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The long-time recommendations to drink six to eight glasses of water per day to prevent dehydration "is not only nonsense, but is thoroughly debunked nonsense," according to a doctor writing in the
British Medical Journal on Tuesday.
Dr. Margaret McCartney, a general practitioner from Glasgow, Scotland, argues that there is no clear evidence of benefit from drinking increased amounts of water, yet the "we-don't-drink-enough-water" myth has endless advocates, including those from the National Health Service (NHS).
The NHS Choices website states: "Try to drink about six to eight glasses of water (or other fluids) a day to prevent dehydration." And many schools get so hung up on the advice, they feel it's appropriate to insist that pupils carry a bottle of water to school with them.
Also, many physicians will tell their patients to drink up to eight glasses of water per day, even though there is no actual research suggesting why this amount should be the norm. For your skin, for your weight, for your kidneys -- such advice has been passed around for years, along with the phrase: "drink more water, it's good for you."
But why? This is the question that some medical groups have been pondering over for the past few years now. Their argument is this: there's no evidence that drinking more water helps our health, so shouldn't we just drink when we're thirsty?
That's the message Dr. McCartney is putting forth in her published article.
Comment: Having adequate levels of Vitamin D are linked to lower risk of severe asthma.