The BBC (along with other bodies and 'style gurus') has focused some of its health advice on large daily intakes of water (http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/nutrition/drinks_water.shtml). This, in itself is no bad thing, but it may have partially encouraged the 'fashion' of people carrying high-priced mineral water bottles with them (in spite of the fact that tap water would serve the same function). The debate about the accuracy of the basic advice has been revived. Current suggestions include that people (obsessed with the need to avoid 'dehydration') should recognise that much of their food (especially fruit and vegetables) contains lots of water, that the 'dangers' of coffee as a 'diuretic' are over-stated (and possible wrong) and that individuals should broadly drink when they feel thirsty (our body is pretty good at telling us when we need water). There is a suggestion that the sellers of branded waters have propulgated the claims about a proper daily 'requirement' of several litres of water to boost the sales of their products. This seems highly inappropriate when many areas of the globe are short of water and there are suggestions that, given global warming, more wars will be fought over this essential compound.
No comments:
Post a Comment