We’ve always been told that we should be drinking eight glasses of water every day, but this may not be true.
For many, consuming two litres a day is an unrealistic goal, but those who are struggling to fit in that amount are in luck.
An Australian dietitian told FEMAIL that there is actually no scientific evidence supporting this claim.
‘That number was picked out of nowhere, but it is important that we stay hydrated,’ Gabrielle Maston said.
Australian dietitian, Gabrielle Maston, told FEMAIL that there has been no scientific evidence that eight glasses is the amount of water you need to consume
‘The easiest way to tell if you’re hydrated is to know what the better colour of your pee is,’ she added.
The urine colour you need to look for is clear or a really pale yellow colour. If you’re dehydrated it will be bright yellow.
‘If you’re thirsty it means you’ve been dehydrated for quite a number of hours,’ she said.
‘In hot weather we should be drinking a lot more. If you’re sweating a lot and see a white film on your clothing it’s a sign you’re losing a lot of salt and fluid.’
‘If you’re thirsty it means you’ve been dehydrated for quite a number of hours,’ Gabrielle said
If you also have been working out you need to make sure you top up your water as you will be losing it through your sweat.
Gabrielle explained that there are a multitude of factors that will dictate how much water you will need, such as your activity levels, the weather and what you have eaten throughout the day.
‘If it’s hot you need to keep your hydration levels up but there’s lots of humidity you might need less as you’re not evaporating as much water out,’ she said
‘The amount you need can fluctuate from 700mL to 2 litres in a day. If you consume diuretics like coffee or tea and are going to the toilet a lot they may need more.’
If you have been working out you need to make sure you top up your water
If you have ever wondered whether we absorb water from other things our body consumes, you would be happy to know that Gabrielle says we do.
‘We get fluid or water from the foods we eat, such as milk, soup and vegetables all have a degree of water in them,’ she explained.
‘You can include it in your daily water intake. If it’s soup or milk it’s almost equivalent to drinking water but you still need to look out for the signs you’re thirsty.
‘It’s very rare you find people who are dehydrated these days because we are drinking so much tea, coffee, soft drinks and juices.’