Do you drink enough water?

[Onlyhonest]

I don’t think I do. I drink half a litre of water a day (max) plus one or two cups of tea. I struggle to drink more. I do get a lot of headaches so trying to make an effort to drink more each day.

How much water do you drink each day and is that easy for you or do you consciously make yourself drink it? Do you notice the health benefits if you drink a lot?

I drink loads, probably too much, always need to wee in the night. Probably around 3l.

I notice if I don't drink enough, get headaches and grumpy. I don't think there any discernable health benefits though.

Well, what colour is your pee? That's usually enough to tell you if you're drinking enough.

I drink very little plain water, maybe a small glass a day. I have tea and juice (fruit and cordial)and I presume I drink enough fluids because I'm well and not thirsty!

I have always generally assumed that my body has an amazing biological mechanism called thirst which prompts it to hydrate effectively. It’s never occurred to me to drink water just for the sake of “getting enough”. I seem perfectly healthy, anyway, or at least no discernibly less healthy than anyone I know.

Nope

I thought the recommended amount was 8 glasses of water a day which is approximately 2 litres and I know I don’t drink that much.

Although when I'm at work I drink a lot as I'm in hospitality, so the heating is on and we are running around like headless chickens so it's easy to dehydrate. Good thing we get free drinks.

I have never hit the target amount of water to drink on my Fitbit since I had it three years ago

@ComtesseDeSpair

I have always generally assumed that my body has an amazing biological mechanism called thirst which prompts it to hydrate effectively. It’s never occurred to me to drink water just for the sake of “getting enough”. I seem perfectly healthy, anyway, or at least no discernibly less healthy than anyone I know.

We're not supposed to wait until we're thirsty and eventually it's possible not to recognise thirst and mistake it for hunger.

Best way is to look at your pee. If you're getting enough it'll tell you. Fannying on counting glasses and litres isn't the point.

I have rarely managed to hit my goal of 3l per day but it really does make a difference if I keep it up for at least a week. Clear skin, less brain fog, more energy and zero headaches. However, peeing becomes a full time job and you can never be more than 5 minutes from a toilet.

easily, i drink 3 litres most days. Currently on my 3rd 750ml bottle of water.

The target is approx 1800-2000ml of fluids all fluids count, water milk tea coffee fruit juice beer etc some have a mild diuretic effect but it is very small in comparison to the volume, if it is exceptionally hot or you are running loads you will need more . There is a whole industry built around water myths, when you are thirsty you drink when you are hungry you eat when you are tired you rest or sleep. Saying when you are thirsty you are already dehydrated makes as much sense as saying when you are hungry you are already starved. Being very mildly hungry or thirsty is not harmful

I barely drink any. Many days, none. I don't know how I'm still alive! I drink green tea though.

No. I have the bladder control of the average 4 year old so I'm always restricting my water intake.

On the other hand though if you're drinking so much your're peeing constantly it's clearly too much!

I have always drunk lots of water ever since I read in Just Seventeen or something that drinking lots of water would result in clear skin and weight loss! The weight loss thing didn't happen but I was always hopeful so have kept up drinking lots - I drink 2 pints when I get up, 2 more if I go to the gym, 4 mugs of coffee at work as well as between 3 and 4.5 litres of water depending how warm it is. Then another 2-3 pints of water at home in the evening. Most nights I don't need to get up for the loo unless I'm not sleeping well anyway. Pee is usually healthy straw like colour. if I don't drink enough, like a PP I get grumpy and tired and headachy.

Definitely not. Maybe one glass of water a week, if that? The rest is entirely Diet Coke - maybe 4 cans a day. And maybe a glass of orange juice at breakfast. But I have wonderful white teeth still and a low BMI, so I truthfully don't care

I never drink water on its own. I drink fizz or squash and rarely more than 500ml a day. I don’t drink tea or coffee but like milkshake and chilled coffee drinks made with milk.

I don’t feel thirsty.

I pee once, occasionally twice a day. My pee is pale and I have no health problems and I am not young and have been the same for decades. On a very hot day I may drink slightly more.

Inside Health on radio 4 covered this recently. Worth a listen.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0014g0v

The take away message is the narrative around drinking enough water is essentially based on no evidence and far too many people worry far too much about whether they’re drinking enough water.

Yes, loads. I don't feel quite right without drinking enough.

I drink about 1.5 litres of water and then a couple of cups of tea, milk and a juice each day.

PurpleDaisies, I have also read research that indicates there is no evidence that water aids weight loss or improves the skin etc. I do not drink plain water but consume enough fluids during the day by drinking tea.

I drink around 3 litres a day, if I drink less I quickly get headaches and feel lethargic.

Maybe one glass a day, if it is very hot, a bit more. And too much water just makes me "sloshy" and gives me acid reflux, can't be doing with it.

I drink 2l a day, without fail. And probably a litre through the night. I always drink a glass / small bottle on waking.
As children, we were brought up on water / corporation pop ! Even when the mineral man came round and delivered, we still preferred tap water. My dm only ever bought it on special occasions anyway. I like a diet coke every now and then, but mainly water.
My skin has always been clear and I've never experienced spots. I think drinking water gives me energy.

Yep. Minimum 2lts water every day and then one tea and two coffees.

Never drink fruit juice, squash or fizzy drinks like coke etc.

Also drink wine and gin.