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

A simple Google 😂 meanwhile can you provide any actual peer reviewed studies that prove caffeine is never a contributor or cause of headaches for anyone at all?

You're right op

All drinking litres will do is place unnecessary strain on your kidneys but still people are scared to leave the house without a Stanley on the go 😀

The streets are hardly lined with corpses of the victims though, are they?

What I meant was that I personally never felt thirsty , but I was dehydrated .

The reason I said thirst was not an indicator to drink, was because it wasn't for me, maybe it is for some .

I rarely feel thirsty and would only drink when eating. My wee is usually quite dark. However some days I will bring a water bottle to my desk and if it’s there a drink the full litre across 8 hours without even realising I’m doing it - so I assume my body does need it hence the subconscious sipping throughout the day.

On those days, I do feel a bit brighter, less hungry and I don’t worry as much about my breath smelling (as my mouth doesn’t get a foisty taste). I genuinely believe if I drank that additional litre every day it’d be better for my health and wellbeing - but I’m often too lazy to fill it up.

My dh is apparently missing a ‘thirst’ thing, he always used to drink very little - and a few years ago ended up in hospital as a result.

He never used to listen when I told him he didn’t drink enough (not just plain water, anything containing it) but once the medics told him, he really did/still does pay attention!

I am supposed to drink more and have more salt ( cardiology consultant) to stop me going faint...

Much prefer it delivered as decaf coffee or tea!

Those hideous big flasks with straws poking out and people sucking constantly at them.
Mind you, all the Costa cups clutched insanely.
Unless you are sweating, no one needs 2 or ,3 litres a day.
Did everyone die of dehydration in times past due to their ADHD/ forgetfulness/ not carrying drink everywhere?

I've just googled this and no they don't. They dehydrate

But all those feelings you describe (being cranky and sluggish and tired) are all feelings of thirst

Yes, we were told that when ds had a kidney scan when he was little.

This is a short article based on one person's views. No links to any data or research.

Totally agree.

Evolution is a wonderful thing. Why would humans evolve to not know they needed water?!

Pupils were amazed when I refused to let them drink in a laboratory. When I asked them why, they said they were thirsty as if that were a serious medical condition and even started talking about human rights!

And yet, years ago, people drank with meals, unless they were doing sport, and that was sufficient.

You need a hobby.

I can remember telling Dad to drink 6 big glasses of diluted cordial a day after he had a dodgy kidney blood test

After 3 months his kidney blood test was normal

Dad was someone who would only drink tea , no water or cordial

But he stepped up and it worked out well

The thing is OP, it’s easy to ignore or not notice thirst if you’re busy. We’ve all done it - had a manic day at work, got to about 4pm and realised we haven’t eaten, drunk or been to the toilet since 9am. So it’s makes sense to have a target amount to drink, so you know you’ll do it.

Also, as a GP I do a lot of blood tests, and you’d be amazed at how many people are clinically dehydrated, as an incidental finding. It puts strain on the kidneys and that is visible on blood tests.

I think we’ve become obsessed with water. I always thought the advice was 2 litres of fluid a day. Fluid comes from any drink except alcohol, the fluid in food also counts too.
People sucking on their bottles like babies is a new thing.

Highly unusual I would think as humans have a thirst mechanism for survival purposes. Maybe you should check it out?

My DD doesn’t feel thirst, between neurodivergence and early trauma her ability to sense and interpret signals within her body is utterly compromised.

Drink more, eat less, exercise more, sleep more….choose life, choose a job, choose a career, choose a family…

If you’re outside walking or gardening it’s easy to feel the need to drink water. Stuck at a desk working intensely on calls and under stress it’s very easy to suppress the feeling of thirst and not drink anything at all.

I don’t care what a large scale scientific study says statistically I know that I feel better if I remember to drink. I wouldn’t tell others they have to as they’re not me but I won’t stop.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555956/

'According to the lay press, 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. While medical literature does not support this, dehydration is common in elderly patients. It has been reported to occur in 17% to 28% of older adults in the United States.[1] Dehydration is a frequent cause of hospital admission. It can cause morbidity and mortality on its own and complicates many medical conditions. Dehydration may also be over-diagnosed. This can lead to misdiagnosis of the real cause of the patient's illness and lead to over-treatment with fluids. Dehydration is easily treatable and preventable. A thorough understanding of the causes and diagnosis of dehydration can improve patient care.'

From reading some of the responses it seems like lots of people don't recognise what thirst actually feels or looks like.

Lots of people have said they don't feel thirsty then gone on to describe loads of symptoms of thirst it's not just a dry mouth and a tickle in your throat - it's also being sluggish, tired, irritable, dizzy, lightheaded and having dry lips and eyes.

Looks like you've touched a nerve @ElderLemon!

I don't get it either. And please, let's not pretend that come summertime there isn't threads about how the kids in school are being "denied water" to varying tones of hysteria, when what they mean is, kids can drink as much as they need to during breaks and lunch just not during lessons.

A low thirst drive is a known phenomenon just like some people don’t get hungry. It also happens as we age. I don’t get thirsty, ever.

I doubt she can, but not because your argument is correct. It isn't.

Caffeine causes headaches because that is one of the effects that compound can cause in humans. It is entirely unrelated to water.