While we all know that water is the single most important substance in our body, it even holds precedence over food, coming only second to the oxygen we breathe. It is a well-known fact that water that is safe to drink contributes to all of our body’s systems and is considered one of the healthiest drinks humans need to consume to survive.
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Staying Hydrated: The New Fad
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After all, 50 to 70% of our bodies are made out of water. So, given the numbers, it is safe to assume that water is essential for human survival. However, a problem arises for people who do not like to drink water or make frequent trips to the bathroom.
These days, keeping yourself hydrated has become somewhat of a “badge of honour” among social media users. There are even those humongous water bottles that have gone viral for including motivational messages and compliments for people who manage to finish their daily water intake required to keep the human body healthy and their skin glowing.
Celebs like Jennifer Anniston and Gwenyth Paltrow have kicked off a wave of challenges as they claim that they drink as much as 3 litres of water every day. However, not everyone wants to take the same path as these Hollywood divas.
What Do Experts Think?
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According to Dr. Chris Richeson, it is recommended that people consume about 6 to 8 glasses of water each day, which is about 2 litres of water.
He explained, “Although this is the general guideline, there are very few studies with concrete evidence regarding the optimal amount of water intake. Different people have different sensitivity levels to dehydration, so the need may vary from person to person.”
Can People Opt For Alternatives To Water?
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Back in 2016, there was an experiment conducted by researchers at the University of Stirling. In the experiment, they recorded the students’ hydration levels after 4 hours of consuming different beverages. They discovered that a litre of instant coffee and even beer contained exactly the same amount of moisture as water, but the highest hydration levels came from drinking milk.
To tackle the elephant in the room, Dr. Richeson explained that it’s not a good idea to drink water alternatives on a regular basis.
He said, “Tea and coffee are diuretics, which means they make us go to the bathroom more often and lose fluids. Fizzy drinks and juices will hydrate us, but they contain a high amount of sugar – which can lead to long-term health problems.”
Although juices are much better than these caffeinated drinks, they can still cause a person’s blood sugar level to shoot up and lead to greater fatalities than simply dehydration.
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