# Water intake...and my apparent 'lack' of it
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-intake-and-my-apparent-lack-of-it/236185
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [March 24, 2004, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-intake-and-my-apparent-lack-of-it/236185 "2004-03-24T20:32:48Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Thaumaturge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thaumaturge)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2004, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-intake-and-my-apparent-lack-of-it/236185/21 "2004-03-25T02:05:17Z")
> [@r\_k](#):
>
> Probably about a litre and a half of fluid.
>
> That’s it.
You forgot about the water that is in the rest of the stuff you eat. So did the quack that came up with this water nonsense. Sure you _might_need 8 cups or so, but a good portion of what we eat is mostly water.
You’ll be just fine following your thirst sense.
And from the Snopes article:
> [@](#):
>
> In short, though doctors don’t recommend it, many of us could cover our bare-minimum daily water needs without drinking anything during the day.
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### Author:  [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2004, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-intake-and-my-apparent-lack-of-it/236185/22 "2004-03-25T02:55:34Z")
The National Academies recently issued a report setting intake levels for water salt and potassium. From the press release:
[Report Sets Dietary Intake Levels for Water, Salt, and Potassium To Maintain Health and Reduce Chronic Disease Risk](http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news.nsf/isbn/0309091691?OpenDocument)
> [@](#):
>
> The vast majority of healthy people adequately meet their daily hydration needs by letting thirst be their guide, says the newest report on nutrient recommendations from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. The report set general recommendations for water intake based on detailed national data, which showed that women who appear to be adequately hydrated consume an average of approximately 2.7 liters (91 ounces) of total water – from all beverages and foods – each day, and men average approximately 3.7 liters (125 ounces) daily. These values represent adequate intake levels, the panel said; those who are very physically active or who live in hot climates may need to consume more water. About 80 percent of people’s total water comes from drinking water and beverages – including caffeinated beverages – and the other 20 percent is derived from food.
Coffee = Soda Pop = Water.
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### Author:  [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2004, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-intake-and-my-apparent-lack-of-it/236185/23 "2004-03-25T21:43:40Z")
I hate to bump this thread just to beat a dead horse, because I think it’s becoming clear that, under normal circumstances, in temperate climates, most people do not need to carry around a 5-gallon bottle of water just to remain hydrated.
That, and I’m a big proponent of not following the crowd; just because everyone in sight is carrying a water bottle, does not mean I’m thirsty and dehydrated and need one too.
That said, it’s also very important to point out that, when conditions change, water is probably the best answer. Anecdotal evidence: I live in Florida, as you can all see from my profile. Last weekend, it got hot so I went out in the yard to dig holes and kill weeds. I quit smoking not quite two weeks ago, so I’m not used to working out in the yard without a break every 1.5-2 hours. I was in my little Garden Zen zone, looked up and realized about 4 hours had gone by and I had not taken a break nor drank a drop of anything. The headache was already starting, which for me, is the first sign of dehydration, and is immediately followed by heat stroke. I ran in the house and drank about 3 pints of water, finished up in the yard and drank a couple more.
My point is, even though you’ll rarely catch me drinking water, when I’m at the beach, working out, or for some other reason sweating profusely, I will switch to water and keep drinking it until my headache goes away. I wanted to add that I usually toss a soda in there somewhere because I believe the sodium in the diet soda helps me replenish all the salts I just lost from sweating. (And I’d rather drink Camel piss than Gatorade!)
My question: is that a false assumption? (That the sodium in the soda helps a little?)
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### Author:  [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2004, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-intake-and-my-apparent-lack-of-it/236185/24 "2004-03-25T21:53:02Z")
Doesn’t sodium cause water retention? If it does, it would make sense that a little sodium would be useful to keep the body hydrated longer. At least that’s how someone explained to me that Gatorade works. And I know what you mean about Gatorade, **Dogzilla** , it tastes like ass.
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### Author:  [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2004, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-intake-and-my-apparent-lack-of-it/236185/25 "2004-03-25T22:33:05Z")
I was told by my GP and the doctors at the hospital that my kidney stones were very likely the result of not drinking enough liquids.
V
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### Author:  [@sunfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunfish)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2004, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-intake-and-my-apparent-lack-of-it/236185/26 "2004-03-26T00:50:19Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#):
>
> My point is, even though you’ll rarely catch me drinking water, when I’m at the beach, working out, or for some other reason sweating profusely, I will switch to water and keep drinking it until my headache goes away. I wanted to add that I usually toss a soda in there somewhere because I believe the sodium in the diet soda helps me replenish all the salts I just lost from sweating. (And I’d rather drink Camel piss than Gatorade!)
>
> My question: is that a false assumption? (That the sodium in the soda helps a little?)
Well… the sodium in soda might help a little, but the soda itself is not the best idea when you’re dehydrated, because it can make you feel “full” before you’ve had enough water to drink. Plain water is not going to do the trick, either, if you’re already feeling off for lack of water, because you aren’t getting the electrolytes (not sodium, btw) that you need. Personally, if I’m dehydrated and I drink too much plain water I’ll get sick to my stomach.
I know what you mean about the Gatorade taste. At the risk of sounding like an advertiser, I’ll mention some powdered mix I found called [Gookinaid](http://www.gookinaid.com) that doesn’t taste too bad, and IMHO works much better than Gatorade. I’ve used it while working in very hot conditions, and also at times when I’ve been down with a virus and couldn’t stomach much else. It’s basically an oral rehydration formula, and it really does the trick when you’re truly dehydrated… but it’s not something you’re going need every day.
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### Author:  [@Quint\_Essence](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint_Essence)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2004, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-intake-and-my-apparent-lack-of-it/236185/27 "2004-03-26T01:18:04Z")
> [@](#):
>
> I was told by my GP and the doctors at the hospital that my kidney stones were very likely the result of not drinking enough liquids
Your GP and the doctors at the hospital are completly full of stinking lying shit.
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### Author:  [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2004, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-intake-and-my-apparent-lack-of-it/236185/28 "2004-03-26T01:21:34Z")
> [@sunfish](#):
>
> I know what you mean about the Gatorade taste. At the risk of sounding like an advertiser, I’ll mention some powdered mix I found called [Gookinaid](http://www.gookinaid.com) that doesn’t taste too bad, and IMHO works much better than Gatorade. I’ve used it while working in very hot conditions, and also at times when I’ve been down with a virus and couldn’t stomach much else. It’s basically an oral rehydration formula, and it really does the trick when you’re truly dehydrated… but it’s not something you’re going need every day.
You know what? You sound like an advertiser! 😃
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### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2004, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-intake-and-my-apparent-lack-of-it/236185/29 "2004-03-26T02:15:48Z")
> [@vetch](#):
>
> I was told by my GP and the doctors at the hospital that my kidney stones were very likely the result of not drinking enough liquids
Your GP and the doctors at the hospital are completly full of stinking lying shit.
> [@Quint Essence](#):
>
> Your GP and the doctors at the hospital are completly full of stinking lying shit.
Um, **Quint Essence** seems to have coprographia. He’s also wrong.
About half of mixed calcium stones are felt to be due to inadequate fluid intake.
QtM, MD
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### Author:  [@sunfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunfish)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2004, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-intake-and-my-apparent-lack-of-it/236185/30 "2004-03-26T03:53:38Z")
> [@jarbabyj](#):
>
> You know what? You sound like an advertiser! 😃
D’oh! Maybe I should ask if I could be their paid spokesperson.
[voiceover] Gookinaid - now available at a camping store near you. [/voiceover]
😃
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### Author:  [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2004, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-intake-and-my-apparent-lack-of-it/236185/31 "2004-03-26T03:58:47Z")
> [@Quint Essence](#):
>
> Your GP and the doctors at the hospital are completly full of stinking lying shit.
**Quint Essence** , this language is not permitted in GQ. Do not repeat this or you could be banned. You have been warned.
Please read the FAQ and the Registration Agreement carefully before you make your next post.
Thank you.
- **xash**
General Questions Moderator
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### Author:  [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2004, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-intake-and-my-apparent-lack-of-it/236185/32 "2004-03-26T04:14:05Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#):
>
> I wanted to add that I usually toss a soda in there somewhere because I believe the sodium in the diet soda helps me replenish all the salts I just lost from sweating. (And I’d rather drink Camel piss than Gatorade!)
You can make your own “gatorade” type drinks by mixing 16 oz. water, 16 oz. juice, 1/4 tsp. citric acid (I use unsweetened Kool-Aid powder), 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. salt substitute (potassium chloride - I use NuSalt brand).
You can also make a sugar-free gatorade by using the same recipe but substituting 32 oz. of Sugar-Free Kool-Aid or lemonade rather than the juice and water.
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