Drinking water is among our most basic needs. It is stated that beverages such as fruit juice, tea and coffee consumed instead of water do not affect the health of water. The knowledge that we need to drink 2 liters of water a day, which is one of the information that has been vaccinated since childhood, is engraved in our brains. But the recommended 8 glasses of water a day may be too high for our actual needs, according to scientists.
THE AMOUNT OF WATER FROM FOOD MUST ALSO BE CONSIDERED
Given that about half of our daily water intake comes from food, researchers estimate we only need 1.3 to 1.8 liters a day instead of two.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY CHANGES WATER NEEDS
The study, published yesterday in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Science, examined more than 5,600 people from 26 countries. Participants consumed special “traceable” water containing hydrogen and oxygen isotopes to keep scientists following. It was determined that the water requirement showed great differences according to temperature, gender and physical activity. It has been determined that the average daily water requirement varies between 1-6 liters.
SOME PEOPLE NEED MORE WATER
The analysis, published in the journal Science, revealed that those who live in hot and humid environments and at high altitudes, as well as athletes, pregnant and lactating women, need more water because their turnover is higher.
THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT WOMEN AND MEN NEED IS DIFFERENT
For example, in the UK, where the average temperature is 10 degrees Celsius, it was found that a 20-year-old, 70-pound man needs about 3.2 liters of water a day.
The water requirement of a woman weighing approximately 57 kilograms and having the same characteristics was determined as 2.7 liters.
Professor John Speakman, one of the co-authors at the University of Aberdeen, said: “This study shows that the common recommendation that we should all drink eight glasses of water is probably too high for most people in most cases.” He also explained that drinking the recommended eight glasses is probably not harmful, but not necessary in most cases.
HARMFUL OF DRINKING TOO MUCH WATER
Approximately 2-3 liters of water taken into the body is lost per day through sweating, respiration, urine and similar activities. Under normal conditions, this loss can be replaced by consuming an average of 2-2.5 liters, ie 10-12 glasses of water per day. In addition, an extra 1 glass of water should be consumed for every 10 kilos exceeding the normal weight. Consuming too much water is just as dangerous as consuming too little. Under normal conditions, drinking too much water causes the kidneys to work excessively, and the sodium, potassium and many mineral balances in the body are disrupted. As a result, all functional activities in the body are adversely affected.