One of the reasons the diet and health industries flourish is that they propagate the myth that says you'd die of dehydration and malnutrition if left to your own devices.
This grossly underestimates the wisdom one carries around in your own body--and in case you hadn't noticed: wild animals seem to do okay with out the FDA or any blasted food pyramid. When you are hungry, eat. When you are thirsty, drink. It really is that simple.
They've done experiments on babies with particular nutritional deficiencies and put them in a room with various food stuffs, after having let them taste all of them. The babies almost ALWAYS go for the foods (in large quantities) they need to remedy their deficiencies. One baby with a vitamin A deficiency guzzled a bottle of cod liver oil.
So I think left to OUR own devices, we might do okay.
Though we'd have to undo years of "expert advice" which tells us we don't know enough to come in out of the rain.
In Slate, The Explainer debunks the popular drink 8 glasses of water a day theory. There is absolutely no scientific basis for the health claims of drinking 8 glasses of water a day--its a popular folklore that even medical professionals have promulgated. (The article does a great job exploring the history.)
One thing I hate is around the internet people pass on information with such officious authority as if it is obvious scientific fact. Look at a diet or health and fitness board and see how often this load of malarkey is passed around. People will even tell you that it will flush fat out of your body.
It makes sense that one NEEDS water for health. This is obvious since, without water, you would die. But drink when you are thirsty not to fulfill some arbitrary criteria. If you are really concerned you can by strips that test the specific gravity of your urine that will tell you when you are properly hydrated. But true dehydration would lead to dry mouth, dry eyes, and dry skin. Trust me. You'd know. And also trust me: YOU'D FEEL THIRSTY.
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