Scroll Top

What’s the Deal With Hydration?

JFC How much water do you need?

JFC How much water do you need?

“You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him participate in synchronised diving.”
― Cuthbert Soup, Another Whole Nother Story

My sister recently told me she thinks I need to write a post on hydration. She reckons she forgets to drink. And then, instead of reaching for the water bottle, she eats. Her body tricks her into thinking it’s hungry, when really she needs liquid…

Maybe you can relate?

There are all sorts of calculations and recommendations out there about how much water you should be drinking. The one I seem to see bandied about the most is the old ‘eight glasses a day’ number.

And, we all know how important water is for our very survival. In fact, its so important that the human body can only survive without it for between 3 to 5 days. Not so very long, in the scheme off things, huh?

But, here’s the thing. There’s no actual evidence to suggest that we do need to consume eight glasses of water every day.

And, on top of that your specific needs will vary hugely compared to the next person’s. Consider all the variables –  there’s age, gender, size (height and breadth!), how healthy you are, how fit and physically active you are. How much are you sweating?

Then factor in where you live – do you live in the tropics, or are you in northern Europe? Is it hot or cold. What’s the humidity like?

And then, on top of all these variables, there’s your diet. If you’re on the Autoimmune Protocol, or any sort of ancestral diet-type approach to eating, chances are you’re getting a fair amount of fluid from some of the foods you’re consuming. Think broccoli, cabbage and spinach. Not to mention all that bone broth!

It really is no surprise that people are confused as to how much they should be drinking to stay hydrated.

The general rule is: If you’re thirsty, drink!

The absolute best way I know of to tell if you should be drinking more is to make a habit of checking out the colour of your pee when you’re in the bathroom.

If it’s a pale straw colour, you’re fine. If it’s a deep yellow,  you need to up your fluids.

And if, like me, you’re supplementing with B vitamins, it’s very natural for it to be fluro’ yellow.

Related Posts

Comments (6)

I’m sure there was a recent study by an Australian university that found drinking water when you needed it stimulated pleasure centres in your brain. If you drank when you didn’t need to then the feeling changed from pleasure to being slightly unpleasant. The conclusion being that when you’re on your 6th glass of water for the day and it feels like a chore you probably don’t need it. As opposed to when you have a drink and it feels really good then you did need it. Sounds almost self-evident.

…and yet, it’s not! Because so many people forget to drink.

I know I’m guilty of it.

Can you remember where you saw the study, LM?

The Little Sister

good post… Great idea x

The Little Sister

I mean great post, good idea x

I dunno’ – you dump your dog on me and fly off to Fiji. There’s something wrong with this picture! 🙂

I do believe people are starting to get the idea. I see water bottles on as many desks as computers.

Comments are closed.