Optimal Water Consumption for Human Health

How much water does a person need to drink each day? There is an opinion that one should drink about 2 liters of water daily. But how should these 2 liters be accounted for? Does this amount include the liquid contained in food products? How much water needs to be consumed if juices, tea, or coffee are included in the diet?

Debates on this topic continue. Some researchers argue that the popular recommendations for increasing water consumption may be linked to the interests of large bottled water manufacturers.

For example, the well-known organization "Hydration for Health" was established and funded by the company "Danone", which owns the brand "Evian". This organization recommends the concept of "eight glasses" of pure water per day.

To clarify this issue, WHO (World Health Organization) held a conference in 2002. As a result, a calculated value for daily water consumption was proposed: a healthy adult should consume 30 ml of water per kilogram of body weight. For individuals with compromised health, the norms differ. Thus, for thin people, the calculation is made as follows: 100 ml of water per 1 kg for the first 10 kg of weight, 50 ml per 1 kg for the next 10 kg, and 15 ml per 1 kg for the remaining weight.

However, in Russia, medical experts hold a different opinion. They believe that the optimal norm is 2 liters of water per day, as exceeding this norm may lead to kidney disease and disturbances in the body's water-salt balance.

According to Russian doctors, more than 2 liters a day can be consumed only under conditions of high temperature or during intense physical exertion and sports activities. It is also important to ensure that in 1 liter of drinking water there are at least 10 mg of magnesium and 30 mg of calcium, otherwise, a disturbance in the water-salt balance is inevitable.

Furthermore, excessive water consumption can be life-threatening. A well-known case is the tragic death of 40-year-old Jacqueline Henson in November 2008, who drank 4 liters of water in 2 hours, leading to cerebral edema.

Most specialists agree that a person should drink as much water as they desire, provided they have no illnesses affecting thirst.

All the recommendations regarding daily water norms do not take into account the liquid contained in food, such as fruits, milk, tea, coffee, and other beverages.When using and reprinting the material, an active link to the site www.webzdrav.ru is mandatory.