Comments on: Merry Christmas - and have a drink on me… http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2007/12/24/merry-christmas-and-have-a-drink-on-me/ A Good Look at Good Health Fri, 16 May 2008 02:19:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: Glug glug glug … why those eight glasses a day don’t HAVE to be water (or eight). « Dr Aust’s Spleen http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2007/12/24/merry-christmas-and-have-a-drink-on-me/#comment-66239 Glug glug glug … why those eight glasses a day don’t HAVE to be water (or eight). « Dr Aust’s Spleen Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:06:02 +0000 http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2007/12/24/merry-christmas-and-have-a-drink-on-me/#comment-66239 [...] John Briffa exemplifies this approach. A couple of months ago he discussed this issue on his blog, prompted by an article in the Christmas 2007 issue of the British Medical Journal that debunked [...] […] John Briffa exemplifies this approach. A couple of months ago he discussed this issue on his blog, prompted by an article in the Christmas 2007 issue of the British Medical Journal that debunked […]

]]> By: Dr John Briffa http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2007/12/24/merry-christmas-and-have-a-drink-on-me/#comment-56639 Dr John Briffa Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:39:28 +0000 http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2007/12/24/merry-christmas-and-have-a-drink-on-me/#comment-56639 Pete The point is that with no evidence (except anecdotal, of course) one way or the other, then the 8 glasses of water a day recommendation cannot really be called a 'myth', can it? Frequency of urination might be useful indicator or state of hydration, but with considerable variance in bladder size it becomes almost impossible to give broad recommendations here. We may have survived with less water than is typically advocated, but what is enough to survive and what is optimal might be two very different things. Pete
The point is that with no evidence (except anecdotal, of course) one way or the other, then the 8 glasses of water a day recommendation cannot really be called a ‘myth’, can it?
Frequency of urination might be useful indicator or state of hydration, but with considerable variance in bladder size it becomes almost impossible to give broad recommendations here.
We may have survived with less water than is typically advocated, but what is enough to survive and what is optimal might be two very different things.

]]> By: pete http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2007/12/24/merry-christmas-and-have-a-drink-on-me/#comment-56621 pete Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:30:01 +0000 http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2007/12/24/merry-christmas-and-have-a-drink-on-me/#comment-56621 Surely they didn't say don't drink water, but that there are multiple sources of fluid, & to prescribe that everyone should drink 8 glasses of water on top of everything else (how big is a glass?) has no evidence base. The point being that the 8 is often quoted as if being based on hard evidence. At one point you mention monitoring your pee & I would have thought that frequency of peeing plus a colour check would be better advice. How have we all survived without having 2 litres bottles of water with us all day? Surely they didn’t say don’t drink water, but that there are multiple sources of fluid, & to prescribe that everyone should drink 8 glasses of water on top of everything else (how big is a glass?) has no evidence base. The point being that the 8 is often quoted as if being based on hard evidence. At one point you mention monitoring your pee & I would have thought that frequency of peeing plus a colour check would be better advice.

How have we all survived without having 2 litres bottles of water with us all day?

]]> By: Tiggy http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2007/12/24/merry-christmas-and-have-a-drink-on-me/#comment-55759 Tiggy Sat, 29 Dec 2007 00:19:01 +0000 http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2007/12/24/merry-christmas-and-have-a-drink-on-me/#comment-55759 Yes I saw this article and doubted the veracity of the so-called myth debunking too. It would just suit the government if everyone believed that it was okay to read in dim lights, in view of the upcoming European legislation on light bulbs. I think what they were trying to say with the water was that it was an arbitrary amount based on a suggestion that we should drink eight cups of water - presumably the American measure of a 'cup' (whatever that is). But they should suggest a less random amount, based on size perhaps, and emphasise the importance of drinking plenty of water, rather than telling us the minimum amount necessary for survival. Survival isn't the sum of health. Wow, I wonder if there are plans for water rationing! (I jest - I hope!) Yes I saw this article and doubted the veracity of the so-called myth debunking too. It would just suit the government if everyone believed that it was okay to read in dim lights, in view of the upcoming European legislation on light bulbs.

I think what they were trying to say with the water was that it was an arbitrary amount based on a suggestion that we should drink eight cups of water - presumably the American measure of a ‘cup’ (whatever that is). But they should suggest a less random amount, based on size perhaps, and emphasise the importance of drinking plenty of water, rather than telling us the minimum amount necessary for survival. Survival isn’t the sum of health. Wow, I wonder if there are plans for water rationing! (I jest - I hope!)

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