MILAN – We asked Dr. Giuseppe Sposato from the Ambrosiana Hospital the truth about some common preconceptions about hydration and mineral water.
You need to drink a lot in the morning… TRUE
Drinking more water early in the morning is not generally viewed as essential, in my opinion, even though doing so could help the body’s daily, homeostatic routine and would improve the action of the intestines.
You don’t need to drink water during meals… FALSE
Drinking mineral water at set times of the day and/or before, during or after means can have an impact depending on the reason for doing so and the type of water drunk.
Water that is low in minerals helps lose weight... TRUE
Water that is poor in minerals with very low levels of elements and salts dissolved in it can have an indirect role on weight loss by having a diuretic effect and increasing the removal of impurities from the body.
You should drink very cold water after intense physical exercise or after spending a long time in the sun… FALSE
the difference between the temperature of the body and the water you drink, particularly after intense physical activity, but also when you haven’t been working out, can cause a negative reaction in the systems that control your neurones that can result in feeling unwell.
Room-temperature water is more thirst quenching… FALSE
Replacing lost liquids and trace elements in the water quenches your thirst, regardless of the temperature of the water.
The amount of water you should drink varies depending on: age... TRUE
We need different amounts of water at different stages in our lives. New-borns and children need more water than adults, calculated in terms of amount of calories for children and litres per day for adults. Older people need more water as they have a decreased sense of thirst.
sex... TRUE
The amount of water we need differs according to sex. Women need more during pregnancy and when breast-feeding
the seasons... TRUE
We need to drink more water during summer because of the weather conditions our bodies are subjected to and because we sweat more, even when doing the same physical activities as in the colder or more temperate months.
geographical area... TRUE
Living in different geographical areas with different climate conditions requires different amounts of water
work... TRUE
Performing physically demanding tasks in unfavourable micro-climates means we need more water to replace what we lose through sweat and expending energy and heat.
