To say you don't need to drink a certain amount of water every day to be healthy

[marymarkle]

How much water your body needs varies depending on how hot it is, how active you are, the food you eat, and any medical needs. The idea that you need to drink a certain amount of water every day was dreamt up by a beauty magazine and has been repeated so many times since, that a lot of people believe it is true.
Unless you have medical needs, drink when you feel like a drink.

@picklemepopcorn
Decaff is not a diuretic, caffeine is. So your gp is talking rubbish.
Also, the diuretic effect of caffeine is overestimated. If you drink a mug of coffee you still gain more liquid drinking it than you lose from any diuretic effect.
All liquids count, you don't have to drink water. A cup of tea/coffee, glass of juice etc all count. You get liquid from your food too.
Your pee is the best indicator. Also, in the winter you don't need as much as you do when it's 30 degrees.

I drink with meals, & have at least 3 extra cups (tea, hot orange) throughout the day.

I did try drinking 1l of water a day, but could not go more than an hour without needing the toilet.it was infuriating.

After having more than one embarrassing accident, I stopped the litre of water, & I can actually get home from work without almost crying in discomfort now!

My health otherwise has been no different either way.

@Ragnarthe that's what I thought too, and internet agrees. However, I am dehydrated despite drinking like a fish. Still trying to work it out.

I agree. I almost never drink plain water - whenever I've tried to increase my water intake, all I've done is spend far more time peeing! It made no noticeable difference to my skin or my overall health.

Following.

What you want is for your wee to be a shade of light yellow and not either clear or a dark colour, as having too much or too little fluid has adverse consequences.

You can get your fluid intake from any drinks, but water is the simplest way and often the best option. I find myself needing to drink a couple of pints of water a day in the office in winter, along with a couple of cups of coffee, and another pint of water in the evening. In summer it is usually more than that, and I might drink another half litre after exercise. I can't see why that would offend anyone!

I'm not sure, I usually drink around 4 pints of water a day. Monday and Tuesday I had no access to water (didn't have cash and couldn't go out at lunchtime as was at a different work base and there was no access to water). I felt like absolute shit. No engery, headache, run down.

I definitely notice a difference if I don't drink regularly.

I only ever used to drink suggary pop when I was a child, never water or tea/coffee, I had really bad skin and used to get headaches all the time and my Mum even took me to the GP and had tests done to make sure everything was ok as I had so many headaches. All was fine but the headaches continued.

I read years ago that water would help my skin so started making an effort to drink more and my skin and the headaches disappeared within a few weeks. Yes you have to go to the loo more often to start with but after a couple of weeks your body gets used to it and that calms down. Water has definetley made a difference with me.

If you feel thirsty you are already dangerously dehydrated is a know myth.

Look up the Adam ruins everything video about "hydration".

ZanyMobster your pee should be straw coloured, not clear.

Most people tend to drink too little water but of course the correct amount will vary depending on what the person is actually doing and the temperature and diet etc.

Why not though?

It does no harm, it's cheap and it does make some people feel better (even if it's just he placebo effect).

As you've acknowledged some people genuinely are dehydrated - whether that's because they are elderly or don't really feel thirst - so surely raising awareness of the benefits of proper hydration is a good thing?

It's far less of an issue than some of the other "health" twaddle magazines trot out.

I definitely notice a difference if I don't drink regularly.

Isn't that because your body is used to you drinking loads of water though? I never even drank much water as a kid, always had fruit juice or milk, or weak tea. I've never felt run down or dehydrated or headachy because of it.

buttered - yeah sorry, I just typed it quickly but I just meant clear as in not thick/cloudy looking. Obviously not actually clear.

I am not sure anyone said you are dangerously dehydrated if you are thirsty?

I have a friend who drinks no water. She drinks the odd decaff tea or soft drink but other than that nothing at all. She has done all the fitness checks where they check your water etc and she always shows up as being really well hydrated. It must really depend on your make up.

This is what I was told to look at

I drink more water and it completely changed my skin
Didn't improve it though :(
Still have spots/acne. But now oily rather than dry. Was impressed to see the change but what a disappointment :(

I find cocoa is a very strong diuretic. I thought I'd sleep like a top after a mug of cocoa, instead I was up and down all night peeing. Took a while for realise what was causing it, and googling confirmed ☹️

Chocolate has got caffeine in it as well, not a good bedtime drink or snack/dessert in the evening.

I didn't drink any water as a kid or teenager and did feel rundown and headachey.

Yes, all liquids count but water is best.
No salt in it, or sugar or sweeteners.

I disagree with the OP and agree with everything that @gamerchick has said

Also I wouldn't go off the information provided by doctors or health care professionals unless they are qualified in nutrition. There is a lot of old school theories out there

It's almost like the amazing built-in feedback system known as thirst has got this shit nailed.

@Elfinablender yep!