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How much water do you drink every day?

(98 Posts)
merlotgran Sat 07-Jan-17 11:26:44

DD and I have been discussing this because she recently had a UTI and was ticked off by our GP for not drinking enough during the day. This is because her job means she is often nowhere near a loo and she has got into the habit of not drinking when she grabs a quick sandwich for lunch.

I've been googling (as you do) and the recommendation seems to be 2 ltrs. but does that include tea and coffee etc?

I have never had a UTI myself but my mother, who wouldn't have known a glass of water if it threw itself over her, suffered them frequently in old age. They would send her completely doo-lally which is something I'd quite like to avoid. grin

Her carers used to say that it was hard work getting the residents to drink water - not just Mum and dehydration was the reason for smelly urine shock

I've always had a glass of water at lunchtime but other than that it's mainly tea and coffee etc., although I do drink more during hot summer weather.

My NY resolution is in the tap it seems.

cornergran Sat 07-Jan-17 19:52:07

Not so much now. When I was working it was a glass an hour, talked a lot so needed it. Also about 4 mugs of tea as well. Now it's mainly tea, probably 8 large mugs a day in the winter. In the summer it's tea and some glasses of cold water. I know some people drink hot water, it makes me nauseous so that isn't for me. Many family members drink far less.

Ana Sat 07-Jan-17 19:17:41

How much is in the glass though? Means not a lot unless amounts are given.

lesleylogan Sat 07-Jan-17 19:11:05

About 3 glasses at least.

grannylyn65 Sat 07-Jan-17 19:00:27

unless I have eaten something salty !!!

grannylyn65 Sat 07-Jan-17 18:59:53

I have 1 glass of juice and about 4 tea/coffees blush

Luckygirl Sat 07-Jan-17 18:55:44

I try to drink lots of water, but it means that when I need to go, I need to go!!!

eddiecat78 Sat 07-Jan-17 18:43:51

I`ve been encouraging my 93 year old Dad to drink more water for ages - now he`s got heart failure and been told he must not exceed 1.5 litres a day!

Greyduster Sat 07-Jan-17 17:48:52

I found it very difficult to drink the water when we lived in Essex, it was so hard. Supposed to be better for your heart though. The children didn't seem to mind it.

grannypiper Sat 07-Jan-17 17:32:48

When i lived in Southern England i hated the water, it was full of limescale, glad to say the water here in S.W.Scotland is like wonderful

Jalima Sat 07-Jan-17 17:22:40

I am going to have a glass of water and a cup of tea
prior to a wine at 6.30

Rinouchka Sat 07-Jan-17 17:22:06

...wine, if i'm

Rinouchka Sat 07-Jan-17 17:21:27

I drink a big glass of water when I wake up, then several glasses a day. Never have a meal without water and always have a small glass with my coffee( so up to 2L per day) or wi e, if i' drinking that. Had to make a real effort when I worked full time. Water affects not just your urine but bowels, as well, not to mention your skin!

Breastfeeding gets you into the habit of always drinking a big glass before every feed
( and I fed 4 children) so the water habit kicked in long ago. I always put a small bottle of (tap)water in my bag and, when exercising, drink even more.

With practiice, you can train your bladder!!

Ana Sat 07-Jan-17 17:17:50

And if you drink any alcohol tonight your total will probably be minus-something! shock

Jalima Sat 07-Jan-17 17:12:51

DD says that tea and coffee do not count as they dehydrate and that we should drink 2 litres of water a day.

So, if we discount the tea I've drunk today, I've had one small glass of water.
[eek]

Ana Sat 07-Jan-17 16:56:39

Yes, jane, I know that dark-coloured urine is a symptom of dehydration.

I still think it would be necessary to wee into a sample bottle or similar to determine what colour it actually is.

janeainsworth Sat 07-Jan-17 16:52:06

Well anyone with an avocado toilet definitely has a problem Ana shock

The straw-coloured thing is just a rough guide, but dark-coloured urine is a symptom of dehydration www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Dehydration/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

Ana Sat 07-Jan-17 16:45:45

jainea, sorry I don't buy that about the colour of urine in the toilet bowl.

Different loos contain different levels of water, and sometimes you do a bigger wee than others - I can't believe that you can determine the colour of your urine by just looking into the bowl after you've been...it would be way too diluted.

(and what if you've got an avacado-coloured toilet? shock)

janeainsworth Sat 07-Jan-17 16:19:14

As long as you drink to thirst, you'll take in enough liquid for your body.
That's not quite true suedonim. Older people often lose the sense of thirst and can become dehydrated without realising it.

Lillie Sat 07-Jan-17 16:03:26

I don't like drinking glasses of water, but happily sip away at an Evian sports bottle (75cl) when at work, plus some Perrier in the evening. I think I read somewhere that the queen drinks only Evian when away on foreign trips.
In the summer I switch to Tarks Springs water because their plastic bottles don't release toxins in the heat and sunshine into the water, (possibly linked with breast cancer).
It's far more common these days to see workers sitting at their desks with bottled water, and children in schools are allowed to sip water in lessons as and when they want to. Hopefully this common practice will stand them in good stead in the future.

SueDonim Sat 07-Jan-17 16:01:28

The eight cups/2L of water a day is a bit of a fallacy. www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24464774

The fluid in foods also counts towards the total. As long as you drink to thirst, you'll take in enough liquid for your body.

I have two cups of coffee each morning and a drink, very often water as our tap water is lovely, with each meal, plus I often just have some water when I'm in the kitchen.

I do get thirstier when I'm away from home because I find the tap water isn't to my taste.

petra Sat 07-Jan-17 15:49:25

So much for experts ( doctors) mine said to me: liquid is liquid. Other than alcohol it doesn't matter what form it comes in.

rafichagran Sat 07-Jan-17 15:35:30

I saw a consultant last week due to a health condition and he told me to drink 2 litres of water a day, but he also said tea and coffee do not count. I am finding it very hard.

silverlining48 Sat 07-Jan-17 14:45:54

I dont drink enough unlike most of my friends who are always checking out local conveniences. Realise its not good for me so try to remember but apart from 2 cups of tea today, have drunk nothing. Will get up post haste and get a glass of water. Thanks everyone for the reminder.

ninathenana Sat 07-Jan-17 14:31:44

3-4 mugs of tea or coffee a day and half a glass of milk to take evening tablets. Is all I drink in the winter.
In summer I add to that 3-4 glasses of diluted cordial.
Probably not enough when I think about it.

Teetime Sat 07-Jan-17 13:43:33

According to the NHS Choices website the recommended amount does include teas and coffees.