Drink 8 Glasses Of Water A Day: Is This Water Intake Rule Really Helpful?

For a long time now, the importance of drinking eight glasses of water a day has been a common knowledge among numerous people around the world. This is what experts have advised; and because water intake is very important, a lot of people are trying to follow the rule. But for those who are having a hard time doing it, this may be good news: A recent study revealed that drinking eight glasses of water a day may not be good for everyone and they should just listen to their body instead.

What does this mean? Science Daily reported that the human body has a mechanism that regulates intake of fluid and stops it from overdrinking. This is according to a study by Monash University. It challenges the water intake rule stating the importance of drinking eight glasses of water each day for better health.

The aforementioned mechanism aims to save the body from water intoxication due to excessive water intake. The study suggests that the brain activates a ‘swallowing inhibition’ when the body has consumed excess liquid. According to Dr. Michael Farell, associate professor from the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, people should do what the body demands them to do. Rather than following an elaborate schedule, drinking should be done according to thirst.

According to The Sun, the researchers focused on two situations. They asked volunteers to rate the effort they had to exert to swallow water when they were thirsty after exercise and when they were influenced to drink too much water. As a result, there was a three-fold increase in the amount of effort exerted while overdrinking. The findings matched the notion that there is an inhibition of the swallowing reflex after a person drinks enough water. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences published the results of this study.

Drinking too much water can be harmful to the body. It increases the risk of hyponatremia when there are abnormally low vital levels of sodium in the blood. As for one’s water intake, the details above explained why people should listen to their bodies instead of following the popular advice to drink eight glasses of water a day. Indeed, the body has its way of telling whether or not it needs more fluid.