Water, water everywhere, but no real need for it. Why do people not believe this?

[ElderLemon]

The evidence is clear that unless we are elderly, we can just drink when thirsty and be absolutely fine. The need for x litres per day is just made up bollocks. But I know from multiple threads over many years that many, if not most, people on here will down right refuse to believe this. Is it just that people don't like science? I don't know why it annoys me so much, live and let live etc. But when I see all the health and beauty articles repeating it I get enraged, I really do. Anyone else? www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/dec/09/is-it-true-that-we-should-all-drink-more-water?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

I don't think anyone disagrees re older people - the OP starts 'The evidence is clear that unless we are elderly.....'

If you want to believe it's not true, then fine

But I'm on my third Stanley of the day (3.6l) and feel amazing, I'll have another before bed as well.

Yes but those elderly people were once younger, with poor hydration habits and a scornful attitude towards drinking water. My point is it catches up with you.

Any evidence to back up this sweeping generalisation about older pople often refusing to drink plain water? I am early 60s and lots of us grew up drinking plain water because fizzy drinks/squash etc. were a treat not an everyday thing.

Again, evidence for this guff about poor hydration habits and a scornful attitude towards drinking water?

Or are you just being stupidly ageist?

Did you even read beyond the title? The first line of the OP literally says "unless we are elderly"

This thread is fairly good evidence of poor hydration habits and a scornful attitude towards drinking. But granted, I don’t know for sure the ages of the posters who are against water consumption.

Nobody is "against water consumption"

What people are saying is that the recommendation is for people to consume two litres of fluid per day, a lot of which will come from food or drinks like tea, coffee, juice or soda.

Not one single person on here is saying "you shouldn't drink water" - they're saying that you can easily get a decent amount of fluids from your diet without needing to stress about drinking a set amount of water each day.

So you were simply being ageist. Gotcha.

Yep. Here is NHS guidance:

Most people should aim to drink enough during the day so their pee is a clear pale yellow colour.

The Eatwell Guide recommends that people should aim to drink 6 to 8 cups or glasses of fluid a day. Water, lower-fat milk and sugar-free drinks, including tea and coffee, all count.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-guidelines-and-food-labels/water-drinks-nutrition/

I'd guess with many older people it's more about limited mobility and fear of incontinence combined with reduced thirst cues.

I’m thirsty in the evening if I don’t drink at least 2l of water a day, more if I’ve gone for a run. And I don’t want to drink too late as it gets me up in the night if I do (weak bladder)! I do walk quite a bit and do intermittent fasting so probably don’t get much liquid from my food.

I'm interested in a pp who said drinking more water made their insides feel better, im not sure I understand.
Like I said in a previous post when I increased my water consumption the only noticeable effect was needing the toilet more often, which I didn't find a positive!

I had 500ml water today which is quite a lot for me for a sedentary day but I found a calculator once that estimated the amount of water needed based on your size and I think I only needed 1.3l anyway, which I probably get from water plus other drinks. Obviously I drink more if it's hot or if I exercise, although like @BogRollBOGOF I rarely take water on a run in winter unless I'm going to be out well over an hour, and wouldn't carry water at all if doing a race with water stations.

Some people don't drink enough water. Water is good for you. I don't get why you think it is funny and annoying that people like to drink it.

I don't stick to a recommended amount but I do have it on my desk all the time at work because sometimes I'm too busy or lazy to make another drink.

I think reading through the posts. Use the numbers like 2 litres of water a day as a guide. Keep an eye on your pee and if it's dark coloured. Get some fluids into you because your kidneys aren't happy.

Then everybody can get on with other things. Like navigating the in-laws at Christmas.

Not for me.

I don’t feel thirsty, in the same way some people don’t feel hungry. For them food is just fuel. For me drinking liquids is something I ought to do but never really feel like. I have lately realised that wanting fruit or cereal is probably thirst. But it’s taken me to mid 40s to realise that.

I have quite a serious autoimmune disease (medically diagnosed and monitored) and the improvement in my symptoms when I drink 2-3l water a day compared with much less, is quite incredible. It's measurable, so not placebo. My reliance on medication falls significantly (still need it daily but far less often). I also feel so much better in myself for a long list of other reasons including clearer skin, digestion, energy levels...

I'm absolutely a science-led individual for pretty much everything but in this case no matter what advice is out there about only needing to drink when you're thirsty, I just can't justify applying it to myself and can support others who feel the same for medical reasons or just general health.

Some of my students slurp constantly. And I mean, constantly, from often-huge water bottles that are the size of tankers. Between demanding to nip out to refill them, and their resultant need to go to the loo every 45 minutes or so, they can handily avoid any form of challenge/ hard work in any lesson, while their parents can froth that we're denying their human rights if we suggest that they might make better progress if Hydration weren't a constant procrastination tool.

If you're needing the loo every 45 minutes, dehydration is not even a remote risk.