Not 6, Just 2 Litres Of Water Is Enough For Body Hydration: Research

We have heard from doctors and experts that drinking 6 liters of water is essential for our body. But a person should drink at least two liters of water every day to stay healthy and hydrated. However, a new research has found that even eight glasses of water a day may be too much. As it is not harmful for our body, still in most circumstances it is not needed.

Scientists from the University of Aberdeen recently collaborated with other researchers to understand how much water people really need to drink. The BBC reported that they looked at 5,604 people from 23 different countries, aged between eight days and 96 years.

This new research suggests that the standard public health guideline of drinking two liters of water a day is on top. Yosuke Yamada of Japan's National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, one of the authors of the research, said that the current recommendation is not supported scientifically at all. It is concluded from this research that 1.5 to 1.8 liters is sufficient for our body.

Yamada said, we can get about 50 per cent of our water needs from our food stuff, unless our diet is only bacon, bread and eggs. The study also highlighted the cost of producing unnecessary drinking water. 

Using a technology called isotope-labeling, the group researched water intake and loss in nearly 5,600 individuals in 23 countries. The researchers found that 'water turnover', which refers to the amount of water the body uses daily, averaged 4.2 liters for men aged 20 to 35 and 3.3 liters for women aged 30 to 60.

The researchers also found that water use was significantly lower for older people and showed changes based on external factors such as climate and altitude. They say that the equation can help determine the minimum amount of water needed in disaster-affected areas and areas affected by water scarcity due to climate change.

However, Yamada says that equating could help prevent disease because research shows that water turnover is related to human health.