Many of us can’t remember when we first learned about the importance of drinking water. The eight glasses a day is a recommendation that has been made by doctors, parents, as well as numerous dieticians. Like most sayings; there is more to it than the saying itself.
If you ever wondered how you could possibly drink eight glasses of water daily without standing in front of the sink and never drinking anything but water, you are not alone. Especially, when eight glasses is the minimum daily amount. Men, according to the standard rule, are supposed to drink ten or twelve glasses per day! For one thing, it is important to know that the eight servings are only eight ounces each and not the 12 or 16 ounce drinking glasses that many of us picture. It is also generally common knowledge that our bodies are largely made up of water and that we could not long survive without it.
What is not so commonly realized, is how this amount works out on a day to day basis. Just as our bodies are largely water, water is also in a lot of other foods that we may not be counting toward that eight glass goal. Some servings of fruit also count as almost a full serving of water. Other drinks, whether they are beneficial for our health in general, are also largely water, also are considered in the daily count. Coffee is heatedly debated and there are always new studies determining whether or not it is healthy or harmful – regardless of these, it still counts as a serving of water. Suddenly, the daily minimum does not seem nearly as overwhelming.
For those that work out, on the other hand, the eight glasses a day rule may not be sufficient. Exercise can come in many forms. You might be shoveling snow or swimming laps in a pool, but either way, your body will likely tell you afterwards if is in need of water. And even if you do not feel thirsty, sweating depletes some of the water in your body, so a glass or two is important after a fitness routine.
The older idea about drinking eight glasses of water a day has lead to some interesting twists in the dieting world. Some diets suggest that drinking water is a great way to lose weight, while some diet pills work by depleting water weight from your body. Water, while crucial for everyone on a daily basis, is not a great dieting tool. It can help hunger cravings if you have another hour to go before your next meal, since it fills your stomach without adding calories. On the other hand, since it doesn’t have any calories, or anything else substantial, it isn’t going to stop hunger for very long. And while drinking water daily is important, adding more water to your diet does not actually add any of the important vitamins and nutrients contained in other foods. If, however, you deplete your body of too much water through dieting, you will likely notice the effects immediately like dry mouth or tiredness.