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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.

Lillie Sun 08-Jan-17 13:40:28

jane thank you, I guess for every bit of research saying one thing, there's always another saying the other. I must admit I read up quite a lot about it when I was researching putting baby's bottles in the microwave and there were several warnings about chemicals leaking out in heat.
As for bacteria, if you travel like me every day on the tube with grubby germs and bacteria, everywhere you can't expect me to wash my bottles up on arrival at work and again at home time. Disposable ones are what commuters use.

janeainsworth Sun 08-Jan-17 14:04:10

Lillie there are certainly some plastics which shouldn't be heated, but modern ones are usually ok. Plastic storage containers say on them if they are microwave and dishwasher safe.

As for germs on the tube..... does London have bigger and better ones than anywhere else in the country?
How do you think they actually penetrate your water bottles?

Legs55 Sun 08-Jan-17 14:04:58

Sheilasue hot water with lemon is bad for your teeth - can't win can weconfused

I start the day with fruit juice & Marmite with hot water (2 cups) - ok I can hear you all saying YUK!!! Coffee mid morning, often soup at Lunch time. Fruit Tea in the afternoon & coffee after Dinner. Sometimes a glass of water (weak with cordial), always a glass taken to bed to sip during the night.

I drink more water in warm weather, always with a splash of cordial (sugar free). I have a filter jug as in Summer I like ice cold water. I also take tablets 3 times a day with a large glass of water.

I agree with checking colour of your urine in the toilet bowl, I can always tell if I haven't been drinking enough fluid, especially using the loo at home (sorry TMI)

Also I usually have 2 portion of fruit a day which contains water

DaphneBroon Sun 08-Jan-17 14:56:06

I agree with radicalnan about the "virtue signalling" of the permanent water bottle (with a nozzle, like a baby's bottle)!
Our parents generation managed to remain perfectly adequately hydrated with drinks at mealtimes , elevenses and afternoon tea. We managed perfectly well throughout our childhood, but now is it an attempt to look super fit, ultra energetic or just ostentatiously "down wiv da kids" to glug water at every possible opportunity?
Why would you need to drink on the way to or from work, especially on a crowded tube train? Why do people feel,the need to eat their way to their destination for that matter?
Answers on a postcard. (I was brought up to believe it was "common" to eat or drink out on the street which would include buses or short train journeys anyway)

handmadedogsweaters Sun 08-Jan-17 15:04:30

I drink about 4 pints of water a day and my skin looks and feels like a babies bottom.

Jalima Sun 08-Jan-17 15:06:35

I think hot water with lemon, fruit juice, fruit etc is OK as long as you don't clean your teeth immediately afterwards as acidic foods weaken the enamel. Wait for about 30 minutes before brushing.

Jalima Sun 08-Jan-17 15:07:10

A clean baby's bottom I hope!! hmds

Ana Sun 08-Jan-17 15:08:55

I don't really think I want my face to look like a baby's bottom.

Yes, I think you're right Jalima. I've also heard that milk counteracts the acid.

kittylester Sun 08-Jan-17 16:19:22

Thank you, JaneA. Actually I refill a bright pink plastic bottle from rhe fridge.

NanKate Sun 08-Jan-17 16:38:50

My frequently washed bottle is purple Kitty my favourite colour. Wouldn't it be nice if we had a rainbow emoji ?

In a Norwegian cafe in the UK they put mint in a big bottle of iced water that was lovely too.

rosesarered Sun 08-Jan-17 17:00:36

DaphneBroon I agree, all the bottle carrying for a short journey.....weird.You would think they were in the Sahara with no access to liquids ( or food for that matter, all that endless munching going on, being on a train can be like sitting in a field of cows, all that grazing.)

Skweek1 Sun 08-Jan-17 18:58:06

Was told by my incontinence clinic that I must drink not less than 2 litres a day - still find it hard, though.

mazza245 Sun 08-Jan-17 19:58:43

It's very timely that this has come up just now - isn't it often the case that that happens? I went to see a urologist last week and had the old camera up etc because I have very frequent UTI's. She told me very firmly I should drink at least two and a half litres of water a day and after a month or so I wouldn't need to visit the loo so much. I couldn't have cordial unless it was sugar free, I should cut out caffeine in every way, and I can't have any fizzy drinks! Phew! It's a complete change of routine after having several cups of tea a day. I'm off coffee anyway at the moment but I did use decaffeinated. I'm not sure whether I can even have hot chocolate? So I've got to be one of those people I dislike with a bottle of water with me at all times, always be finding a loo at every turn and I can't even go for a cup,of tea with a friend. It feels as if it's changing my whole way of life!

RosarioDelee Wed 18-Jan-17 06:20:23

One must drink at least 2 litres of water. It is very necessary to drink water as it helps to keep our self fit. It helps to treat many health issues such as headache, migraine, helps in digestion, weight loss, relieves fatigue, etc.

Anya Wed 18-Jan-17 08:05:54

'One' does not need to drink 2 litres of water every day. We all buy into these health hypes without question don't we? All liquids count even coffee, unless perhaps you only drink double expressos!

Caffeine is not a big deal, and drinking decaffeinated brings its own problems.

Yes, we should drink what is adequate for our needs, and dehydration does indeed cause fatigue as rosario said, but it's liquids not just water, though common sense should tell us fizzy drinks, or indeed any sugar laden drinks (and this includes fruit juice) are not good for us. Milk, tea, soups and stews, fruit and vegetables all contain water.

One cause of UTIs is not emptying the bladder completely, did your urologist mention that mazza?

Anya Wed 18-Jan-17 08:20:42

I thought that this from the NHS Website might help.

Preventing UTIs

If you get UTIs frequently, there are some things you can try that may stop it coming back;

avoiding perfumed bubble bath, soap or talcum powder around your genitals – use plain, unperfumed varieties, and have a shower rather than a bath
going to the toilet as soon as you need to pee and always emptying your bladder fully
staying well hydrated
wiping your bottom from front to back when you go to the toilet
emptying your bladder as soon as possible after having sex
not using a contraceptive diaphragm or condoms with spermicidal lubricant on them – you may wish to use another method of contraception instead
wearing underwear made from cotton, rather than synthetic material such as nylon, and avoiding tight jeans and trousers

travelsafar Wed 18-Jan-17 08:43:43

A good way to get eldery people to take more fluid is to give them jelly and ice cream which both contain lots of liquid. If they have been unwell these are easy to eat and digest and give a little energy too.

Anya Wed 18-Jan-17 08:45:37

Lots of sugar too though. I'd have thought a nice warm broth would do the job too.

Christinefrance Wed 18-Jan-17 08:53:40

Speaking as an elderly person please do not feed me jelly and ice cream ! ! I hate jelly.
Prefer the warm broth idea but that may be because it's so cold today.smile

Anya Wed 18-Jan-17 09:01:59

I hate jelly too!

Lillie Wed 25-Jan-17 08:15:06

Re: plastic bottles and recycling, plus harmful effects to the food chain - SKY is running a really interesting week's reporting on this every morning.

grannypiper Wed 25-Jan-17 17:07:12

DaphneBroon glad its not just me, another bugbear is parents (mostly mums) who put their children into the car and load them up with snacks and treats for a mile long journey.