Three Common Myths About Drinking Water

Our entire lives we are told that drinking plenty of water is important. Well, all of those stories that your parents, teachers, and health educators talked about is true…or is it? Below we break down three of the most common drinking water myths to help you understand what is fact and what is fiction.

Myth #1: When you feel thirsty you are considered dehydrated

When your body notices that your water is depleting, your brain sends a signal that you need to rehydrate. This does not mean that you are dehydrated but you can be if you ignore the signal. If you are working outside or playing sports, then you will need to drink more frequently to replenish the liquid that you lose when you sweat.

Myth #2: You need to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day

This myth dates back to 1945 when the U.S. Food and Nutrition Board suggested that people needed to drink 2.5 liters of water a day to be considered “healthy”. This myth was debunked when researchers began to find holes in the Food and Nutrition Boards claims. Water is more than just clear liquid you get from the sink. It is also found in fruits, vegetable, coffee, and tea. This can all contribute to healthy water intake without needing the traditional 8 glasses a day. Each person needs a different amount of water in the daily diet so there is not one overarching answer as to how much a person really should drink in a day. Your doctor can help you determine the right amount for your body and lifestyle.

Myth #3: Sports drinks are a better source of hydration than water

While well-known sports drinks are meticulously advertised and endorsed by athletes, they can often be costly and not offer the hydration your body actually needs. Not only can sports drinks provide empty calories, they can also contain mass amounts of sugar. Water delivers superb hydration with no extra sugars or carbohydrates. Water is easily absorbed by your body unlike sugary sports drinks that do not absorb into your blood stream as quickly thus delaying hydration.

Culligan cares about the quality of your drinking water. We offer a FREE water test and various systems that can help filter out contaminants* that may be in your water. From the Culligan Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System to whole house water filtration, we offer the best products to ensure that you have clean drinking water.

*Contaminants may not be in your water