Almost 60 percent of your body is made of water, and it is vital for sustaining plant and animal life. According to US Geological Survey, USGS, 70 percent of the human brain is made of water. The lungs are 90 percent water, and lean muscle tissues consist of 75 percent water. The body loses 2.4 liters of water through excretion on a daily basis and this water is replaced by drinking more water, or from the foods you consume. If water in the body is not replaced, you may experience dehydration. While much of what you hear about water consumption is true, some myths require debunking.
Myth 1: Bottled Water is Better for Your Health than Tap Water
The Food and Drug Administration has laid down some drinking water quality requirements, however, there are no requirements for the water to be 100 percent contaminant free. Therefore, even if the bottled water is FDA approved, it may still have some contaminants in it. Therefore, NSF International, a not-for-profit World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food Safety and for Drinking Water Safety and Treatment concludes that there is no evidence to suggest that bottled water is healthier than tap water.
Myth 2: It Is Important to Drink 8 Glasses of Water Every Day
According to research from University of Pennsylvania, there are no specific health benefits of drinking a lot of water throughout the day. Since the USGS states that the human body requires replenishing 2.4 liters of water every day, the body really requires only that much water every day. There is no real evidence behind the concept of drinking 8 glasses of water a day. In fact, drinking excessive amounts of water could result in water intoxication, as reported in "BMJ" in 2007.
Myth 3: Home Water Treatment Machines Can Make Tap Water Safe for Drinking
According to NSF International, home water treatment methods and machines could improve the odor, color and taste of the water, but they may not be able to completely remove all the harmful contaminants in water. Even after purifying tap water, it may still contain some amount of lead or parasites. However, the machines do reduce the amount of contaminants in water. Different types of water purifying methods and machines offer different degrees of purity.
Myth 4: Drinking Lots of Water Can Help Remove Toxins and Clear Skin
The human body is designed in such a way that the kidneys filter the blood and remove toxins through the urine. According to the "Journal of the American Society of Nephrology," consuming extra water does not improve the functioning of the kidneys in any way. It also concludes that consuming extra amounts of water does not have any specific benefits. The University of Pittsburgh reports that it also does not help in weight loss efforts.
Member Comments