New research has revealed that the eight glasses of water per day recommended there may be too many. University scientists Aberdeen have found that the recommended intake of two liters of water per day is actually often more than you need. Given that about half of our daily water intake comes from food, scientists estimate that humans actually need about 1.5 to 1.8 liters per day. The results were published in Science this week.
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The professor. John Speakman, from the University of Aberdeen, told BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland: “The original estimate of two liters a day is a slight miscalculation. The water we would need to drink is the difference between the total water we need to consume and the amount we get from food. And they estimated the amount of food by asking people how much they eat. But people underestimate how much they eat, there is a wrong estimate and therefore the amount of water needed is overestimated».
research on water
But now scientists have carried out their worldwide quest to measure the precise water turnover using a stable isotope technique. They surveyed 5,604 people from 23 different countries, ranging in age from eight days to 96 years. People with a higher water turnover usually need to drink more water.
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Research found that this included those living in hot, humid environments and at high altitudes, as well as athletes and all pregnant and breastfeeding women. Energy consumption is the most important factor in water exchange. The highest levels were seen in men between the ages of 20 and 35, who consumed an average of 4.2 liters per day. That number decreased with age, averaging 2.5 liters a day for 90-year-old men.
“This study shows that the current recommendation that we should drink every eight glasses of water is probably overstated for most people in most situations, and that a ‘one size fits all’ guideline for water intake is not supported. The research represents a major step forward in predicting future water needs.