Hitting the ‘water’ bottle? Think twice

Water covers about 70.9% of the earth’s surface and is said to be a vital source for all known forms of life; but could it be doing us more harm than good?

Water prevents kidney damage, keeps us hydrated, helps us lose weight and increases concentration levels; but experts now warn that drinking the recommended eight glasses of water a day may be harmful.

A new UK report describes the danger of dehydration as a ‘myth’, suggesting there is no evidence behind claims that water prevents multiple health problems.

Glasgow-based GP Margaret McCartney says health professionals’ advice that people should drink six to eight glasses of water a day is “not only nonsense, but thoroughly debunked nonsense”.

She adds the benefits of water are often “exaggerated” by organisations with vested interests in bottled water brands.

In fact, Dr McCartney says research reveals drinking when not thirsty can often impair concentration rather than boost it. Separate evidence suggests chemicals used for disinfection found in bottled water could be bad for a person’s health.

She also claims drinking excessive amounts can lead to loss of sleep as people often need to wake up in the night to go to the toilet. Other studies show drinking too much water can also cause kidney damage rather than prevent it.

Worryingly, Dr McCartney also warns too much water can lead to a rare, but potentially fatal condition called hyponatraemia, which sees the body’s salt levels drop, leading to swelling of the brain.

Another doctor quoted in an article that there is no basis for claims that water helps people to lose weight by suppressing their appetite.

Professor Stanley Goldfarb, a metabolism expert from the University of Pennsylvania in America, says “the evidence is that there really is no evidence”.

Did you know…

• On Earth, water is found mostly in oceans and other large water bodies, with 1.6% of water below ground in aquifers and 0.001% in the air as vapour.
• Oceans hold 97% of surface water, glaciers and polar ice caps 2.4%, and other land surface water such as rivers, lakes and ponds 0.6%. A very small amount of the Earth’s water is contained within biological bodies and manufactured products.
• Some observers have estimated that by 2025 more than half of the world population will be facing water-based vulnerability.
• About 70% of fresh water is consumed by agriculture

How many glasses of water a day do you drink? Let us know by commenting in the box below.