Whether you are a health specialist or not, the recommendation to drink 8 glasses of water a day is widely known. If you are a fitness enthusiast, a health expert, or a homemaker, chances are you have been given or received advice to drink 2 liters of water a day. But the question remains: is there any truth to the “8 glasses of water” rule?
While the advice to drink eight glasses of water a day has been popular for some time, research shows this amount may be too much for some people and too little for others.
“While there are certain circumstances in which water needs increase, healthy people generally do not need to consume water in such large quantities,” according to Healthline.
What happens when you don’t drink enough water?
It is essential to meet the demands of the body. Not drinking enough water can lead to dehydration, which translates into fatigue, headaches and mood swings.
Everyone’s body works differently. If drinking eight glasses of water seems excessive, Healthline suggests, “You don’t need to follow the eight-glass rule rigorously — just follow your thirst.”
Benefits of drinking enough water
Drinking water to quench your thirst may also offer additional health benefits. Healthline highlights the advantages of staying properly hydrated:
- Weight Loss: Drinking enough water can help you burn more calories, reducing appetite if consumed before a meal and decreasing the risk of long-term weight gain.
- Improved physical performance: Moderate dehydration can impair physical performance. Losing just 2% of the body’s water content during exercise can increase fatigue and reduce motivation.
- Reducing headache severity: For people prone to headaches, drinking more water can reduce the intensity and duration of headaches. For people who are dehydrated, water can help relieve headache symptoms.
- Constipation relief and prevention: In dehydrated people, drinking enough water may help prevent and relieve constipation. However, more research is needed on this possible effect.
- Lower risk of kidney stones: Although more research is needed, there is some evidence that increasing water intake may help prevent the recurrence of kidney stones in people who are prone to forming them.
If you’re still wondering whether you should limit yourself to drinking eight glasses of water a day, the answer is simple: follow your body’s cues and drink according to your thirst.
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