Drinking 8 Classes of Water a Day - Conversation Essay

Jade: We’ve all heard we should drink eight glasses of water per day. Is this fact or fiction?

Tiff: Rather than focusing on the number of glasses, simply drink fluids when thirsty.

Jade: Everyone knows humans need water and we can’t live without it.

Tiff: We’ve all heard we should be aiming for eight glasses, or two litres of water per day. This target seems pretty steep when you think about how much water that actually is, and don’t we also get water from the food we eat?

Jade: We do get a lot of our water intake from the foods we consume. Cauliflower for example is 92% water.

Tiff: You only need to drink to quench your thirst.

Jade: A person’s daily water requirements are highly individual and depend upon a number of internal and external factors.

Tiff: Healthy adults may not may not need to drink an additional eight glasses of water a day. On the other hand people with certain diseases or living in very hot climates may require larger intakes of fluid.

Jade: Eight glasses, which is just less than two litres of water, is an average amount that should be consumed by someone who is doing nothing during the day e.g. sitting in hospital.

Tiff: In day to day life, usually have additional losses (e.g. Exercise, sweating on a hot day) and we receive water from other sources. (E.g. Beverages, juicy foods such as fruit and veg).

Jade: The amount of water needed per day depends on the activities done by the person each day. The more activities done in a day the more intake of water is needed to prevent dehydration.

Tiff: Research shows even just a mild level of dehydration can negatively affect both mental and physical performances. This is further featured for individuals who are highly active and who live in hot environments.

Jade: A simple and easy reminder to ensure you are drinking enough is to drink to thirst, and for days when activity levels are higher than normal or in hotter environments to increase the regularity of drinking and the total volume.

Tiff: Some pros about drinking moderate amounts of water are: water flushes out the toxin, temperature regulation, digestion and constipation, reduction in headaches and migraines.

Jade: I’ve also heard that drinking water helps with weight loss and appetite suppression, healthier skin, relieves tiredness and faster recoveries from hangovers.