"The Real Bev" > wrote
> And then there's the 8-glasses-of-water thing, but coffee, tea and soft
> drinks don't count as water


No longer true. Please try to keep up.

http://tinyurl.com/ovyi

An excerpt:

Is there scientific documentation that we do not need to drink "8 x 8"?
There is highly suggestive evidence, says Valtin. First is the voluminous
scientific literature on the efficacy of the osmoregulatory system that
maintains water balance through the antidiuretic hormone and thirst. Second,
published surveys document that the mean daily fluid intake of thousands of
presumably healthy humans is less than the roughly two quarts prescribed by
8 x 8. Valtin argues that, in view of this evidence, the burden of proof
that everyone needs 8 x 8 should fall on those who persist in advocating the
high fluid intake without, apparently, citing any scientific support.

Finally, strong evidence now indicates that not all of the prescribed fluid
need be in the form of water. Careful peer-reviewed experiments have shown
that caffeinated drinks should indeed count toward the daily fluid intake in
the vast majority of persons. To a lesser extent, the same probably can be
said for dilute alcoholic beverages, such as beer, if taken in moderation.

"Thus, I have found no scientific proof that absolutely every person must
'drink at least eight glasses of water a day'," says Valtin. While there is
some evidence that the risk of certain diseases can be lowered by high water
intake, the quantities needed for this beneficial effect may be less than 8
x 8, and the recommendation can be limited to those particularly susceptible
to the diseases in question.