Busting The 8-Glasses-A-Day Myth

New Report Throws Water On Long-Held Belief That More Water Is Better For Health

(CBS)  A new report throws water on the long-held belief that eight glasses of water a day is good for your health.

That just doesn't hold water, according to doctors at the University of Pennsylvania, CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes reports.

"If you're thirsty, drink," said Dr. Stanley Goldfarb. "If you're not thirsty, you needn't drink."

The researchers looked at all of the studies out there and found no evidence that drinking lots of water has lots of benefits.

Some common misconceptions, as told by passers-by:

It cleans all the toxins that are in your body.

Your body weight divided by two, that's how many fluid ounces you should at least be bringing in.

Drinking water improves your skin tone.

As for upping your intake to improve skin tone or reduce headaches: "There was never a scientific basis for it," Goldfarb said.

And despite what all the diet books say, there's also no proof that filling up with water will make you less hungry.

"Those individuals that enjoy going to the bathroom would benefit from high fluid intake. But others definitely would not," Goldfarb said.

So where did the idea of eight glasses a day come from? Nobody really knows.

The researchers argue that a healthy adult only needs to consume the amount of water they lose every day - about a quart-and-a-half, or four to six glasses.

For some, the findings may be hard to swallow.

"I sort of think the more the better," said one young woman. "I don't think you can drink too much."

Maybe not, but researchers say some of our most cherished beliefs about the power of water could be … all wet.


© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Add a Comment See all 38 Comments

by idiobiblio April 2, 2008 8:03 PM PDT

Of course drinking eight glasses of water a day is absurd unless you''re doing a lot of physical exercise in the heat. However, I think this report is not stressing the fact that the alternatives to water are by and large unhealthy.

This report should emphasize that people need to ditch soft drinks, sugary fruit juices, absurd amounts of coffee, etc, for water.

Reply to this comment

by susan10001-2009 April 2, 2008 8:06 PM PDT

I think you CAN drink too much, if I''m not mistaken. Something about throwing off electrolytes or metabolites?? I know someone who died from it.

Reply to this comment

by kevsan1 April 2, 2008 8:47 PM PDT

Having once been seriously dehydrated, I will always try to get at least 6 - 8 cups of water a day. Some folks perspire more than others or if you are working out you definitely need more as you would in hot weather.

It is not natural or good for your kidneys to have a concentrated build up which shows in the color of your urine. Lighter is better. Darker urine is listed as a sign of dehydration.

Too much water is not good either. If your kidneys can''t pass it, you could get water buildup in your lungs. If you have heart problems, too much water can cause fluid buildup.

Of course, this study will be trumped by another and another after that. How many times have we seen that happen? Makes you realize they don''t really know what they are talking about. Best thing is to live and eat as healthy as possible and get sleep.

Reply to this comment

by erasmus6 April 2, 2008 8:49 PM PDT

The only thing I drink is water. I drink it when I am thirsty, that''s it. For people that have problems with kidney function, it isn''t good to drink too much water, it makes them have to work to hard.

Reply to this comment

by kevsan1 April 2, 2008 8:51 PM PDT

Also, if you drink more water and especially if you exercise like you should, you have to work at replacing electrolytes which includes salt. Salt free diets are also for those who don''t want to live long. Some medical advice is dispensed because doctors don''t think people will change their lifestyles. If you''re not exercising and drinking enough water, too much salt is bad for you. If you are exercising and taking in fluids you need salt. But like everything it should be in moderation.

Reply to this comment

by steeli1 April 2, 2008 9:23 PM PDT

The water consumed in one day from other food and drink such as juice and fruit is not counted either in the eight glasses supposedly needed or the four to six glasses needed. Really how much water does one''s body need on a daily basis?

Reply to this comment

by wadea10 April 2, 2008 11:28 PM PDT

The source of the "eight glasses poer day" recommendation was T. E. Terry, editor of the Farm Journal early in the 20th century. He wrote a book, "How to Live a Long and Healthy Life" Also promoted no salt, pure foods with no additives, chewing each bite of food 8 times, ect.

Reply to this comment

by idiobiblio April 3, 2008 12:07 AM PDT

Good job wadea10. I looked for the source of the "eight glasses per day" recommendation for a bit but gave up after getting sidetracked.

Reply to this comment

by tbweb April 3, 2008 1:21 AM PDT

I never subscribed to this and always wondered if I was wrong not to, its nice to be vindicated, some things just don''t feel right and for me this was one of them! I can''t wait to torture my friends who loyally do this and tortured me for not drinking 8 glasses a day! One for me, yes!

Reply to this comment

by grammawhamma April 3, 2008 2:01 AM PDT

You know all those old sayings?

You can lead a horse to water, but you can''t make it drink. Birds of a feather, flock together. You are what you eat. Sleep with the dogs and you''ll wake up with fleas. The early bird gets the worm. ETC.

Maybe they should do a study on how accurate all of those "old" sayings really are!

Reply to this comment

by shanev137 April 3, 2008 2:59 AM PDT

Over hydrating will actually leach all the minerals out of your body.

Reply to this comment

by tmarrros April 3, 2008 8:46 AM PDT

Yes, perhaps you don%u2019t need to drink 8 glasses of water a day. The message is though, that was not mentioned, is that you should drink water instead of coffee, soda, and products that are unhealthy.

Reply to this comment

by geoffgw April 3, 2008 9:31 AM PDT

I do not believe this story at all. have travelled internationally for 24 years. I used to get regular headaches before, during and after trips. Since
I have begun drinking water heavily, I have had maybe 5 headaches in 20 years. I don''t agree with the premise of this article and I see no evidence to support their claims!!

Reply to this comment

by davzapen April 3, 2008 9:58 AM PDT

Part of the backstory is a (1989?) NIGHTLINE article that U.S. soldiers in the desert needed a gallon a day. Good luck finding it; I''m still trying to get a copy of the 10/19/1987 show about the stock market crash that day ... with The Muppets!

Reply to this comment

by waganupa April 3, 2008 11:02 AM PDT

My oh my, the garbage that shows up in the internet. This article is absolutely absurd. How much is a "glass" of water? I use a shot glass to drink my water. Hey, maybe I''ll just quit drinking water altogether and just drink coffee (yes, I know coffee forces water OUT of your system I''m being sarcastic). Who are these people and what is their motive? If water does not take toxins out of your system why do doctors and nurses tell you to drink "lots" of water when you are sick? BECAUSE WATER ENABLES THE REMOVAL OF TOXINS FROM YOUR BODY and the amount of nitrogenous toxins present depend on diet so some people will need more water than others. (page 936 - 940 Biology sixth edition Campbell-Reece isbn 080536624-5)- take biology 101 - fools - check out how cells live and work - were you sleeping in class that day? On a hot day in the summer a person can get dehydrated without getting thirsty - this is taught in college in freshman first aid classes. You get headaches and dizzy because your body overheats and toxins build up. The physical size and nature of physical activity of a person determines how much water they need. From "Water science for Schools - the USGS site: "Each day humans must replace 2.4 litres of water". Stop encouraging a person to not drink water without giving specific amounts and conditions. This is just bad advice and terrible science. These people who produce and mis-interpret data should be ashamed of themselves. This is NOT the way to deal with water shortages.

Reply to this comment

by erasmus6 April 3, 2008 11:47 AM PDT

"If water does not take toxins out of your system why do doctors and nurses tell you to drink "lots" of water when you are sick?" Posted by waganupa

They aren''t telling you that because it removes toxins. They are telling you that because if you are running a fever, throwing up or have diarrhoea, you need to be drinking water so you don''t dehydrate.

Reply to this comment

by kwynn21 April 3, 2008 11:49 AM PDT

one woman says I don''t think you can drink too much...does any one remember the story of the lady who was trying to "hold her wee for a wii?" (I''m pretty sure it was a radio contest sometime last year) she drank too much water, and it killed her. she left behind 3 kids

Reply to this comment

by sassalin April 3, 2008 11:58 AM PDT

Maybe I am missing the point but the article says an average person needs 4-8 glasses instead of 8. Not that much of a difference to me. Some people need more some need less. The difference between the two are not enough to change my mind. Plus where is the proof????

Reply to this comment

by waganupa April 3, 2008 12:34 PM PDT

The last time I had a bad cold they told me to drink plenty of liquids. What happens when you dehydrate - you cant eliminate toxins because you need water to do that.

Reply to this comment

by shylacay April 3, 2008 12:39 PM PDT

I also thought that it was good to drink enough water in a day to where your pee is clear and not yellow and that by getting rid of all the yellow meant you were flushing toxins out.

Reply to this comment

by tibu987 April 3, 2008 12:45 PM PDT

Bunchacrap.

Reply to this comment

by fibonacci_ April 3, 2008 2:03 PM PDT

I drink 6 glasses of beer per day, is that good for me?

Reply to this comment

by fibonacci_ April 3, 2008 2:03 PM PDT

I drink 6 glasses of beer per day, is that good for me?

Reply to this comment

by gerryrigger April 3, 2008 2:21 PM PDT

The wrong emphasis was put on this story. What it really should stress is drink water, not soda, fruit juice, beer, gatorade, etc., when you''re just plain thirsty. My water uptake depends greatly on the weather and the activity I''m engaged in. It''s by far my favorite drink, but I know I don''t down eight glasses on an average day. Maybe the 8-glass rule takes into account also the water content of all the food we ingest daily?

Reply to this comment

by speakinup April 3, 2008 2:46 PM PDT

Except that as you get older, your thought patterns allow you to suppress your urge to drink.

Hmmmm...


Gotta wonder what these doctor''s health is like.

Reply to this comment

by montanaman9 April 3, 2008 2:54 PM PDT

I don''t know about 8 glasses of water, but drinking 8 glasses of beer definitely makes me feel better....

Reply to this comment

by cptdano April 3, 2008 3:20 PM PDT

I realize that data can be skewed in many directions to fit almost any hypothesis, but the "good" Dr.''s statements here are relatively empty. The real shame is that with the general population drinking more water they have improved many aspects of their life. If for nothing else then to replace the mass marketed high fructose corn syrup drinks that swarm around us. I would suppose from the approach of Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, he probably doesn''t see they do any harm either.

If you want to fill the airways with arrogant Dr.''s willing to preach anything for a buck or scrap of recognition I hope you will seek out someone of a contrary opinion. Try Dr. F. Batmanghelidj for starters, I think he would make your "expert" look the fool.

Stepping away from the obvious trappings of the blind western medical approaches. Try an experiment. For thirty days consume half your body weight in ounces of clean water daily. Drink it in intervals such that you''re not guzzling it down. Make sure to stop a good two hours before bedtime. Also everyday write down how you feel, both positive and negative qualities. Then after thirty days, try Goldfarb prescription and only drink when you actually feel thirsty. Do this for thirty days and again write down how you feel. Then compare your results. The outcome will clearly show Goldfarb as a typical western Dr who fails to embrace anything outside of pills, surgeries and textbooks to create health.

Reply to this comment

by minminmin-2009 April 3, 2008 3:42 PM PDT

Does anyone remember that news bit about the mom (was it in Utah?) who punished her young daughter by making her drink massive amounts of water? The daughter died because of it. Don''t remember what happened to Mom....I think she went to trial over it

Reply to this comment

by minminmin-2009 April 3, 2008 3:44 PM PDT

I don''t drink anywhere near 8 glasses of water. I drink coffee, tea and maybe 1-2 glasses of water (no soda, no sweet drinks). I''m healthy, and always have been. I used to run, and I drank more water then (before, during and after running) but no more. I drink water when I feel like drinking water. What''s the problem?

Reply to this comment

by tmonta1 April 3, 2008 4:08 PM PDT

I agree with CPTDANO. Moved to a country nearly 20 years ago where water with meals--and outside meals--is a basic habit. Took me awhile to get used to it but I definitely see the benefit of drinking clear water over even Diet Sodas. By the way, lost over 50 lbs in the first 5 years here and despite three kids, never gained it back. America needs to re-vamp it''s dietary habits and eat unprocessed foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, and even real butter and cream in moderate quantities. And water is the best--and only--beverage your body really needs.

Reply to this comment

by hoosiermoon April 3, 2008 4:24 PM PDT

What works for me is to drink 2 beers at breakfast, 2 at lunch, 2 at dinner, and 2 before bed. Seems to be a good schedule for me.

Reply to this comment

by darnedsocks April 3, 2008 4:53 PM PDT

I think this advice got started, because health & fitness experts say it helps you to lose weight.

Reply to this comment

by bgwinnett April 3, 2008 6:05 PM PDT

Since I started drinking 3 pints of water a day for the last month, my skin tone improved considerably plus spots have stopped appearing, or unless it could be something else?

Reply to this comment

by eglobalbrad April 4, 2008 1:33 AM PDT

This doctor is a farce. Dr. Stanley Goldfarb of the University of Pennsylvania says, "If you want to throw away your water bottle, feel free to do so."

I wouldn%u2019t believe anything he says. Please go to WaterCure dot com. Every disease that is known to man has been help by water. Our bodies are 80% water and when our body does not have enough water the first signs of dehydration are acid reflux and constipation. Over time dehydration, acidosis and free radicals cause disease.

This latest wave of attempts to discredit water comes from the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. Nephrology means "the study of kidneys," for all the non-medical folks reading this, and the aforementioned journal caters to medical professionals who earn their living from kidney problems caused by dehydration! Thus, this campaign to tell people to stop drinking water is a fantastic way to boost kidney problems (including kidney stones) and generate more repeat business for kidney specialists.

Reply to this comment

by ncdragonfly April 4, 2008 8:06 AM PDT

Some of you mentioned the woman in CA that died as a result of a radio promotion - she downed close to a gallon of water in less then 3-4 hours - She died b/c her salts/electrolytes were diluted to the point her body ceased to function - she should have at least gotten an honorable mention for a Darwin Award. Drinking a gallon of water over the course of a whole day is NOT deadly and you should of course increase your intake to the desired level over time - your body is a marvelous thing and will ADAPT to the increased intake.

Yes - you DO get fluid from foods - BUT The TYPICAL American Diet (processed, high is sugar & sodium & devoid of anything resembling a fruit or veggie) actually requires MORE additional fluids not only b/c there is no fluid in it to speak of but your body uses extra water to process all that c**p. I drink at least 3 quarts a day and pay for it when I don''t in the form of chapped lips, dry skin, lethargy among other things

This article is only true if you WANT to start having health problems and I would look to see who last made a deposit to Dr Goldfarbs account - most likely someone in the accounting dept of a pharmaceutical company.

Reply to this comment

by April 4, 2008 2:43 PM PDT

ncdragonfly you are a rare one that knows exactly what is going on. I tip my hat to you.

Reply to this comment

by daughtertwo April 4, 2008 3:12 PM PDT

Grape and Raisin had a race. Raisin fell down and broke his face. Grape ran by and fell over a gate, but bounced back up because of his water weight.

Reply to this comment

by mpiercearrow April 5, 2008 9:45 PM PDT

Yeah, as a former professional boxer, I never drank more water than I needed to replenish what was sweated out. I probably drink less than the average person and my skin is supple, and my overall health is quite good for being 50.

Reply to this comment

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[idiobiblio]

Of course drinking eight glasses of water a day is absurd unless you''re doing a lot of physical exercise in the heat. However, I think this report is not stressing the fact that the alternatives to water are by and large unhealthy.

This report should emphasize that people need to ditch soft drinks, sugary fruit juices, absurd amounts of coffee, etc, for water.

[susan10001-2009]

I think you CAN drink too much, if I''m not mistaken. Something about throwing off electrolytes or metabolites?? I know someone who died from it.

[kevsan1]

Having once been seriously dehydrated, I will always try to get at least 6 - 8 cups of water a day. Some folks perspire more than others or if you are working out you definitely need more as you would in hot weather.

It is not natural or good for your kidneys to have a concentrated build up which shows in the color of your urine. Lighter is better. Darker urine is listed as a sign of dehydration.

Too much water is not good either. If your kidneys can''t pass it, you could get water buildup in your lungs. If you have heart problems, too much water can cause fluid buildup.

Of course, this study will be trumped by another and another after that. How many times have we seen that happen? Makes you realize they don''t really know what they are talking about. Best thing is to live and eat as healthy as possible and get sleep.

[erasmus6]

The only thing I drink is water. I drink it when I am thirsty, that''s it. For people that have problems with kidney function, it isn''t good to drink too much water, it makes them have to work to hard.

[kevsan1]

Also, if you drink more water and especially if you exercise like you should, you have to work at replacing electrolytes which includes salt. Salt free diets are also for those who don''t want to live long. Some medical advice is dispensed because doctors don''t think people will change their lifestyles. If you''re not exercising and drinking enough water, too much salt is bad for you. If you are exercising and taking in fluids you need salt. But like everything it should be in moderation.

[steeli1]

The water consumed in one day from other food and drink such as juice and fruit is not counted either in the eight glasses supposedly needed or the four to six glasses needed. Really how much water does one''s body need on a daily basis?

[wadea10]

The source of the "eight glasses poer day" recommendation was T. E. Terry, editor of the Farm Journal early in the 20th century. He wrote a book, "How to Live a Long and Healthy Life" Also promoted no salt, pure foods with no additives, chewing each bite of food 8 times, ect.

[idiobiblio]

Good job wadea10. I looked for the source of the "eight glasses per day" recommendation for a bit but gave up after getting sidetracked.

[tbweb]

I never subscribed to this and always wondered if I was wrong not to, its nice to be vindicated, some things just don''t feel right and for me this was one of them! I can''t wait to torture my friends who loyally do this and tortured me for not drinking 8 glasses a day! One for me, yes!

[grammawhamma]

You know all those old sayings?

You can lead a horse to water, but you can''t make it drink. Birds of a feather, flock together. You are what you eat. Sleep with the dogs and you''ll wake up with fleas. The early bird gets the worm. ETC.

Maybe they should do a study on how accurate all of those "old" sayings really are!

[shanev137]

Over hydrating will actually leach all the minerals out of your body.

[tmarrros]

Yes, perhaps you don%u2019t need to drink 8 glasses of water a day. The message is though, that was not mentioned, is that you should drink water instead of coffee, soda, and products that are unhealthy.

[geoffgw]

I do not believe this story at all. have travelled internationally for 24 years. I used to get regular headaches before, during and after trips. Since
I have begun drinking water heavily, I have had maybe 5 headaches in 20 years. I don''t agree with the premise of this article and I see no evidence to support their claims!!

[davzapen]

Part of the backstory is a (1989?) NIGHTLINE article that U.S. soldiers in the desert needed a gallon a day. Good luck finding it; I''m still trying to get a copy of the 10/19/1987 show about the stock market crash that day ... with The Muppets!

[waganupa]

My oh my, the garbage that shows up in the internet. This article is absolutely absurd. How much is a "glass" of water? I use a shot glass to drink my water. Hey, maybe I''ll just quit drinking water altogether and just drink coffee (yes, I know coffee forces water OUT of your system I''m being sarcastic). Who are these people and what is their motive? If water does not take toxins out of your system why do doctors and nurses tell you to drink "lots" of water when you are sick? BECAUSE WATER ENABLES THE REMOVAL OF TOXINS FROM YOUR BODY and the amount of nitrogenous toxins present depend on diet so some people will need more water than others. (page 936 - 940 Biology sixth edition Campbell-Reece isbn 080536624-5)- take biology 101 - fools - check out how cells live and work - were you sleeping in class that day? On a hot day in the summer a person can get dehydrated without getting thirsty - this is taught in college in freshman first aid classes. You get headaches and dizzy because your body overheats and toxins build up. The physical size and nature of physical activity of a person determines how much water they need. From "Water science for Schools - the USGS site: "Each day humans must replace 2.4 litres of water". Stop encouraging a person to not drink water without giving specific amounts and conditions. This is just bad advice and terrible science. These people who produce and mis-interpret data should be ashamed of themselves. This is NOT the way to deal with water shortages.

[erasmus6]

"If water does not take toxins out of your system why do doctors and nurses tell you to drink "lots" of water when you are sick?" Posted by waganupa

They aren''t telling you that because it removes toxins. They are telling you that because if you are running a fever, throwing up or have diarrhoea, you need to be drinking water so you don''t dehydrate.

[kwynn21]

one woman says I don''t think you can drink too much...does any one remember the story of the lady who was trying to "hold her wee for a wii?" (I''m pretty sure it was a radio contest sometime last year) she drank too much water, and it killed her. she left behind 3 kids

[sassalin]

Maybe I am missing the point but the article says an average person needs 4-8 glasses instead of 8. Not that much of a difference to me. Some people need more some need less. The difference between the two are not enough to change my mind. Plus where is the proof????

[waganupa]

The last time I had a bad cold they told me to drink plenty of liquids. What happens when you dehydrate - you cant eliminate toxins because you need water to do that.

[shylacay]

I also thought that it was good to drink enough water in a day to where your pee is clear and not yellow and that by getting rid of all the yellow meant you were flushing toxins out.

[tibu987]

Bunchacrap.

[fibonacci_]

I drink 6 glasses of beer per day, is that good for me?

[fibonacci_]

I drink 6 glasses of beer per day, is that good for me?

[gerryrigger]

The wrong emphasis was put on this story. What it really should stress is drink water, not soda, fruit juice, beer, gatorade, etc., when you''re just plain thirsty. My water uptake depends greatly on the weather and the activity I''m engaged in. It''s by far my favorite drink, but I know I don''t down eight glasses on an average day. Maybe the 8-glass rule takes into account also the water content of all the food we ingest daily?

[speakinup]

Except that as you get older, your thought patterns allow you to suppress your urge to drink.

Hmmmm...


Gotta wonder what these doctor''s health is like.

[montanaman9]

I don''t know about 8 glasses of water, but drinking 8 glasses of beer definitely makes me feel better....

[cptdano]

I realize that data can be skewed in many directions to fit almost any hypothesis, but the "good" Dr.''s statements here are relatively empty. The real shame is that with the general population drinking more water they have improved many aspects of their life. If for nothing else then to replace the mass marketed high fructose corn syrup drinks that swarm around us. I would suppose from the approach of Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, he probably doesn''t see they do any harm either.

If you want to fill the airways with arrogant Dr.''s willing to preach anything for a buck or scrap of recognition I hope you will seek out someone of a contrary opinion. Try Dr. F. Batmanghelidj for starters, I think he would make your "expert" look the fool.

Stepping away from the obvious trappings of the blind western medical approaches. Try an experiment. For thirty days consume half your body weight in ounces of clean water daily. Drink it in intervals such that you''re not guzzling it down. Make sure to stop a good two hours before bedtime. Also everyday write down how you feel, both positive and negative qualities. Then after thirty days, try Goldfarb prescription and only drink when you actually feel thirsty. Do this for thirty days and again write down how you feel. Then compare your results. The outcome will clearly show Goldfarb as a typical western Dr who fails to embrace anything outside of pills, surgeries and textbooks to create health.

[minminmin-2009]

Does anyone remember that news bit about the mom (was it in Utah?) who punished her young daughter by making her drink massive amounts of water? The daughter died because of it. Don''t remember what happened to Mom....I think she went to trial over it

[minminmin-2009]

I don''t drink anywhere near 8 glasses of water. I drink coffee, tea and maybe 1-2 glasses of water (no soda, no sweet drinks). I''m healthy, and always have been. I used to run, and I drank more water then (before, during and after running) but no more. I drink water when I feel like drinking water. What''s the problem?

[tmonta1]

I agree with CPTDANO. Moved to a country nearly 20 years ago where water with meals--and outside meals--is a basic habit. Took me awhile to get used to it but I definitely see the benefit of drinking clear water over even Diet Sodas. By the way, lost over 50 lbs in the first 5 years here and despite three kids, never gained it back. America needs to re-vamp it''s dietary habits and eat unprocessed foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, and even real butter and cream in moderate quantities. And water is the best--and only--beverage your body really needs.

[hoosiermoon]

What works for me is to drink 2 beers at breakfast, 2 at lunch, 2 at dinner, and 2 before bed. Seems to be a good schedule for me.

[darnedsocks]

I think this advice got started, because health & fitness experts say it helps you to lose weight.

[bgwinnett]

Since I started drinking 3 pints of water a day for the last month, my skin tone improved considerably plus spots have stopped appearing, or unless it could be something else?

[eglobalbrad]

This doctor is a farce. Dr. Stanley Goldfarb of the University of Pennsylvania says, "If you want to throw away your water bottle, feel free to do so."

I wouldn%u2019t believe anything he says. Please go to WaterCure dot com. Every disease that is known to man has been help by water. Our bodies are 80% water and when our body does not have enough water the first signs of dehydration are acid reflux and constipation. Over time dehydration, acidosis and free radicals cause disease.

This latest wave of attempts to discredit water comes from the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. Nephrology means "the study of kidneys," for all the non-medical folks reading this, and the aforementioned journal caters to medical professionals who earn their living from kidney problems caused by dehydration! Thus, this campaign to tell people to stop drinking water is a fantastic way to boost kidney problems (including kidney stones) and generate more repeat business for kidney specialists.

[ncdragonfly]

Some of you mentioned the woman in CA that died as a result of a radio promotion - she downed close to a gallon of water in less then 3-4 hours - She died b/c her salts/electrolytes were diluted to the point her body ceased to function - she should have at least gotten an honorable mention for a Darwin Award. Drinking a gallon of water over the course of a whole day is NOT deadly and you should of course increase your intake to the desired level over time - your body is a marvelous thing and will ADAPT to the increased intake.

Yes - you DO get fluid from foods - BUT The TYPICAL American Diet (processed, high is sugar & sodium & devoid of anything resembling a fruit or veggie) actually requires MORE additional fluids not only b/c there is no fluid in it to speak of but your body uses extra water to process all that c**p. I drink at least 3 quarts a day and pay for it when I don''t in the form of chapped lips, dry skin, lethargy among other things

This article is only true if you WANT to start having health problems and I would look to see who last made a deposit to Dr Goldfarbs account - most likely someone in the accounting dept of a pharmaceutical company.

ncdragonfly you are a rare one that knows exactly what is going on. I tip my hat to you.

[daughtertwo]

Grape and Raisin had a race. Raisin fell down and broke his face. Grape ran by and fell over a gate, but bounced back up because of his water weight.

[mpiercearrow]

Yeah, as a former professional boxer, I never drank more water than I needed to replenish what was sweated out. I probably drink less than the average person and my skin is supple, and my overall health is quite good for being 50.