Gorgonseye on 25/6/2007 at 16:01
What is this "Reusable" word you speak of? Everytime I drink a glass of water, when it gets warm I have to spill it out and just get more fresh water, and when I'm finished with it I just smash the glass against the sink so it doesn't take up any extra space.
LesserFollies on 25/6/2007 at 16:21
People drink too much water anyway. The whole idea of "hydration" is over-hyped... They finally figured out that all it really does is make people pee a lot. It's not really that beneficial, unless you're exercising in high temperatures or something.
Scots Taffer on 25/6/2007 at 16:35
Hydration may be overhyped and water itself isn't particularly full of goodness or anything, but the act of drinking water is extremely important and indeed critical to our survival. The replenishing of lost fluid is only a small part of that, but the processes involved in our water intake are what keep us alive - it allows transport of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, etc; lubricates our internal hinges and locks; maintains body temperature and drives the processing of waste from the kidneys and intestines.
I didn't drink much water as a teenager and then I started drinking a lot of carbonated and still mineral water and noticed a considerable improvement in my overall health and general wellbeing. I tend to drink around 2 litres a day, which is still probably not enough to continually maintain a very healthy body balance considering my alcohol intake... other than that though, I avoid most other nasty toxins.
The only time I've ever heard of someone drinking too much water was that poor stupid fratboy who drank a couple of metric fucktons as part of an initiation and essentially de-electrolysed himself or something and died pretty promptly. But yeah, don't think drinking water can ever be too overhyped. :)
LesserFollies on 25/6/2007 at 16:44
I'm just saying people overdo it. Folks in countries where thay don't have the water resources for everyone to be drinking constantly do just fine, health-wise. There's a minimum healthy amount, and believe me, it's far below what people consume here in the US. I don't know the amount, but it's probably about 64 ounces or so. Any more than that and you're just pissing water, and possibly, if your health is in any way fragile, stressing your kidneys.
Rug Burn Junky on 25/6/2007 at 16:50
Between muscle cramps, fatigue, and the like, for anyone keeping even a modestly active lifestyle, keeping yourself hydrated isn't remotely overrated. And that's not just for high temperatures.
But the other thing to consider is that drinking fluids is only one part of hydration.
You can drink all the water you want, but if your electrolyte levels are off, it won't do much good. Taurine levels (which, among other things, affect the cell membrane absorption of water) also play a role, and both are depleted by exercising and other activities (ie. drinking)
Gatorade and the like are mostly crap (way too high in sugars), but the principal of priming your body so that you can actually take advantage of the water you do drink is something not to be overlooked.
/edit
Quote:
There's a minimum healthy amount, and believe me, it's far below what people consume here in the US. I don't know the amount, but it's probably about 64 ounces or so. Any more than that and you're just pissing water, and possibly, if your health is in any way fragile, stressing your kidneys.
Not true at all, for one thing, most of the liquid Americans consume comes in the form of soda and other crap that really does get counter productive, not water. But the kidneys don't really get stressed from over work because of TOO much liquid, rather, from too LITTLE, combined with too high concentration of the waste materials it's filtering out (to overly simplify: think of trying to filter any liquid - free flowing liquids pass much easier than slow moving sludge).
LesserFollies on 25/6/2007 at 17:01
Of COURSE hydration is important. :rolleyes: The problem is people are being misled about how much they need to stay hydrated. There's a lot of new research being done, and the old rule of "eight glasses of eight" is being debunked. I have a fairly active lifestyle: I do aerobics four times a week and walk an hour every night, and I do fine with a glass of juice or water at each meal and a couple more glasses in-between. (Although I should note I drink very little coffee and don't drink alcohol at all; that makes a slight difference.) What I'm saying is, the people who walk around their daily lives with bottles of water, constantly guzzling and peeing, are fooling themselves. The bottled water industry thanks you, of course.
edited: ack water fight to page two
Matthew on 25/6/2007 at 17:11
Quote Posted by Scots_Taffer
The only time I've ever heard of someone drinking too much water was that poor stupid fratboy who drank a couple of metric fucktons as part of an initiation and essentially de-electrolysed himself or something and died pretty promptly.
There was the woman who tried to win a (
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6261509.stm) 'how much water can you drink?' competition in order to win a Wii.
Rug Burn Junky on 25/6/2007 at 17:26
The "8 glasses of water a day" thing is simplistic, but that doesn't mean it's too much for most people. 64 oz is very, very, very little over the course of a full day.
I'm probably in the upper end of the spectrum, drinking over 300 oz. of fluids a day on some days, depending on my schedule. When I go markedly below that point, I get noticeable, and rather severe, muscle cramps.
It all comes down to knowing, and listening to, your body.
LesserFollies on 25/6/2007 at 17:45
Not only is it simplistic, it's erroneous. Look it up, do some research. And on a personal level: there's simply no reason for a human to consume as much liquid as you do, RBJ. I suggest that your muscles cramps are a result of something else. (And, my god, do you LIVE in the bathroom???)
Matthew on 25/6/2007 at 17:49
I try to drink about 2 litres per day; I wouldn't say that I go to the bathroom an inordinate number of times.