This dehydration scare

I hear:

- By the time you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated; thirst isn't a reliable indicator of dehydration.

- You need eight glasses of water a day. (Though this is supposed to include the water in your food.)

- If your urine is dark it means you're dehydrated.

These were things my high school nurse and health teacher told me.

I now hear people saying they're rumors spread by Big Sports Drink. So how much truth do they have to them?

Drink if you're thirsty. Drink more if it's hot. Drink more if you're sweating or exerting yourself.

The real signs to worry about are headaches, nausea, no longer sweating, no longer feeling hot when it's hot.

8 glasses of water a day is bunk. The color of your urine can indicate the level of water you are getting. Darker = less water, lighter = more water.

dark urine generally means concentrated as well as a strong odor.  Veins on the back of my hand don't stick out as much when I haven't drank much water, being cold will do that as well but......

There are many things that are diuretics like caffeine.  See how much of the water you drink is actually absorbed, I was suprised, but that does partially explain why they have to do i.v.s rather than just let you drink water.

Isn't it an indicator of the stupidity of the modern human condition that we worry about drinking?

Being aware of the need to drink should be instinctive.

Maybe it's a genetic flaw.

She wasn't talking about the general need to drink.

Typically these days we tend to over complicate issues.

Drinking water  is good perior end of story. 

Unless you drinking fountain water...

it applies to drinking too much, so much your body can't get rid of it and it causes pressure in the brain, few people died from those radio contests to see who can drink the most water.

Don't drink the tap water. 

Really, I have doubts that stuff is good for drinking... or even cooking with..

Ah, you beat me to it.

+1