Council to take two litres of water a day is "nonsense"

The recommendations of many experts point out that we should drink six to eight glasses of water - about 2.5 liters - every day to avoid dehydration.

Drink eight glasses is nonsense, and may even be harmful.

In fact, they say, between more water drink, better, because water can prevent a variety of diseases and disorders, improve concentration and can even help to lose weight.
All these statements, however, are "a real nonsense", according to Dr Margaret McCartney, general practitioner based in Glasgow, Scotland.Dr. McCartney carried out a review of the studies that have been published on the consumption of water and dehydration.
And such as expressed in British Medical Journal (British medical journal), all councils and claims that we do not drink enough water, "are not only nonsense, but nonsense that can discredit totally".
Dr. McCartney decided to review the available scientific evidence on whether really human beings do not drink enough water, and if we consume more.
This began, he says, as a result of a scientific Congress, baptized "Initiative hydration for life", in Evian, France, sponsored by a well-known company bottled water manufacturer.
"The initiative, created to promote the consumption of water has demonstrated his zeal by water in recently published advertisements in medical journals, including the British medical journal" says the researcher.
"The initiative declares that its mission is to 'establish a healthy hydration as an integral part of the nutritional health and routine advice guides patients so people can make informed decisions'".
And what is the "Hydration for life" recommendation on healthy hydration?, asks Dr. McCartney.
"The initiative says that 'recommend 1.5 to 2 litres of water daily is the healthy advice we give'."

Lack of evidence

Dr. McCartney, however, found that "there is no published high quality evidence that supports these claims".
Several studies, he says, show that there is no clear evidence of the benefits of drinking large amounts of water.
(E) to even suggest that there could be unintended risks forcing people to drink more water.

"The eight glasses of water a day as something necessary for health, is a myth. Tap water is a good drink and we drink what we want or need when we thirst. But the idea that there is a "perfect" amount that we drink is not based on evidence"
Dr. Margaret McCartney

For example, he cites a study published in the American Journal of Physiology which concluded that "not only there is no scientific evidence that we need to drink so much water" in 2002.
"But the recommendation could be harmful, both to precipitate a hyponatremia (a disorder caused by low concentration of sodium in the blood) and to expose the individual to toxic".
"And also for making feel guilty a lot of people by not drinking enough water," stated the investigation.
More recently, in 2008, the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, published an editorial with the same conclusion.
"There is no clear evidence of the benefits of drinking large quantities of water," he told the magazine.
How much water, then it is good for the health?
For Dr. McCartney what is clear is that "water is not a simple solution for multiple health problems", because neither improves concentration and mental functions, and helps children lose weight.
Although the expert stresses that patients suffering from certain disorders, such as kidney stones, can benefit taking more water, there is no evidence that plenty of fluids to prevent diseases.

A myth

As Margaret McCartney told BBC World "the eight glasses of water a day as something necessary for health, is a myth".

 "Tap water is a good drink and we drink what we want or need when we thirst."

Body water needs depend on many factors.
"But the idea that there is a"perfect"amount that we drink is not based on evidence" added the researcher.
Indeed, other experts are in agreement that we must take the water which asked the Agency and this may be included in all liquid beverages that we take on the day.
Dr. Aaron Carroll, of the Indiana School of medicine, has been investigated the falsity or evidence of "medical myths", including the need to drink eight glasses of water.
As he explained to BBC world the myth of drinking eight glasses of water is one of the most popular and propagated not only among the public and the media, but between the same experts.
"In fact we think this number - eight — has been to some extent invented," says Dr. Carroll, who also found evidence supporting the need to drink so much water a day.
As says the researcher, what is proven is that in our diet, mainly in a balanced diet, we can get enough water with the food we eat and beverages such as juices, milk, and even tea or coffee.
"Is not that we need to drink pure water, what we need is to have liquid in our diet", said the expert.
What is important, says, is to drink water when asks it us our body and this depend on many factors such as climate, the place where we live, the activities that we carry out and the State of our health.
"In fact - says the researcher - studies have shown that our body is very good to regulate how much water we need and why we are always indicating when we thirst".

http://www.BBC.co.UK/Mundo/Noticias/2011/07/110712_agua_consumo_diario_men.shtml

Source: BBC health

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