Water, True or False!

*Use thirst as a guide for when to drink. False

As stated in CNN.Com "By the time one becomes thirsty, it is possible to already be slightly dehydrated." Further, as we get older our body is less able to sense dehydration and send us brain signals of thirst. To ward off dehydration, we should make sure our bodies have the fluids they need and make water our beverage of choice. A good rule of thumb is to drink 8 to 12, 8-ounce glasses of water a day.

*Women who drink eleven, eight ounce glasses of water reduce their risk of kidney stones. True

In 1988 Harvard University researchers reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine that women who drink eleven 8-ounce glasses of water a day, were 38% less likely to develop kidney stones.

*Ice cold drinks reduce the effectiveness of warding off colds. True

According to Bayer Health Care "Avoid ice-cold drinks because they chill the mucous membranes. As a result, they can no longer effectively ward off colds."

*One can never drink too much water. False

According to About.com Sport's Medical review board "Hyponatremia, also called water intoxication, is generally the result of drinking excessive amounts of plain water, which causes a low concentration of sodium in the blood." Runners and hikers can experience this condition, when they consume massive amounts of water over the course of a run or hike, especially in hot weather.

*Drinking cold water causes cancer and heart attacks!
*Drinking cold water burns calories and helps us lose weight!

And the claims go on, the claims go on! Drinking cold water burns a negligible amount of calories. Eating less and exercising regularly will help us lose weight. Since 2006, an email has been floating around, stating that "drinking cold water can cause cancer as well as heart attacks". Every doctor I've spoken to reject that as "hogwash". You be the judge! True or False?

*Andrew Weil, M.D. author of 'Eating Well For Optimum Health has said, "Half of the American population does not drink enough water, and suffer from NAMAIS. When he asks them how much water they drink, they say, "Not as much as I should." Lyn

"This was among my prayers. A piece of land not so very large, where a garden should be and a spring of ever-flowing water near the house." Horace, Roman poet