A report from the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, however, broke the "8 glasses of water" rule. This report, submitted to the U.S. Congress, stated that in the context of global warming, frequent water intake is necessary to maintain health.
The 11-cup claim is sensational
Some experts have expressed different opinions, believing that 11 cups of water a day is pure nonsense. The body's need for water depends on individual factors such as environment (temperature, humidity), health status, and food intake, and there is no fixed standard. Currently, there is no conclusive evidence that the human body's need for water is related to rising temperatures. If we follow the claim at the beginning of this article, consuming an extra one-third of water daily might not only be unbeneficial but also harmful. Blindly replenishing fluids can even lead to "water intoxication" symptoms such as weakness, rapid heartbeat, cramps, and coma.
So, how much water is considered appropriate for a healthy person to drink daily? Generally, the human body loses about 1800-2000 milliliters of water daily through urine, sweat, or skin evaporation. Therefore, it has always been believed that about 2000 milliliters of water needs to be replenished each day. However, this 2000 milliliters does not have to come from drinking water alone; the various foods we eat every day contain a lot of water, which should also be included in the calculation.
Therefore, deducting the 1000-1200 milliliters of water obtained from food, we only need to drink an additional 1500 milliliters of water per day, which is sufficient. The general principle is: not less than 500 milliliters a day, but not more than 3000 milliliters. People who need to drink more water, such as those with gout or kidney stones, should follow their doctor's advice.
In fact, there are some common misconceptions about drinking water, so it is also important to understand the following five principles:
1. Drink a full glass of water at once—This means drinking a whole glass (about 200 to 250 milliliters) in one go, not just taking a few sips, so that the body can truly absorb and utilize it.
2. Drink good water—Try to avoid drinking distilled water frequently, as its pH is too acidic and can harm the body, especially for people with weaker kidneys. It is better to choose high-quality mineral water.
3. Drink warm water—Ice water is not good for stomach function, while drinking warm water helps the body absorb it.
4. Drink water on an empty stomach—Water will pass directly through the digestive tract and be absorbed by the body.
5. Drink regularly and don't hold it back—Office workers often skip drinking water for fear of going to the bathroom. Over time, this can damage the bladder and kidneys, and easily lead to back pain. (Image source: Visual China)