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Is drinking 2 liters (9 cups) of water per day necessary?

How much water do you drink per day?

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Original poster
Jan 30, 2006
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Or is it only a myth made by the bottled water industry?

As for me, I find difficult to drink 2 liters of water per day. It just seems to much. And when I do drink the 2 liters, I am constantly going to the restroom, and this isn't very nice if you are at college.

What do you think about this?
 
1) I've heard 8 cups...but I think it doesn't have to be just straight water, and certainly not bottled water (which is a scam). Milk and juice are probably upwards of 90% water...so you aren't limited to just water.

2) I think the main point is to drink fluids that hydrate you (milk, juice, water, gatorade) and not drinks that dehydrate you (coffee, soda).
 
I drink out of a 0.5L bottle so it's easy for me to count :D Anyways I drink about 0.5L in the morning, 0.5-1.0L during/after workout and ~1.0L-1.25L the rest of the day. Don't know for sure but I go through about 2 gallons of water every week. Just purchased 2 gallons today so we'll see.
 
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I'll always try and have a water bottle with me. When you get thirsty you don't even think twice. It's not that hard once you start drinking a few water bottles a day.
 
It's nuts how much water I drink.
After I got my kidney stones (ok, it was one huge stone 2cm diameter.. and ONE KIDNEY on top of that) and had a whole deal with heart palpitations and SVT fun, I started drinking water like nobody's business.
I feel a lot better for it. My skin is clearer (somewhat) and if I'm ever in a boring class, I can be like "hey guys, gonna catch uromysotisis, gotta go".

Water is the cheapest thing you can do to better your health... well, aside from sleep, I suppose which is 100% free, water being a penny or so per gallon... or hit the public water fountain with a bottle. :D
 
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I usually drink a glass of water every hour or so I'm awake - probably at least nine glasses, and usually more.

Definitely more if I'm doing anything physically demanding.
 
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That estimate is actually quite old. It doesn't take into account all the water from the food that we eat. Oranges, tomatoes, watermellons, and even bread contribute to your water intake. In reality, most of us get enough water as it is--except those who drink lots of caffeinated beverages like coke, coffee, or tea because the caffeine causes us to use the extra water to produce more urine.
 
Plenty of water is good for your body and mind, but what is necessary depends on the environmental conditions and physical activity/the bodies need etc. So choosing a volume and drinking that much each day may not be necessary - some days you need more, some less.
Personally i drink when i feel like it, but frequently throughout the day.
 
not a myth at all.

don't forget, the human body is made up of 90% (or is it 80%) water. whatever the %, that's alot.

water helps break down our food, helps keep good blood flow, helps decrease hunger, helps carry bad stuff out of the body etc..etc..

if you are going to the bathroom alot, your urine should be an almost clear yellow.

since i started exercising on a very regular basis, i notice a big difference when i don't drink as much water. i don't mean a difference in my athletic activity, but just overall feeling good.

as for the amount, 8 or 9 cups is a guideline. i'm only 5'2" so there is no way i should be drinking as much as a 6 fter. if you feel bloated and not comfortable, drop a couple of cups.

my trainer says we should drink 1 glass of water as soon as we get up b/c you lose some water during sleep. helps get the system going.

and don't even get me going about breakfast. it truly is the most important meal of the day :)

cheers,
keebler
 
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I drink closer to 4 or 5 litres a day. When I was ill it was over 8L per day.

When I'm not drinking alcoholic stuff I only drink water. Hate soft drinks, occasionally have an iced tea or a juice but 99% of the time I drink water.
 
The amount of water you need to keep hydrated varies with the environment,exertion rate etc etc. If you only drink when your thirsty your already dehydrated and you need more.Keep in mind it's possible to drink too much water.A handy rule of thumb is if you piss about five or six times per day you've got it about right.
 
Chundles said:
I drink closer to 4 or 5 litres a day. When I was ill it was over 8L per day.

When I'm not drinking alcoholic stuff I only drink water. Hate soft drinks, occasionally have an iced tea or a juice but 99% of the time I drink water.
Click to expand...

The toilet must be one of your best friends then:D

What illness made you drink so much?
 
Roco said:
The toilet must be one of your best friends then:D

What illness made you drink so much?
Click to expand...

Nope, I go the same amount of times as most people. About 6 times a day.

The illness didn't make me drink so much, the medicine did. Massive doses of antibiotics and pain killers.
 
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I recently completed a course of 12 months chemo, drugs which make you dehydrated so taking in enough water is important however taking too much flushes the drug out of your body and makes it ineffective,you soon learn how much water is correct as the effects of dehydration are very unpleasant and doing chemo that doesn't work is not something you'd want either.
 
I say drink 1 to 1.5 litres per day, and get the rest from food. If you exercise, then drink a bit of extra water as necessary.

If I run for 30 minutes to 1 hour, I'll probably drink 2 litres that day and just get the rest from food.
 
topicolo said:
That estimate is actually quite old. It doesn't take into account all the water from the food that we eat. Oranges, tomatoes, watermellons, and even bread contribute to your water intake. In reality, most of us get enough water as it is--except those who drink lots of caffeinated beverages like coke, coffee, or tea because the caffeine causes us to use the extra water to produce more urine.
Click to expand...

False on most of us getting enough water every day. Most of us live in stage 2 dehidration almost all the time.

Trick I learn it I ahve a 1 liter bottle I carry with me and just tend to drink out of that. It amazing how quickly that will disapear over a course of several hours. So in an average day I more than likely down 2l or more.
 
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Considering my small stature, I don't think I need that much water. I do drink plenty of it though. I drink enough to keep my urine clear. Not clear is the first sign of dehydration. It also helps to drink about a cup of water with meals to help digestion.
 
i drink around 4 litres / 7 pints each day. either water or water with diluted juice. not much of an alcohol or fizzy juice person.

much less than 3 litres or so and i don't feel right. :rolleyes:
 
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