Melvin Durai
I recently had my annual checkup, and my doctor told me that the creatinine levels in my blood are slightly elevated. I just nodded and pretended that I knew what “creatinine” meant. It didn’t sound bad. It sounded like something a creative person might have. (I googled it later and found out that “creatinine” is a waste product from protein and muscle breakdown, not from overusing your right brain.) The doctor didn’t seem concerned. He said that I was probably dehydrated and needed to drink more water. But he didn’t offer me any water right then.
You’d think he’d have some free water bottles to hand out. Every doctor’s office should have free water bottles with labels printed with some medical advice: “Drink eight of these every day for good health.” I don’t know exactly how much water I should be drinking, but I’ve seen some people drink water like they’re about to go on a Sahara trek. They keep sipping a water bottle throughout the day. Every half hour, they either refill the bottle or run to the bathroom.
According to Harvard Medical School, men should be drinking 15.5 cups of water each day, and women should be drinking 11.5 cups. But what about cup size? Well, Americans should drink 240 ml in each cup, and everyone else should go with the metric cup size of 250 ml. Drinking 15.5 cups may seem like a lot, but before you overdo the water-drinking, it’s important to remember that your body is getting water when you consume coffee, tea, juice, fruits and vegetables.
You may only need to drink four to six cups of plain water — and perhaps none at all if you’re eating a large watermelon each day. To help you understand the importance of drinking enough water, I’ve decided to answer some questions that you might have: Question: Is it okay to substitute Coke for plain water? What about beer? Answer: I wouldn’t advise you to substitute Coke for plain water, but I’d definitely recommend substituting Coke for beer. Water is healthier than Coke, but Coke is better for you than beer. So if you have any beer at home, just let me know, and I will come and pick it up. I know how to dispose of it responsibly. Q: I heard that drinking water is good for losing weight?
Is this true? A: Yes, drinking a glass of water right before a meal can help fill your stomach and reduce the amount of food you eat. Studies have shown that drinking water not only helps with weight loss, it can also reduce your risk for kidney stones, urinary tract infections and migraines, not to mention your risk of dying of thirst. Q: Is it possible to drink too much water? A: Yes, it is possible to drink too much water, especially if you have health conditions such as thyroid disease or kidney, liver, or heart problems.
Athletes are also at risk for overhydration. In general, you should not drink more water than the daily recommended amount for a healthy camel. Q: Is bottled water safer than tap water? A: It depends on where you live. Tap water in urban Odisha is considered safe, but in other parts of India, you might want to consider a water purifier. Don’t assume that bottled water is safe, especially if someone is filling all the bottles from a tap — and the tap is outside Odisha.
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