Drinking excess water may not benefit us

SYDNEY: Drink lots of water... it's good for you - this oft-heard advice has been debunked by an expert. According to studies, drinking lots of water does not really benefit us, rather it is a fallacy which vested interests are promoting.

Our bodies need about two litres of fluids daily, not two litres of water specifically, said Spero Tsindos from La Trobe University, who examined why we consume so much water.

"Thirty years ago you didn't see a plastic water bottle anywhere, now they appear as fashion accessories. As tokens of instant gratification and symbolism, the very bottle itself is seen as cool and hip," Tsindos was quoted as saying in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.

"Drinking large amounts of water does not alone cause weight loss. A low-calorie diet is also required," he said, according to a university statement.

"Research has also revealed that water in food eaten has a greater benefit in weight reduction than avoiding food altogether. We should be telling people that beverages like tea and coffee contribute to a person's fluid needs and despite their caffeine content, do not lead to dehydration."

"We need to maintain fluid balance and should drink water, but also consider fluid in unprocessed fruits and vegetables and juices," added Tsindos.