Why you don't need 8 glasses of water a day | Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter | TED

You know the old rule that you need to drink eight glasses of water every day? It's simply a myth, says Dr. Jen Gunter. In this episode, she explains the amazing way your kidneys keep your system in balance -- and how you can really tell if you're dehydrated.

Think you know how your body works? Think again! Dr. Jen Gunter is here to shake up everything you thought you knew -- from how much water you need to drink to how often you need to poop and everything in between. This TED original series will tell you the truth about what's *really* going on inside you.

The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You're welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know.

[scoobydo]

"Your body will tell you."

My body must be mute.

[Lumilan]

In the military they taught us "If you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated".

[DefeatLust]

I started to drink about 2 - 3 L when this 8 glasses a day craze started going mainstream. And ever since my lips stopped getting chapped and numerous other noticeable benefits. Sooo... i'm going to keep doing that

[BarefeetB]

Personally I've been through stages in my life where I've only drunk water when I've felt really thirsty and then when I've made a conscious effort to drink water regularly through out the day and evening
I've come to the conclusion I feel alot better ( hands down ) drinking plenty of water rather than waiting to feel thirsty
I'm sure a lot of others would agree ....

[MindlessTube]

I can go a whole day without getting thirsty I don't trust my body.

[heristyono]

"Your body will tell you when you need to drink water"

Well, the same body will tell you to eat pizza at 11 p.m. so,

[sarahmarks]

I was so happy to see all of the comments feeling the same way I did about this. I 100% feel better mentally & physically when I drink a lot of water throughout the day. My skin does look better, my gut health functions better, I sleep better…everything is better!!
I’m sure she is way more accredited than I am to speak on this but I strongly disagree.

[makyamurray]

I also think that the 8 glasses help to stop people from over eating and consuming drink high in sugar. It's a gimic to make people healthier and it works. In my own personal experience it makes me crave sugary drinks less and no over eat. It is a big contribution to my overall health.

[CZOM]

"Listen to your body" folks these days don't even know they are cranky due to hunger or lack of sleep.

[i_am_a_freespirit]

I get headaches when I don't drink enough water...

[GK-iedd]

I’m glad to see the majority of people trusting their own judgement through results. I too, feel a lot better when I remind myself to drink water at different checkpoints during the day cause honestly if I didn’t I could go 8 hours without water during school and not notice.

[NeinDao]

I have a drinking schedule because I feel hungry when thirst, leading to me being overweight in the past. Starting with a drink schedule helped me get to and stay at a healthy weight level

[shekkung]

She has made the point, btw. "So as long as you're listening to your body's internal sense of --> This is something that I think a problem for many people nowadays. The lower "sensitivity" of our own body, especially when we get so busy with work we forget to hydrate ourselves. Many of my friends are already habituated for not feeling thirsty after eating they don't feel it's necessary to hydrate themselves with at least pure water (not water from the food they take). Then they develop these kidney stones or some even had kidney failure. The doctor kept saying "Your kidney has worked too hard. You might have not hydrate yourself enough regularly and that might be the cause of it."

[icuqt]

I would love a reaction video from other doctors that would be great

[MosesMatsepane]

“Your body will tell you”, Me licking my dry lips. Well, I am waiting for a sign from my body.

[Bigjag]

Literally have heard from Physicians, nutritionists, nurses, exercise physiologists. A lot of different people in different disciplines explain that if you wait to drink until you’re thirsty you’re already dehydrated. That’s why you’re thirsty now, your body needed water 30 minutes ago. Obviously she’s a doctor, but I’m gonna continue to drink my gallon a day. Even if its not proven to help people in general. I definitely notice a different between properly hydrated me, and “drink when I’m thirsty” me.

[louilind]

I need a reminder for when I need to drink.. If I don't, I'll forget, and then I get a bladder infection.. Some people do need reminders for everything inclusive when to drink water and there is nothing wrong with that.

[Sheamu]

I think the whole 8 glasses was just too get people to drink more water, rather than drinks that aren't as healthy, soda, juice, beer, etc.

[MartaBuck]

I know this is rare, but I know people who adapt to thirst. They simply don't drink. The worst I saw was my roommate in boarding school, he felt sick and could barely move. He was sent to a hospital and the doctor said that he was severely dehydrated. The other one is my cousin, he had to set alarms on when he should drink. He could felt thirst, but he forgot to drink. Silly, right? But this is real.

[MadAliceInWonderland]

I think she's probably right in that you don't need 8 glasses a day. But you don't need to wait until you feel thirsty either. Just drink water throughout the day. I do feel better when hydrated, but I have in the past overhydrated myself while I was sick, drank too much water after throwing up and it made my salt level too low (a Nephrologist told me so in the hospital, I had to eat more to get my salt levels up). I think it's really a case-by-case basis, as everyone's body chemistry is different and probably requires different amounts of water to function at an optimal level. Sort of like how it's healthy when/how long we sleep based on each person. Doctors online give the basics, but it's up to us to take that advice and figure out what works best for us. Maybe discuss it with your own doctor.