How much water prevents heart disease?
I’m curious if water causes heart attacks? My first question, however, is where did the “8 cups of water a day” myth get started?
Good question. That myth may have started in the 1940’s when the US National Research Council recommended 1ml of water per calorie eaten. That amounted to about 11 cups/day in men, and 8 cups/day in women. There really is no science behind that recommendation and health groups continue to push 6-8 cups/day…especially the water bottle industry.
What if I wanted to drink more than 8 cups? Can I drink too much water?
You’ve got two bean shaped organs in your body that start with the letter “K” and end with “idneys” that can get rid of 5-7 gallons of water/day. If you drink more than 4cups of water an hour, every hour, you have a drinking problem…literally. The sodium level in your body will drop which can lead to all sorts of things up to and including the irreversible side effect called death.
Ugh. I’d never do that with water…chocolate milk on the other hand. Can I drink too little water?
Most men and women consume 16 and 11 cups/daily, respectively. That intake includes both food and drink (Fun fact: A potato is about 80% water). Several studies of Saharan nomads found they drink half the water of Europeans and usually drink only once or twice a day and their lives are fine except that they live in a desert, in tents, swatting flies. Here’s a better one. One study evaluated the water intake of over 20,000 Seventh Day Adventists in California over 6 years. They showed that those who drank less than 2cups of water/day compared with 5 cups water/day or more, had a higher heart attack risk of 33% (women) and 50% (men).
Woah! Who is drinking <2 cups a day? Was that just water?
No they also noted that people who drank mostly beverages other than water, were at higher risk for heart disease too–specifically, the sugary beverages. As far as the 2 cup thing–that was just water, not total fluid intake, so don’t sweat it.
Good one Doc! “Don’t sweat it…” Seriously, keep your day job. Let’s focus on what everybody wants to know. Should I drink alkaline water to prevent a heart attack? Tom Brady drinks it, and he’s definitely thrown more touchdown passes than you.
Hmmm…maybe it really is in the water. Alkaline water has become a hot fad, namely among smart celebrities who pay $27.77 for 24 cups of it, or $495 for an alkaline water maker. I’ve got some dehydrated water I’d be happy to sell them. Anyway, alkaline water has a higher pH (pH of 8 to 9) than normal water (pH of 7). The idea is that alkaline water neutralizes your body acid. Keep this hush hush from the “alkaline water zealots,” but recent science shows alkaline water is as good as the dehydrated water I could sell them (Hint: Just add water).
Okay, so drinking alkaline water won’t make me a better football player. “Hard” water is the answer to heart disease right? You know the stuff that causes all the white marks on your shower window?
You’re right. Hard water contains magnesium and calcium. When the water evaporates those minerals are left behind. The best summary of the science shows no effect on heart disease.
Okay, give it to me straight. What’s the right amount of water to drink to prevent heart disease?
One study followed the total water intake from food and beverage of over 3,000 people for 8 years. They were categorized as low (<7 cups), medium (12 cups), or high (23 cups) drinkers. There was no difference in heart attacks between groups. Another 13 year study out of Australia and one 10 year study out of the Netherlands also showed that water intake is not associated with heart disease.
My head is swimming. Just tell me the bottom line.
The bottom line for most people is to drink when you’re thirsty. Based off the Seventh Day Adventist study, I would probably drink mostly water and more than 5 cups a day. Oh, and I’ve got a great deal on an Alkaline water maker if you’d like one!
Nah, I’m good. I’m too old for the NFL anyway.