How Can Health Authorities Be SO Wrong About Water?

Posted On July 15, 2011

You have to drink AT LEAST 8, 8 ounce glasses of water … per day. That’s what we were told and coached to do by the people who are supposed to provide “evidence-based” science.

This article pubbed in the British Medical Journal (to read it, click here) just adds to the frustration of most people who want sensible nutrition advice. Margaret McCartney is a Scottish physician who is pointing out that we have no credible scientific evidence supporting this advice.

No scientific evidence? So how, then, did it get into our canons of nutritional advice within every major health organization? Do they VET the advice they dole out? Do they check to see if there is, in fact, any evidence for it?

Not in this case, apparently. Dartmouth Medical School physician Dr. Heinz Valtin also said just last month that there aren’t any scientific studies supporting the eight-glasses-a-day rule and that, to date, he hasn’t seen any additional evidence that would confirm the recommendation.

Dr. Valtin published a review of the literature in the American Journal of Physiology. (if you want to read his excellent review article that dismembers the 8×8 idea, click)

From The Guardian: Drinking extra water is said to reduce urinary tract infections, improve skin tone, help with weight loss (fill up with water first), reduce headaches and fatigue, eliminate constipation and improve concentration. There’s no robust evidence for any of this. The kidneys are wonderful things (that don’t need flushing with lots of water) and will make concentrated urine to save water.

Dartmouth Medical School physician Dr. Heinz Valtin also told The Huffington Post last month that there aren’t any scientific studies supporting the eight-glasses-a-day rule and that, to date, he hasn’t seen any additional evidence that would confirm the recommendation. Valtin published a review of the literature in the American Journal of Physiology.