Drinking enough water is important. But how much exactly should we drink to get through the day healthily? That’s what a study says and we’ll give you more drinking water tips.
Without water nothing works in the body. Water is part of all body cells and is necessary for metabolism.
Water regulates body temperature, not just when we sweat in summer. If we drink too little, it damages our organs – all of them. We also need enough fluid for the brain, mucous membranes, digestion and kidneys.
Drink water: This much is good for you
How much water do we need every day? One, two or three liters? The German Society for Nutrition recommends – depending on age and life situation, for example during pregnancy or breastfeeding – between 400 milliliters (for infants) and around 1,500 milliliters of liquid daily through drinks. You absorb additional water throughout the day through solid food and oxidation water. So you have to actively drink significantly less than the commonly known two liters – and only when you are thirsty.
This shows another misconception: Many people believe that you have to drink before you even feel thirsty. This should ensure that the body is constantly supplied with sufficient fluids. However, there is no truth to this argument, explains nutritionist Uwe Knop at Spiegel Online: “Thirst is a signal from the body. What it wants to say is: I need water now, not sooner and not later.”
However, this does not necessarily apply to small children and older people – they often have problems with their feeling of thirst. It makes sense to make sure that they drink enough even when they are not thirsty.
A study from 2022 confirms this: According to the results, most people only need 1.5 to 1.8 liters of water per day. More about this: Drink 2 liters of water a day? Study dispels common recommendations
But be careful: If you sweat a lot, for example in high heat or during strenuous physical activity, your water requirement can increase significantly. The consumer advice center explains: “Here, the fluid requirement can increase three to four times.” In such cases, even 2 liters is clearly not enough. Further tips for drinking in the heat can be found here: Drinking in the heat: Is two liters of water enough?
Where does the two liter rule come from?
As a rule, you should drink as much water as you are thirsty. The more you sweat, the more fluid needs to be added to your body. But where does the “two liter rule” come from? As Plusminus reports, this is probably due to the clever marketing of large water manufacturers.
“Nestlé, Danone, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, they work with nutritionists, with health experts, with teachers – to promote their version of ‘healthy water drinking’,” says environmentalist Maude Barlow at Plusminus.
Because schoolchildren supposedly drink too little, there is, for example, the “Drinking in Class” campaign. The Association of Mineral Wells is behind this. Coca-Cola distributes seemingly legitimate tables and articles with exaggerated information about dehydration. With its own water brands Apollinaris and Bonaqua, the group benefits from the fear of dehydration.
You should keep this in mind when drinking water
Instead of forcing yourself to drink water, rely on your feeling of thirst. If possible, avoid drinking purchased water from plastic bottles. It is better if you drink tap water. In Germany, the water from the tap is of very good quality. So you can drink it without any worries and do something good for yourself, save money and avoid plastic waste and long transport routes for bottled water.
If you are still unsure about your water quality, you can also buy a home test kit. After taking it, you send in the water sample and then receive the laboratory report. You can get such test kits from the provider Ivario and Amazon, for example.
If you prefer to drink carbonated water, a sparkling water maker might be of interest to you. For example from the company Sodastream, available online from Netto, Mediamarkt or Amazon.
You can easily take a drinking bottle with you to fill up when you’re on the go. Here we tell you which drinking bottles are best for on the go. In many German cities there are now refill stations, such as shops and restaurants, where you can fill up your bottle with water. Just pay attention to the refill sticker. A map shows you where you can find refill stations.
Leaderboard: BPA-free drinking bottles
-
1st placeKlean Kanteen water bottles
4.8
57
DetailAvocadostore**
2nd placeSoulbottles
4.8
41
DetailAvocadostore**
3rd placeEmil, the bottle to wear
4.6
69
DetailHans Natur**
4th placeNalgene
4.6
36
DetailMountain Friends**
5th placeEcotanka Thermotanka
5.0
13
DetailAmazon**
6th placeAladdin Aveo
4.6
18
DetailAvocadostore**
7th placeBB Bayonix Bottle
5.0
7
DetailGreenpicks**
8th placeMizu
5.0
6
DetailMountain Friends**
9th placeRetap
3.9
17
DetailAvocadostore**
10th placeFLSK
4.2
10
DetailFLSK**
Can you drink too much water?
It is also possible to drink too much water. You shouldn’t overdo it when drinking, as from a certain amount the water dilutes the blood salts (electrolytes) too much and in extremely rare cases it can even lead to water poisoning.
There are also diseases of the heart and kidneys that require reduced drinking amounts. Those affected are informed about this when the diagnosis is made and must adjust their drinking habits accordingly.
Edited by Melanie Grünauer
Read more on Techzle\.com:
- Drink tap water on vacation? This applies abroad
- Glass drinking bottles: Practical models for on the go
- 8 absurd waters the world doesn’t need
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