Healthy eating column: false beliefs about water

Proper hydration is just as important for the human body as a healthy diet: whatever diet you follow, you cannot ignore drinking a certain amount of fluids every day.

In normal conditions, in fact, an adult individual daily loses a percentage of water equal to 3-4% of his body weight, which must be appropriately replenished, keeping in mind that water is also contained in foods, especially in vegetables and fruit.

But then, how do you proceed to make sure you don't run into harmful deficiencies that would lead to dehydration and its inevitable consequences?

Just adopt some "virtuous" behaviors which lead to acquiring habits useful for maintaining water balance and, consequently, physical well-being.

How to behave: daily management of drinking water

Satisfying the sense of thirst is always a correct attitude: it would even be better to anticipate the urge to drink, drinking at least 6-8 glasses of water a day, preferably - but not necessarily - between meals .

Drinking small quantities of water often and slowly (not too cold, to avoid congestion), helps the body to distribute liquids evenly and to better assimilate the nutrients introduced with food .

To hydrate properly it is better to choose to drink natural water: this is because different drinks (for example soft drinks and fruit juices) contain sugars and, therefore, provide other calories, while coffee and teas contain pharmacologically active substances (such as caffeine) and should be consumed in moderation.

Those who practice physical activity have an increased need for water, because they lose more liquids through sweating: mineral salts can be replenished by taking supplements, but also just by drinking tap water (provided it is certified as drinkable) or in a bottle, the necessary replacement of fluids in the body is activated.

5 "fake news" regarding water

1. It is not drunk during meals

Drinking water while eating is not harmful, although it can lengthen digestion times because gastric juices are diluted.

In any case, if it is taken in moderate quantities (about 600 ml), water improves the consistency of foods, making the active ingredients contained in foods assimilable more quickly.

2. Drinking a lot of water makes you gain weight and causes water retention

Containing no calories, water does not affect body weight except momentarily; furthermore, water retention does not depend on the quantity of water consumed, but on the salt and other substances contained in foods.

3. In winter it is not necessary to drink a lot of water

Drinking the right amount of water is useful in every season, not just when it's warmer.

Even in the cold months, in fact, the body can become dehydrated: especially in climatic conditions in which the air is particularly dry, with the exhalation of steam you lose water with each breath.

4. Drinking a lot of water promotes the formation of kidney stones

On the contrary, if an individual has a genetic predisposition to form this type of stone, he must drink abundantly and often; if anything, they will have to prefer a diet rich in vegetables, low in animal proteins, without giving up an adequate intake of calcium (such as, for example, that provided by dairy products).

5. It is best to avoid mineralized water

As always, also in this case in medio stat virtus: every element introduced into the body is still assimilated and enters into circulation in the quantity you choose to take, even the substances contained in water.

To ensure correct hydration and the right intake of mineral salts, simply keep in mind the needs of each individual organism, also making reference to age and health conditions, establishing which type of water is most suitable and how much to drink during the day. throughout the day.