so much liquid even if you don't feel thirsty?

Not a single person can do without water - this is beyond doubt. “In quantitative terms, water is the most important element of the human body. An adult is 50-60 percent water, ”says nutrition researcher Antje Gahl. Water is part of all biological fluids - tears, without which our eyes would dry out; blood, which circulates in the body and supplies our organs and muscles with oxygen and nutrients only in liquid form. And in urine, which removes all substances from the body that it cannot process.

To ensure the correct operation of all vital processes, the body must constantly receive fluid. According to the Institute of Nutrition, the body loses 2.65 liters of water daily during respiration, removal of fluids through sweat and intestines. Part of this deficit - about 875 milliliters - we get from food. Mitochondria, the “batteries” of our cells, also release water during certain chemical processes - about 335 milliliters per day. The rest must be replenished through drinking. The required volume for daily consumption is 1.44 liters, best of all in the form of water or unsweetened herbal or fruit teas, these are the recommendations.

Anyone who drinks 1.5 liters of water per day is on the right course. However, some experts believe that drinking more than thirst determines is pointless. “It's hard to believe that evolution has endowed humans with a chronic water deficit that we must compensate for by forced drinking,” writes physiologist Heinz Valtin of Dartmouth College in an essay in the American Journal of Physiology. Some people get thirsty when the blood concentration increases by two percent, but dehydration is at least five percent. That is, thirst never comes late, it comes exactly on time, Faltin notes.

You can drink and coffee

One who drinks more than the thirst requires does not become either smarter, more beautiful, or healthier. It should be noted that you can drink not only water. Coffee also compensates for the lack of water. Coffee drinks are not good for thirst quenching because too much can raise blood pressure. But the notion that coffee dehydrates the body is wrong. In a person who drinks coffee, up to 84% of the fluid consumed during the day is excreted through the urine. Those who drink clean water have this figure at 81%. The difference lies precisely in these three percent, that is, it is quite insignificant.

Water's ability to remove slags is also not yet proven, researchers Dan Negoianu and Stanley Goldfarb note. "Increasing fluid intake can have an impact on the cleansing processes in the kidneys." But whether this effect is clinically relevant, that is, whether it has a positive effect on health, has not yet been scientifically proven.

Research also shows that drinking too much water can harm the body. Marathon runners and other athletes can experience "water poisoning" if they drink too much water for fear of dehydration. If too much water enters the cells, they can be damaged. Consequences - dizziness, nausea, vomiting. In the worst case, organ damage can occur.