Here’s a surprise: A new health study has found many people consume more water than they need – not too little – and that “vested interests,” such as the bottled-water industry, are driving the trend.
In a paper published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Spero Tsindos from La Trobe University noted our bodies need about two liters of fluids per day -- not two liters of water daily. But he argued bottled-water distributors are encouraging people to drink more water than necessary, claiming water is essential to maintaining health, reducing the risk of dehydration and even losing weight.
"Thirty years ago you didn't see a plastic water bottle anywhere,” he noted. “Now they appear as fashion accessories. As tokens of instant gratification and symbolism, the very bottle itself is seen as cool and hip.”
Tsindo noted many foods and beverages contribute to a person’s daily fluid needs. Raw fruits and vegetables have water in them. Fruit juices, tea and coffee also count. He also said that drinking water will not, by itself, lead to weight loss; eating a low-calorie diet and exercising are essential.
"Research has also revealed that water in food eaten has a greater benefit in weight reduction than avoiding foods altogether,” he noted. “We should be telling people that beverages like tea and coffee contribute to a person's fluid needs and despite their caffeine content, do not lead to dehydration.
"We need to maintain fluid balance and should drink water, but also consider fluid in unprocessed fruits and vegetables and juices."