Scientists often come out with studies claiming to have all the answers in the topic of their research. One of the common enigmas in life is the amount of water one needs to consume to stay healthy. There is no definitive answer, but some say drink as much as you can and most put a lower and a higher limit.
I have consulted several doctors and read research papers from the US, parts of Europe and India. None seem to have a clear conclusion on it but most agree that water is good, lack of it is harmful than in excess.
So how much does one need to drink? Drink as much as you can, just don’t goad yourself to the point of puking it out. There is no excess limit as long as you spread it evenly through the day and keep peeing as and when your bladder calls for it.
But, on a bare minimum, one must consume at least two liters of water a day if the diet comprises of leafy vegetables and fruits. If your diet is on the meaty side, you might want to add another liter to the recommendation.
What is the harm in drinking too much water? As long as you are not a marathon runner and an infant, water in excess cannot cause any harm to you. Excess water goes out of your system as pee and don’t worry about the urban legend regarding overworking your kidneys, it’s bullshit. Your kidneys are there to remove excess water, and as long as you are passing urine, you shouldn’t worry about it. If you are a marathon runner, excess water goes in but there isn’t an avenue to pass it out. And, that causes water intoxication, diluting your electrolytes and as a result reducing the sodium levels.
To conclude, drink up water. It gives you the strength to fight toxins, bleeds life into your waning cells and keeps you fit. Don’t listen to half baked beans who don’t weigh up the facts before drawing to judgment.
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