5 Myths About Drinking Water

5 Myths about Drinking Water

No one will argue that drinking water is not important for one’s health. Water is extremely beneficial and vital to everyone, but there are a few myths commonly spread about water's effectiveness.

1. Drink 8 Glasses of Water a Day – Everyone has heard this myth. The worst thing is, no one has any idea where it came from. How much water should you actually drink? Experts say to drink when you are thirsty. It is not common for people to drink too much water, so go ahead and drink up.

2. Drinking Lots of Water Will Help Weight Loss – Drinking excessive amounts of water will do nothing to weight loss. It is true that if you drink water you can make your stomach feel full without having all the calories. Drinking water and limiting eating together can help you lose weight, but the water itself has no magical fat-reducing powers.

3. Extra Water Means Healthier-Looking Skin – Your body is about 60 percent water. For example, someone who is 200 pounds is 120 pounds of just water. If you add a couple of extra glasses of water a day it has a restricted effect. Although 500 mL of water will make blood rush to the skin it is not the cause of healthy skin.

4. Drinking Lots of Water Can Flush Out Toxins – The kidneys are what filter toxins from our blood. Experts say drinking extra amounts of water does not help the kidneys function, but rather hinders it. The chances of you drinking too much water are rare though, so it is not a concern.

5. Dehydration Often Occurs During Workouts – Dehydration happens when a person has lost 2 percent of their body weight. This means for a 150-pound person, 3 pounds of water. Dehydration may be more common for marathon runners, bikers, and hikers. It is recommended that you drink 16 ounces of fluid a couple of hours before exercising.