Thirst: Modern and Ancient

publication date: May 17, 2011
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Our thirst is set by physiological and psychological mechanisms. I think modern thirst depends rather too much on the latter and too little on the former. We seem to worry more about "hydrating" than slacking our thirst.

Your thirst over the course of a day, not within a brief span of hard work, is an excellent guide to your water requirements. Research in the Journal of Physiology shows that you don't need the 8 glasses of water "authorities" recommend (a lot of this advice comes from bottled water and sports drink manufacturers). You need water when you are thirsty. 


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