Share:
Is still the two-liter water daily ration? So much water should adults drink
Water is vital to the human body. If we absorb too little of it, the metabolism is disturbed and our physical and mental performance goes back. But how much water should we drink? Experts argue about that for a long time. According to the latest findings, one should not rely on recommendations that recommend two or three liters per day.
Too little fluid intake is unhealthy
When a person drinks too little, the fluid balance becomes unbalanced. That endangers the health. It is known that fluid loss can lead to physical and mental discomfort. Concerned sufferers include concentration disorders, dry mouth, tiredness, loss of appetite or constipation. That the human body needs enough fluid to stay healthy is not a question. Controversial, however, is how much water per day is really healthy. The results of a new study make the answer to the question pretty simple.
One, two, three? The question of how many liters of water to drink a day has been discussed for years. Quantitative recommendations are out of place, according to a new study. You should drink when you are thirsty. (Image: Andrey_Arkusha / fotolia.com) Always drink enough
Health experts like to point out that you should always drink enough, especially in the heat. However, many do not agree on what is said enough. Sometimes it is at least two liters a day, then again three or more. Australian scientists now conclude that volume recommendations do not do much anyway. According to the researchers at Monash University in Melbourne, one should drink when one is thirsty.
Automatic weakening of the swallowing reflex
The team showed in their study that the human body has a reliable mechanism that prevents us from drinking too little or too much. According to the study, the results of which were published in the journal "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" (PNAS), the feeling of thirst prevents us from drinking too little, and a weakening of the swallowing reflex prevents people from drinking too much.
"The swallowing reflex is automatically weakened when enough water is drunk," co-author Michael Farrell said in a statement from the college.
Deaths due to excessive fluid intake
As shown by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the whole thing is controlled by certain areas of the brain. It's exhausting to drink too much without thirst. And that's just as well. Because as well as drinking too little, drinking too much can be hazardous to your health.
Excessive fluid intake can cause nausea and cramping, among other things. It can even be deadly. "There have been cases where marathoners were told to fill up with water and then die because they slavishly stuck to the recommendations and drank far beyond what they needed," explained Farrell.
Rule does not apply to all people
Farrell came to the conclusion: "It is right to do what the body demands of us - simply drink according to thirst and set no time-consuming schedule for it". But even this "rule" has its pitfalls and is not the same for everyone. So there are also people who do not develop a real thirst, such as seniors, children or some chronically ill. On the other hand, kidney problems or diabetes are often associated with increased thirst.
Furthermore, slightly excessive fluid intake can sometimes prevent health problems. For example, people prone to gout should drink at least two liters of water per day to reduce the risk of painful gout attacks.
Since only a few subjects were involved in the current study, only larger studies would have to prove the new findings. Among other things, blood tests are needed. (Ad)