h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's a fallacy that that you should drink atleast 2 litres of water a day - your body USES about two litres of water a day, and much of what we eat is made up of that handy little liquid.

Not that drinking that much is bad for you of course, it's a great way to 'flood out' your body, getting rid of those nasty toxins and suchlike, but don't feel obliged to if you don't feel thirsty...

Well, I helped Kat with that bit of information. and we took into account the amount of water contained in food.

The total turnover of water in the body is about 2,600 ml. Of the volume taken in. about 350 ml is produced during metabolic processes (respiration in cells) and 800 ml is taken in with food. which leaves a balance of 1450 ml to be taken in as drink.

Extra water would be required:

In hot weather when much more would be lost through the skin
During illness where a raised temperature results in increased sweating
If vomiting or diarrhoea has occurred
During lactation

So, nutritionists recommend a minimum of 2 -3 litres/day.

Yup...although not TOO much water! What happens then is too much osmosis takes place Oh and it makes you go stark raving mad if you drink lots and lots of water. My friend's dad had to be taken off to the hospital strapped to a bed after doing that. And once I drank loads of water and the blood vessels in my earlobes burst...

You needed to consider that didn't you

Anyway, just backing up what BigAL said and adding that 2litres is the standard given out by health workers etc at schools and the like so it's always good to back that kind of thing up. Besides most people don't drink enough anyway.

Glad to have comments about the entry back though

Kat

This is what happens, of course, when people take 'E' in s, etc.

BigAL, it's always good to see the figures!

I am reminded though of a recent BBC2 program, presented by that short bloke from Top Gear. He got two identical twins, put one on 2 litres of water a day, and the other on 1/2 litre a day and then did a load of metabolic/skin type tests.

The results after a month showed that it made absolutely no difference!

Though I do agree that a lot of people don't drink enough water - coffee/tea/squashes etc. can dehydrate as well as hydrate. Nothing beats the real thing (and I don't mean coke....)!

'COURSE, 1 month may be too short to notice a big difference. Too little water will mean the blood is thicker thus increasing the risk of e.g thrombosis. Also, it will increase the likelihood of kidney stones. E.g. I had a colleague with kidney stonmes who had to have them surgically removed. He was then recommended to drink as much beer as cpossible as frequently as possible (within reason) to prevent them reforming!

Look after yourselves - lets all protect ourselves from kidney stones!!