The German Nutrition Society recommends drinking one and a half litres of fluids daily, coffee and tea included. But who measures this anyway? Healthy people drink when they are thirsty. No other human necessity is so irresistible, not even hunger. There are no benefits to drinking more than your body demands, say American researchers. A flood of water certainly forces your kidneys to do more work, but even experts are at a loss to explain why this should be healthy.

Horror scenarios about the damage inflicted to health and performance from a lack of fluids have more of an entertainment value than anything else. However, if the need for three or four times the normal amount rises due to sport or working in intense heat, low sodium mineral water (under 20 mg of sodium per litre) can be problematic. Because you lack the salt that is retained in your body’s fluids you are flushing more minerals out of your body with every gulp. A well salted soup is the better choice on hot days.

Text: Elisabeth Lange