# Some water/hydration myths I've seen over the years **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 29, 2023, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-water-hydration-myths-ive-seen-over-the-years/983349 "2023-04-29T17:11:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-water-hydration-myths-ive-seen-over-the-years/983349/21 "2023-04-29T22:51:58Z")
All of the people that drink water are either dead already, of about to die. My Doctor has me on medications to get rid of water in my system. The only real use for water is to make beer. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-water-hydration-myths-ive-seen-over-the-years/983349/22 "2023-04-29T23:11:55Z")
> [@Common\_Tater](#): > > What if someone - stuck on a desert island - had cases of only sugar sweetened soda to drink, would they die of dehydration, eventually? Yes, eventually, after they used up all of the soda. ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-water-hydration-myths-ive-seen-over-the-years/983349/23 "2023-04-29T23:15:42Z")
“If you dont drink until you are thirsty, you’re already dehydrated.” Utter bullshit invented by the bottled water/energy drink crowd. How did people stay alive before there were ‘experts’ to tell them 'You can’t trust your thirst impulse, you realise?" Sure, if you’re an Olympic marathoner or a Tour de France rider, keeping your hydration at _exactly_ the right level may make a difference of 0.001% to your performance that could be critical, but not for everyday living. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-water-hydration-myths-ive-seen-over-the-years/983349/24 "2023-04-29T23:22:34Z")
When I was doing a lot of high elevation gain backcountry skiing, this is what we followed. When I switched from nalgene bottles to a hydration bladder I could constantly sip from I noticed a huge difference in both my performance and peeing. One of those Nalgene bottles got relabled as the old one liter pee bottle wasn’t enough any more to get me through the night without getting up. This is camping, in the snow, in a sleeping bag. I found that 2-3 or three quick pees through the night did not disturb my sleep much. I am much less diligent at home. I am not drinking enough right now as I recover from surgery and will have to be more diligent. My main ski partner actually had an incident of hypernatremia cross country MB racing in brazil and had to be hospitalized. The hydration syations were handing out straight water and no electrolyte and he over did it. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2023, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-water-hydration-myths-ive-seen-over-the-years/983349/25 "2023-04-30T01:01:09Z")
> [@Common\_Tater](#): > > What if someone - stuck on a desert island - had cases of only sugar sweetened soda to drink, would they die of dehydration, eventually? Nope. They’d die due to a vitamin or protein deficiency most likely. They even be okay if they had nothing but cases of some American lager type beer. A little drunk most of the day, but dehydration would not be their doom. ---
**Author:** ![Blindmellowjelly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindmellowjelly/32/13920_2.png) [@Blindmellowjelly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blindmellowjelly)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2023, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-water-hydration-myths-ive-seen-over-the-years/983349/26 "2023-04-30T02:50:53Z")
I recently came across a sort of alt-determinator of symptoms of dehydration. Which is Migraine, Dry and Blurry Eyes, and Bad Breath. All are symptoms and indicators of dehydration, quite logically. ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2023, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-water-hydration-myths-ive-seen-over-the-years/983349/27 "2023-04-30T07:31:04Z")
When I don’t drink enough water, I’ll be tired throughout the day, even after an afternoon nap. A few old-timers (upper 80s, early 90s) have told me they start every day with a big glass or two of water, whether or not they’re thirsty. I’ve been doing that in recent years and have noticed a difference. Everyone’s going to be different, but I don’t think eight big glasses a day is overdoing it. If you drink two or three by lunchtime, two or three more by the end of the day, and one or two consumed over the course of the day through food and drink, the total will be five to eight. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2023, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-water-hydration-myths-ive-seen-over-the-years/983349/28 "2023-04-30T20:09:07Z")
> [@Blindmellowjelly](#): > > I recently came across a sort of alt-determinator of symptoms of dehydration. Which is Migraine, Dry and Blurry Eyes, and Bad Breath. All are symptoms and indicators of dehydration, quite logically. You can also do a test with the skin on your hand by lightly pinching it. > **[Doctor Explains An Easy Way To Know If You're Dehydrated. You Can Thank Him...](https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/social-relevance/skin-pich-test-that-will-tell-youre-dehydrated-544248.html)** > > Dr Karan Raj uploaded a video named 'dehydration check' where he pinches the back of his hand to see if he is dehydrated. > **[In extreme heat, try this 3-second test to see if you're dehydrated](https://www.today.com/health/health/skin-pinch-test-dehydrated-rcna41323)** > > This quick test can be a way to tell if you're dehydrated and need to drink more water. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2023, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-water-hydration-myths-ive-seen-over-the-years/983349/29 "2023-04-30T23:46:42Z")
> [@FluffyBob](#): > > My main ski partner actually had an incident of hypernatremia cross country MB racing in brazil and had to be hospitalized. The hydration syations were handing out straight water and no electrolyte and he over did it. Sounds like hyponatremia. Hypernatremia happens when you drink a whole bottle of soy sauce. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2023, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-water-hydration-myths-ive-seen-over-the-years/983349/30 "2023-05-01T00:08:34Z")
If you notice (common thing xyz), then you’re already dehydrated! No, no you’re not. Yellow urine is normal. It shouldn’t be _too_ awfully dark, but yellow’s perfectly fine. Being thirsty is normal. It doesn’t mean you’re dehydrated. That’s just your body telling you it’s time to top up. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2023, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-water-hydration-myths-ive-seen-over-the-years/983349/31 "2023-05-01T00:57:43Z")
Lol damn I googled it and still got it backwards ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-water-hydration-myths-ive-seen-over-the-years/983349/32 "2023-05-01T15:15:55Z")
The idea that you should drink a ton of excess water to be “properly hydrated” makes about as much sense as the claim that we need a high pH diet to counter dread acidity in our bodies. The people who promote this nonsense (and that we need supplements and enemas to “flush away toxins”) have no clue about the body’s highly effective natural homeostatic mechanisms. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2023, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-water-hydration-myths-ive-seen-over-the-years/983349/33 "2023-05-01T16:32:59Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And I’ve heard that the origin of the “8 glasses of water” thing is that that’s the total amount of hydration that the human body needs. > [@Wallaby](#): > > “If you dont drink until you are thirsty, you’re already dehydrated.” > > Utter bullshit invented by the bottled water/energy drink crowd. How did people stay alive before there were ‘experts’ to tell them 'You can’t trust your thirst impulse, you realise?" I think the 8 glasses thing is the cause of the “you don’t know if you’re thirsty or not” thing. If you believe something false and do not wish to correct your belief, you might have to accept any number of preposterous things to maintain consistency. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2023, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-water-hydration-myths-ive-seen-over-the-years/983349/34 "2023-05-01T20:21:43Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > If you notice (common thing xyz), then you’re already dehydrated! Being dehydrated is still a not uncommon road to ER or a hospital visit. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2023, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-water-hydration-myths-ive-seen-over-the-years/983349/35 "2023-05-01T20:32:31Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > We were always told “If you piss light, you’re alright.” If you piss light you probably have a flashlight stuck in your urethra. ---
**Author:** ![sb1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@sb1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sb1953)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2023, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-water-hydration-myths-ive-seen-over-the-years/983349/36 "2023-05-02T15:57:03Z")
My son played FOR A DIV-1-AA team and the coaches told him this: “Drink water until your pee is clear” ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2023, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-water-hydration-myths-ive-seen-over-the-years/983349/37 "2023-05-02T16:15:41Z")
My uncle had a [sometime in the 1950s era] World Book encyclopedia set. I don’t remember what the article was about, but it said something to the effect of “drinking cold water on a hot day actually makes you hotter because it increases your circulation.” ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2023, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-water-hydration-myths-ive-seen-over-the-years/983349/38 "2023-05-02T19:25:29Z")
Drinking more water is not the solution (sorry). You need to drink [_special water_](https://www.chem1.com/CQ/). ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2023, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-water-hydration-myths-ive-seen-over-the-years/983349/39 "2023-05-02T19:39:43Z")
I’ve been on the radar screen of cardiologists since 2014. Twice-a-year blood tests sometimes show not enough sodium. With that in mind, my doc told me to drink **no more than** half a gallon a day. More than that washes away the sodium. Counting all the coffee, I sometimes exceed that. So, I bump up the sodium with no-sugar-added Body Armor drinks. Usually just a gulp or two. I have a generally low-sodium diet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-water-hydration-myths-ive-seen-over-the-years/983349.md?page=1)