Chapter 1
Unraveling the great eight-glasses-a-day myth
Chapter 2
The microscopic water highway inside us
Chapter 3
Eating your water and the liquid landscape
Chapter 4
The extremes of too much and too little
Ch 1 · Unraveling the great eight-glasses-a-day myth
doctorx The Urine Color Chart
Don't chase the clear (oh-oh!) / Pale yellow is the sweet spot (yeah, yeah!)
doctorx People overlooked that prepared foods contain most of the 2.5 liters of water recommended by the US Food and Nutrition Board in 1945.
doctorx Researchers in 26 countries measured how climate and body size affect water turnover.
Fun Fact
The 8x8 myth: The popular 'eight glasses of water' rule was never actually tested in a clinical experiment; it arose from a misread 1945 guideline.
Glossary
hydration (noun)
The process of absorbing or combining with water, especially to maintain healthy bodily fluid levels. In 1945, a U.S. guideline mistakenly popularized a sixty-four ounce daily target for maintaining this biological state.
The process of absorbing or combining with water, especially to maintain healthy bodily fluid levels. In 1945, a U.S. guideline mistakenly popularized a sixty-four ounce daily target for maintaining this biological state.
Quiz
According to the 1945 dietary guidance, what was the recommended water intake ratio relative to energy expended?
Quiz
Which organization published the 1945 guideline that unintentionally birthed the "eight glasses of water a day" myth?
Quiz
What precise method did researchers use in the 2022 Science study to track water turnover in 5,604 people?
Quiz
What was the widest range of daily water turnover measured among the participants in the 2022 global hydration study?
Quiz
Which region of the brain contains the specialized cells responsible for regulating thirst and body water balance?
Quiz
At what percentage increase in blood concentration do the brain's sensors typically trigger the sensation of thirst?