Health Tips with Melusine: Water

Photo by Jill Burrow on Pexels.com

I know I’m not the only one who’s scrolled through Recant or Twixie and read the following almost verbatim:

“This is your daily reminder to drink water!”
– idk prolly someone with too much time on their hands

I know you’ve seen it, Citizens–but how many of you actually take it to heart? How many of you use that reminder as an opportunity to chug a bunch of H2O? Or maybe you use it as motivation to buy a comically ginormous water bottle and set some ridiculous daily goal. “I’m gonna drink sixty-four ounces of water a day!” Why sixty-four? Because you can divvy it up equally into eight ounce servings? Why not add five more ounces and achieve true Chad status?

I’m joking, don’t do that.

The reason I’m giving this whole “drink lots of water” trend a hard time is because drinking lots of water can actually be bad advice for some people.

Separating myth from fact

The eight-by-eight rule, which states that a person should consume eight ounces of water eight times a day every day in order to be healthy, is not backed by any scientific or magickal studies. It’s a popular “one-size fits all” solution to a problem that has more than one answer. The truth is that some people need that much water, others need less, and others need way more than sixty-four ounces.

Who needs more water?

Ask yourself the following questions:

Do you spend a lot of time outdoors?
Do you live in a warm climate?
Are you physically active more often than not?
Are you an aquatic creature who spends time on land?
Are you pregnant? (Hey, ignore the above hate I gave to water reminders and just know that I don’t judge. Usually. At least, I don’t judge pregnant teenagers–unless those pregnant teenagers are trying to shove a water challenge down my throat, in which case I do judge.)

If you answered yes to even one of the above questions, then you need to drink more water. The general rule of thumb is if you’re sweating, you need to replace that fluid.

What if I answered “no” to all of the above?

Then odds are you may not need as much water as you think. There’s no set rule on how to maintain a healthy level of hydration; some health professionals say that it’s best to just drink whenever you’re thirsty. Others say to drink water in between meals, keep a glass by you while you study, and to try to incorporate foods and non-water beverages that contain water in order to achieve your adequate intake. Your adequate intake of water depends on your biological sex and species, so please consult with your designated healer.

The bottom line:

Don’t put so much stock into pseudoscience and health myths. You’re different from everyone else, and the best person to figure out the best way to keep you hydrated is you. Maybe you set reminders on your phone, or you have a friend who texts you to remind you because they know you’re busy.

Perhaps you’re even so forgetful that those Recant hydration reminders are exactly what you need.

Stay healthy, Citizens!

Melusine Jordan

Managing Editor/Sports Desk
& Health Enthusiast

The information contained in this article is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a healer or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.