To ask if you drink a lot of water do you actually notice a difference?

[heyduggee12345]

I've been making an effort to drink a lot more water. I've been drinking around a litre every day for a couple of weeks.

So far I haven't noticed a difference, just that I need the toilet a lot more which is inconvenient at times! Maybe I need to give it more time to notice any effects.

For those that drink water, how much a day usually & do you feel better for it?

See also www.scientificamerican.com/article/your-body-has-a-clever-way-to-detect-how-much-water-you-should-drink-every-day/

This might sound like a daft question, but do you actually still get thirsty if you don’t drink enough? Or just get a dehydration headache? I used to get thirsty when I was younger, but that stopped years ago. It means I have to closely monitor my fluid intake or it either goes too low and I get headachy, or it goes too high and I need rehydration sachets to get my electrolytes normalised again. If you’re all actually still getting thirsty I’m quite jealous! I used to love the feeling of a lovely cold drink when I was thirsty, haven’t had that in about 20 years!

I’ve always drunk a fair bit of water but I believe it’s benefits are hyped. I don’t believe there are people going around ‘dehydrated’.

You should be drinking more than a litre.
I drink 2-3 litres (should be 3 as I'm breastfeeding but I sometimes find 3 difficult). I do notice a difference. I get lightheaded if I don't drink enough, and I swear it's linked to an increase in anxiety.

@AllTheChaos I just feel thirsty, sometimes a headache if it's linked to exercise (but then I wouldn't drink plain water) - I assume if this has gone on for years you've had investigations? Or are on medication that explains why you have difficulty maintaining fluid balance? If not I'd speak to GP.

I drink about 2 litres a day and I notice the difference if I only drink half that. I’ve been doing it for about 20 years though so my body may be used to it.
All the extra toilet runs helps me get my steps in

But if it makes you wee more, the caffeine , then you are losing water which needs to be replaced ? It's a diuretic, tea and coffee, alcohol too.

NHS recommends 1.2 litres a day. That's about 5 mugs of tea. Presumably that's modelled on an average sized man so it would be a bit less for women

Makes you wee a bit more, not more than the volume you drank.

There was a time, not so long ago, where we didn’t all walk around with 40oz tumblers of water all day long. How did we ever survive? 🙄

You don't pee out the entire amount you drank, though. You can re-hydrate yourself quite well on tea and coffee, for the most part.

If i drink more water, I need the loo way more. And I hate that because my bladder control is shite

I feel the benefits. If I didn't drink enough I'd have headache, tiredness, chapped lips, dull skin, even my wee colour would be off! In this cold weather I find it hard to drink cold water but I sometimes have hot water with lemon instead, if I'm perished! Not sure the benefits are entirely the same, but water is water.

I saw Tim Spector on something the other day, or maybe on a podcast saying that the whole 'drink 8 glasses of water' thing is outdated and that if we need water, we drink because we get thirsty and not to obsess over it...

If drinking litres of water is so good for you, why doesn't my body want to do it? We shoud love it as it would offer an evolutionary advantage but instead I have to constantly remind myself and miserably force it down.

@catelynjane my Dad literally NEVER drinks water - he lives on tea (with 2 large sugars). He is 83 and a retired doctor. 😆How on earth did his generation survive 🤔

I don't drink any water, I have a large cup of tea in the be morning and a small one at night. I've suffered no ill effects and in my 50s.
I've tried drinking more and I feel no different but I don't sweat so I'm not really losing fluids. Maybe it'll catch up with me I don't know.

I drink over 2lts a day and don't know if drinking less would have an adverse affect. Not helpful sorry. But I've got my newish bf drinking 2lts a day from fizzy drinks and he says he feels much better for it. I've always liked water though.
I Start the day with a large mug of warm water with lemon, have done for years, I've got him on to that also!

Nope, never noticed a difference. I probably drink about 2 litres a day plus liquid in food

Haha, you could so easily be describing my dad - also a retired doctor (and a runner) and he mostly survives off various types of posh coffee I don't think I've ever seen him drink a glass of water unless we're in a restaurant and it comes free in a jug on the table, lol.

That's handy to know

@catelynjane 😂I used to give my Dad a hard time and now I've morphed into him. I prefer tea (no sugar tho!) and used to have to force a glass of water down (I do drink it now to be fair, just not a huge amount).

A litre really isn't enough at all!

I drink lots of cordial, like about 6 litres a day. I can't stand just plain water, I know I should try to get used to it but I just can't!

I've drank loads since before I can remember so I can't say if it makes a difference really but I'm in my forties and have pretty good skin and am healthy overall despite a regular wine habit so I could say it is something to do with that.

The only difference I notice is pissing like a horse throughout the night.