Actually - GD - Here's the British government telling teens this... Read here. It's up to you whether it's scientific enough.

While I do think that a minimum is kind of arbitrary, it's there for those that tend to ignore these 'rules of thumb' - particularly children and teenagers, who exert themselves without paying much attention to rehydration, and adults who suck down Coca-Colas and coffee all day long. I think that most feel comforted with some sort of number to go by. Probably a human nature kind of thing.

At any rate, there's little sense in 'debunking' it as some god-awful myth... Though it's been put on a pedestal of sorts, it's better to think of it as the aforementioned rule of thumb.

With the thirst thing, I'm not going to bother doing anything more than typing it into google and putting up the most official looking link with the terms "by the time you're thirsty, it's too late." ;) But, it stands to reason that since thirst is a signal of dehydration... not anything incurable or so awful... you could have prevented such thirst by drinking plenty of water to begin with.

Whereas I find it important to debunk it because I don't like seeing people follow bogus claims as scientific imperative. It obscures actual healthy advice and makes it impossible to have a reasonable social discourse on the subject. It adds fuel to people who like to claim that science is bogus. So yes, I do consider it an awful myth.

Thirst signals begin when your blood cell concentration level rises by about 2%. Dehydration does not begin until it rises about 5%. Unless you are in the middle of strenuous activity that would accelerate your fluid loss, waiting until you are thirsty is not going to cause you any problems.

Sorry if I'm seeming a bit of a zealot on this, but it bugs me. Way too many people are turning to pseudo-science for answers to health questions and I don't think it's a good thing. Like I said, if any individual here has found that drinking water has given them good results, that's great. But I would rather people not base their habits on myth.

As for the "rule of thumb", it's a terrible rule of thumb. Again, based on the likely source of the "8x8" myth, drinking that much water is actually nearly double the suggested minimum unless you are engaged in physical activity. As stated, you get most of those 64oz. you need from food. Drinking water should be little more than a supplement to that. And yes, drinking too much water can be an issue, causing anything from minor inconveniences to serious kidney problems.

I don't really think it's a terrible rule of thumb, given the excessive amounts of salt we eat on a regular basis, the diuretics we ingest, and for a wide variety of other reasons. Those who get the kidney issues are usually drinking water by the gallons in a day, and within a very short period of time. 8 8-oz glasses of water a day is hardly near that. It's really a rule to get those who might be otherwise ignoring these thirst signs to drink some water. Water marathons are bad news, and no one has come close to suggesting that... not even the 8x8 proponents

Gradually adding more water is the healthiest way to add water to a diet, which can, at least temporarily, stave off hunger for those who are wanting to munch munch munch all day long (such as myself). Adding water at dinner tends to help me not eat as much, making me less likely to go back to the Clean Plate Club.

While I don't drink water because of any 8x8 rules, or thirst signals, I think it's a bit silly to get all riled up about it... It's a pretty negative signal to send to people who are just trying to find ways to be healthier and do things differently than they had been, and 64 ounces is hardly dangerous.

I don't care if people drink 64 ounces of water a day, I probably come close to it most of the time.

I am interested in why people do it, the thought processes and the authorities they are relying on for deciding it is something that should be done. The baby steps of fuzzy thinking that lead from not horribly unreasonable Point A to the Point B of trying to suck the toxins out of your body using stickers you put on the bottom of your feet or buying powder from a 3 a.m. shuckster who tells you that the reason for all your ailments is inefficient pooping.

Upon further thought, I think the real lesson of the day isn't to stop drinking water, it isn't to drink tons of water... it's to pay attention to your body's signals (beyond thirst, IMO) to whether you need to be drinking more water or not. And that goes for everything else, from veggies, to fruits, to making sure you get plenty of vitamins throughout the day, which can easily be achieved through eating a wide array of foods.

Watch for your urine. It should be on the clear side. If so, you're good to go. Kind of yellow, or even darker... drink more PLAZ.

Thank you.

Hey now, I think those commercials are awesome.

The commercials are awesome. The people who buy the products not so much.

One glass of water before and after a meal. Three meals a day. A glass of water before and after I walk the dog. Water before and after a workout. It's hard not to drink at least 8 glasses of water every day, particularly, as noted, with the diuretic effects of the espresso and ginger tea I drink.