Recommended amounts of daily fluid intake are so much mince

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santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
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.......I still think that the original link debunking the spurious fake science of the bottled water companies is of interest and worth attention....

But if it's a product of the bottled water industry, why has the recommendation remained unchanged for over 50 years? (long before the bottled water industry existed)
 

Swallow

Native
May 27, 2011
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Swallow, I too think the individual and their needs differ enormously. I still think that the original link debunking the spurious fake science of the bottled water companies is of interest and worth attention.

The urine colour chart idea is unbalanced in that it gives no information on overhydration and the issues associated with it.
Peeing 'clear' or very light straw coloured once in 24 hours is one thing, but I suspect that to keep it to that level on a permanent basis is not a good idea.

The water issue concerns me; one son was hospitalised (as an adult I hasten to add) because he became severely dehydrated while suffering a kidney infection while already under the weather with a throat infection (it was a very bad week :sigh:) Basically he was feverish and couldn't drink because it hurt too much.
Then we got all the conflicting advice about how much water he 'should' be drinking :rolleyes:....everything up to and including 10 litres a day :rolleyes:
The reality is that for most healthy folks such volumes are not only unrealistic but in themselves unhealthy, especially for those who do not live in hot or arrid areas......that's most of us in the UK.

He now drinks when he's thirsty, whether it hurts or not, and has not had a single problem since.

cheers,
Toddy

Yep, Yep and Yep again. So many people covered points I was going to make I missed the one agreeing about over-hydration.

De-bunking is fine, but where I'm sitting it does look a little bit like over de-bunking on your part.

Thirst is another bio-feedback mechanism. Has a bad rep these days. And cramps my cousin got when not drinking salt water when thirsty were another.

I think a common theme in the thread is that you go with some form of bio-feedback unless you are in extreme cold or heat.

If we are all sort of agreed on that, then figures go out the window, unless they are a backup for the extreme environments.
 

Jared

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 8, 2005
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The tragic deaths of the 3 soldiers in the Pen-y-Fan recently was pretty shocking.
I read somewhere they were doing an exercise known as the Fan Dance, which has 4 hour 15 minute time limit.
Yet within those 4 hours it seems they suffered dehydration, organ failure, and finally death. The third soldier to die was in a critical care unit for 17 days.

The speed of which they seem to have succumbed is quite shocking.
 

Andy BB

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Apr 19, 2010
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Different world views.....


Toddy

Sorry Toddy, but completely disagree. Based on 6 continents and 40-50 countries or more travelled to over the last 40-odd years, most of the locations off the beaten tourist routes, malnutrition is more the norm than the exception in third-world countries. Even in my lifetime in the UK, it's noticeable the increase in height for example over that period. At 6ft, I was one of the tallest in my classes at school. 20 years later, most of my eldest daughters male friends were topping out at that height or more at 15-16!

And I can't help but chuckle at the basic assumption of some that - if anything comes out of a big company - it must of necessity be evil! That's just political dogma, not reality. Next time you're ill, and take medicines developed and produced by those evil large firms, you might like to reconsider.....

A well-made point by mrcharly pointed out that that particular study was based around top-level sport people, and their specific needs re rehydration and electrolyte levels. I was looking at a video a couple of days ago about the England rugby squad, and the backroom nutrition and training guys/gals re nutrition, electrolyte and rehydration needs, and their ongoing empirical evidence about performance levels. The amount of detail they go into about individual athletes measurable performance levels, recovery periods etc is amazing. Other sports nowadays are also so professional with results mattering so much financially, and all are looking at this level of investigation. If things don't work, they change them.
 

Jared

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 8, 2005
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I'm also pretty sure the 8 glass recommendation was made well before bottled water became a fad.
 

Toddy

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Jan 21, 2005
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It's define parameters really, isn't it ?

My background says that if people are successfully breeding then they are not critically malnourished. Population growth is the clearest demonstration of that.
Our, westernised world view, of 'normal' body type and over abundance of food alters our perception of others who do not live within those particular situations. Lean and skinny is not malnourished, it's perfectly normal.

I came across an older text recommending eight glasses of water a day but three of them had to be seawater :rolleyes: I firmly suspect that talking mince has been going on for a long time.
I read a medical report recently where the recommended maximum salt intake was also debunked; most of the world survives quite happily on more than the recommended amount, and in some instances a very great deal more than that.
Not a ringing endorsement to drown food in salt, but some of the scare tactics aren't doing any favours.

Snake oil and aluminium pans....uhuh.

I am becoming incredibly sceptical and curious about who actually produces unbiased research results.

I take the point about the specifics of sportsmen and women, but most of us aren't sportsmen and women, most of us do not adhere to that level of physical discipline. That the first report was biased in their interest doesn't detract from the too much is bad too, reality, and that the bombardment of recommended minimums is actually a sales tactic.

On that note, I'm away to put the kettle on :D

cheers,
Toddy
 

Jared

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 8, 2005
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I used to drink lots of fluid; was just a naturally thirsty lad. But since the lymes and concurrent heart failure my body cant process as much fluid anymore. It collected all around my body especially the legs due to gravity.

Have to take two lots of diuretic tablets these days and I have to watch my fluid intake. At one point they wanted me to survive on 1 litre a day. That was very very hard; a cup of coffee/tea is around 200/250 ml, a can of juice is 330ml, a bow of soup can be 300/400 ml. very easy to go over that limit. And when you're swallowing up to 20 tablets a day that can eat into your pleasure/social intake of fluid.

The human body uses about 11 litres of water a day in all it's internal functions - much of this is re-used internally and as folk have said too much or little is bad for you. Excessive urination is no fun either. I lost a stone in an hour (that's 6.35 litres) when injected with a diuretic (just over 3 "2 litre" bottles of juice) My electrolyte levels were all over the place and still regularly are due to the pills. (Not helped as I don't like salt or use it in cooking).


I've found at rest I can tick over on about a litre a day but any exertion and it does go up, but I have to try and stay dry to stop myself filling up, also if you get to little water the body seems to then go into a drought mode where it will conserve water and stops you peeing. Which is why I found that I had to drink slightly more than was recommended to stop my body thinking it was a camel and conserving water too much.


So in all find a happy medium and listen to your body and watch urine colour.

I'm on two aswell, and was told to survive on 1.5l after I apparently drank 6l in one day whilst in hospital on a drip of diuretic. Doesn't sound like I had as bad an experience. Though waking one morning for pee, and managed to overflow one of them **** bottle cartons. Slightly embarrassing. :D

And the salt tablets are foul.

Fortunately this was several years ago now and haven't had any complaints from the docs since.
 

Hypnagog

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Nov 12, 2012
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(Hypnagog, how is that chart to be used?)

That's the problem, there is no immediate guidance on the chart, so are you supposed to look when it's all down the toilet, in which case it has already been diluted.

I presume that it's aimed at a sample pot full of urine or a catheter leg-bag of urine.

There's a bit more information on this poster: http://www.sept.nhs.uk/Community-Health/Bedfordshire-Community-Health-Services/~/media/SEPT/Files/Service/Keeping%20Hydrated.ashx


Toddy is right, there is no mention of over-hydration and the risks associated with it though. Things have to be looked at as a guide only and taken in combination with other symptoms and known fluid intake, and by that I mean have you had less fluid than usual, or have you been exerting yourself / sweating more than usual etc etc, as you say it's a personal thing combined with environmental factors and existing medical conditions that dictate you have a larger/smaller than usual fluid intake.

Urine colour can be skewed by a host of other factors such as food, medications and health besides hydration levels, so I think that the poster is just designed to make people aware of dehydration.
 

Swallow

Native
May 27, 2011
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My background says that if people are successfully breeding then they are not critically malnourished. Population growth is the clearest demonstration of that.
Our, westernised world view, of 'normal' body type and over abundance of food alters our perception of others who do not live within those particular situations. Lean and skinny is not malnourished, it's perfectly normal.
Sorry Toddy, but completely disagree. Based on 6 continents and 40-50 countries or more travelled to over the last 40-odd years, most of the locations off the beaten tourist routes, malnutrition is more the norm than the exception in third-world countries.

So Andy, you mistook lean and skinny for malnutrition? Right?

It's funny but I haven't seen many indigenous people living an indigenous lifestyle that don't either looked like they went to the gym, or had a bit of extra weight.

Most people aren't in that position.
 
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Toddy

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World statistics say that one in eight humans are malnourished....that ranges from going hungry to starvation.

The corollary is that 7 out of 8 are not malnourished or hungry....the greatest proportion of the population.

http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world hunger facts 2002.htm

I'm not saying there are no malnourished people, I am saying that the majority are not malnourished.

Statistics....it's all in how you present them. Too often the interpretation is lost in the hype.

Mary
 

Andy BB

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Apr 19, 2010
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So Andy, you mistook lean and skinny for malnutrition? Right?

It's funny but I haven't seen many indigenous people living an indigenous lifestyle that don't either looked like they went to the gym, or had a bit of extra weight.

Most people aren't in that position.

Wrong. Surprisingly enough, there is only a very small percentage of the population that are living an indigenous lifestyle nowadays (and even in the Amazon in small tribal enclaves you'll see the ubiquitous football shirt!). The majority tend to live on the cheapest food available, which tends to be high in carbs and low on protein, giving rise to stunted growth, low average lifespan and making them particularly susceptible to host of ancillary diseases as a result.

Interesting fact - the average height of the Japanese male increased between 6 and 7 inches in the first generation post WW2, with a virtual elimination of rickets (the source of WW2 propaganda about the "bandy-legged nips"). Reason? Massive increases in the average protein intake of the vast majority of the population. A case of Big Macs being good for you?!
 

Swallow

Native
May 27, 2011
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World statistics say that one in eight humans are malnourished....that ranges from going hungry to starvation.

The corollary is that 7 out of 8 are not malnourished or hungry....the greatest proportion of the population.

http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world hunger facts 2002.htm

I'm not saying there are no malnourished people, I am saying that the majority are not malnourished.

Statistics....it's all in how you present them. Too often the interpretation is lost in the hype.

Mary

To be honest if someone thought of me as a statistic and I'm was the OK category then I don't care. If someone thought of me as a statistic and I was in sheep dip, then I'd probably be quite offended.

1/8 * 7,117,000,000 = 889,625,000 that seems like a lot of people to me but then I guess you could take the edge off it and say it's only 167.43 Scotlands.
 

Toddy

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See, there's the edge.
It's okay to decry me for saying something but when the statistics actually say something that irritates folks they still try to get a dig in.

Statistics, are simply that.

I don't like the undeniable fact that there are hungry people in this world, I help where I can, but the concommitant fact remains.

M
 

Swallow

Native
May 27, 2011
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I didn't see that as dig. I saw it as an alternative representation.

Statistics are used as much to justify as they are to understand. The line about

The corollary is that 7 out of 8 are not malnourished or hungry....the greatest proportion of the population.

Looks awfully like a justification of a viewpoint to me and up to the point where you added

I don't like the undeniable fact that there are hungry people in this world, I help where I can, but the concommitant fact remains.

it looked like you were saying there wasn't a real problem.
 

Toddy

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Nope; simply saying that most of the population are not malnourished.

I sometimes wonder about this internet conversation thing. It's impossible to hear intonation, emotions, attitudes and expression that we take as part of the entire communication process when face to face, especially with people we have never met.
It's easier with those I have met, I can 'hear' them in the words they write :)

M
 

drliamski

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Also when you read the words of someone you have not met I think your hear them in your own voice. It's pretty easy to argue with yourself!

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2
 

santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
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World statistics say that one in eight humans are malnourished....that ranges from going hungry to starvation......

Actually no. It means you're not getting enough "nutritious" food. You can be both overfed and malnourished at the same time. Most commonly in the world at large it means that they're getting limited food but only of staples (rice, beans, etc) and damned few, if any, fruits and/or vegetables.
 
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santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,114
67
Florida
It's define parameters really, isn't it ?

My background says that if people are successfully breeding then they are not critically malnourished. Population growth is the clearest demonstration of that.
....

Successful breeding on that level usually indicates poverty and lack of other forms of recreation.
 

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