Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Alternative Therapies => Topic started by: Jari on August 25, 2019, 08:01:03 PM
-
Hi ladies,
I was just thinking that I really am not good at drinking enough water.
I'm curious to know how much water others are drinking each day and if you keep track. Eg a bottle at a time?
I'm wondering if it helps with any menopause symptoms?!
X
-
Hi Jari, I was never one for drinking water (didn't particularly like the taste ;D used to put really dilute juice in). Since January and re evaluating my diet (started fast 5:2) I've been drinking at least a litre a day, I take a water bottle with me to work (was originally buying bottled water but for the environment decided to stop) there is a water cooler in our kitchen at work so I fill up my bottle first thing. The only downside is that I am 'obv' needing to pee much more which can be a nuisance depending on your job. I feel my skin is generally good and I feel pretty healthy compared to this time last year but whether it is one specific thing (doubtful) as I've lost weight, on HRT, AD, some supplements etc so it has probably all had some kind of positive impact for me.
You could always try a slice of lemon or some other fruit you like in it if you don't like it plain. x
-
Hi Jari, I drink 2+ litres of fluid a day of which about 1500mls are plain water. More in hot weather.
An hour after thyroid meds 1st thing, I have lemon & ginger tea in a 300ml mug (so that's just flavoured water really), then 150ml glass half juice, half water with breakfast, then 2 small (150ml) coffees after breakfast (half tsp decaff, half Greek caffeinated in each cup).
Throughout the rest of the day it's plain water, but sometimes 150mls milk around 4pm & 200mls milk before bed. I know the capacity of our various cups & mugs because I had to do a couple of 3-day urine output collections for which input had to be measured!
If you keep a covered jug or a big bottle of water close to you at work, if that's practical, it's a reminder you can't miss. I also take a 500ml bottle of plain water with me every time I go out & there's always a 2 litre bottle with plastic beakers in the car. A slice or two of lemon in a jug of water can make it a bit more appetising if you're put off by the blandness of plain water.
You asked whether it helps meno symptoms - it certainly helps not to be dehydrated which I find can have adverse effects on sleep, gives rise to headaches & a hangover effect. On days when I'm out of routine/busy & my fluid intake is less than usual, my dry eye condition also feels worse & they look more obviously inflamed. Can see dehydration when it happens in the skin of my face & hands too.
Foxy - posts overlapped - great minds re the slice of lemon!
Wx
-
Thanks Foxy and Wrensong. I think it's a great idea to take a bottle with you and maybe with some lemon.
My eyes do feel quite dry sometimes and I think with flushes etc it obviously means we're losing more.
I've got a couple of glass bottles that I think I'll keep in fridge with water and maybe lemon too and try to drink 2 a day. X
-
;D ;D wrensong, that's how I started with one of those water bottles that has a bit to put fruit in as I had an aversion to drinking water alone. Just a hint of flavour was all I needed but now drinking it without flavours. Also have tea/coffee through the day (last one at 6pm and it's de caf). x
-
Ps herbal teas a good idea too. I do buy them, but I just don't end up drinking them. I need to set a plan really and stick to it. Like 2 litres a water a day and 2 herbal teas and coffee at breakfast. That's my new plan.
I'm going to make a chamomile tea right now!! :)
-
Hello ladies.
I drink water all through the day probably totaling 3 litres. I'm sure it helps but I'm not sure how much. I have noticed that I don't actually need the loo more when I drink a lot so presumably I am dehydrated and my body is using it.
During this interminable meno journey I have attributed any improvements to the last thing I was doing ie drinking water, eating less chocolate or getting more or less sleep. Unfortunately I have yet to identify the one thing that I can rely on to always alleviate my symptoms but my search continues!
Wishing everyone well.
K.
-
;D Kathleen
During this interminable meno journey I have attributed any improvements to the last thing I was doing ie drinking water, eating less chocolate or getting more or less sleep.
Know just what you mean & my heart goes out to you. :)
-
We've got a freestanding v ice maker at home which I have on all the time. It was a Christmas gift for my husband (what do you give the man who has everything type of thing). Anyway, it has transformed my glass of plain old tap water into a restaurant style drink and it means I drink a lot more water. I love the ice maker. If I make jugs, I like cucumber and mint, or orange slices xx
-
That sounds lovely Agatha. Do you stick to drinking a certain amount every day?
I know what you mean Kathleen, I've also noticed I don't go to the loo as much any more and I want to change that. I might try a couple of bottles a day and then increase to see if it helps my dry eyes, skin.. x x
-
Kathleen & Jari, just an afterthought, as you are both vegetarian/vegan your high fibre diet (like mine) will soak up a lot of fluid, perhaps increasing our requirement. On the other hand, there'a lot of fluid in fruit & veg. I find I do pass a lot of fluid most days, so if that reduces, it's a clue I need to up my intake! Easy to see whether urine is too concentrated by the colour, though some supplements (especially B group) & medications can affect that. Realise the original post was about increasing proportion of water in daily fluid intake, but know that like me, you are both very interested in the way what we put into our bodies affects our health. Good to feel there are things we can do to optimise health at a time when our bodies can feel scarily out of control. :)
-
I don't think you should be over worried about water intake. From what I can remember the initial research and reports about this were misinterpreted. The emphasis is on total FLUID INTAKE, and not water intake. The important thing is to drink when you are thirsty and in fact too much water is as bad as too little. A good test is the colour of your wee. Orange and you are dehydrated, colourless and you are drinking too much and straw coloured is just right.
I will try and find some links later as it was sometime ago that I read about this.
Found two. https://mcgill.ca/oss/article/health-nutrition/water-myth
https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/a11669/the-water-myth/
-
I don't think you should be over worried about water intake. From what I can remember the initial research and reports about this were misinterpreted. The emphasis is on total FLUID INTAKE, and not water intake. The important thing is to drink when you are thirsty and in fact too much water is as bad as too little. A good test is the colour of your wee. Orange and you are dehydrated, colourless and you are drinking too much and straw coloured is just right.
I will try and find some links later as it was sometime ago that I read about this.
Found two. https://mcgill.ca/oss/article/health-nutrition/water-myth
https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/a11669/the-water-myth/
I agree and I go on urine colour. The urogynaecologist asked me last November about how much I drank. I was a bit embarrassed and admitted that perhaps I didn't drink enough. I was pleasantly surprised by her response. She said that the instructions to drink loads of water to prevent UTI's was wrong. If we drink massive amounts, it can dilute the urine too much and prevent infections from being detected.
-
Hello again ladies.
Wrensong - I wondered if fibre was absorbing lots of water meaning I'd need to drink a lot but as you say, fruit and veg contain a lot of water. It's almost as if they provide a natural balance lol!
Jari - It may be worth drinking more for a few days to see if it helps at all.
Shadyglade and Katejo - very interesting points and I'll read the links when I'm less tired. I was aware that it's possible to drink too much water, something about diluting electrolytes I think.
I have probably mentioned before that a study of elderly residents in care homes showed a decrease in emergency hospital admissions if everyone drank more water daily.
As with all thingsI expect balance is key.
Take care ladies.
K.
-
Just a little point. Starchy carbs do increase water retention. This might be the cause of infrequent peeing.
I try to restrict starchy carbs to between a half and a third of the normal recommendations. This is particularly the case with grains.
By cutting down I am losing weight and have no bloating.
-
Hello again ladies.
Shadyglade - that's an interesting point you made, I'll look out for the weight gain and bloating.
Take care.
K.
-
Am easily managing 1 3/4 litres of water a day now plus coffee in morning. Aiming for 2 litres. Note to self... try to get this done before around 7pm or I've noticed I have to get up in the night..
-
I have to get up at least once every night ::) - normal for me. If I don't drink enough, the kidneys work harder so I have to get out of bed more often ::)
-
Jari, like you I have to get the bulk of mine over with before the evening!
-
I don't do anything like that. I just drink when thirsty. If I drank that much water I think I'd explode. 🤯
-
I don't do anything like that. I just drink when thirsty. If I drank that much water I think I'd explode. 🤯
Same here. In a way it is illogical. We say don't eat unless hungry to avoid putting on weight. Why should it be different for thirst?
-
I find drinking water stops me getting as dizzy and helps with nausea. When I'm at Uni I drink about 3 litres of water to keep me going. I have noticed I often end up with a headache though not sure if that's to do with what I'm studying, tiredness or too much water. I thought that the more water the better within reason?
-
I'm finding 2 litres is working well for me. I was never drinking enough water so thought I'd start doing this goal.. make sure to get done not too late though as I've found I've been up at night needing the loo. Just finished my 2 litres for the day.
Mild dehydration is often masked as feelings of hunger, so I was going for snacks quite a lot, when what I actually needed was water.. :) x
-
I don't think you should be over worried about water intake. From what I can remember the initial research and reports about this were misinterpreted. The emphasis is on total FLUID INTAKE, and not water intake. The important thing is to drink when you are thirsty and in fact too much water is as bad as too little. A good test is the colour of your wee. Orange and you are dehydrated, colourless and you are drinking too much and straw coloured is just right.
I will try and find some links later as it was sometime ago that I read about this.
Found two. https://mcgill.ca/oss/article/health-nutrition/water-myth
https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/a11669/the-water-myth/
This is one of my earlier posts, Shropshirelass, in case you missed it.
-
Thanks for the links Shadyglade. Think you're right about colour of urine being a good indicator.
I read an article that said it was best not to drink at the same time as eating as it makes digesting food more difficult. As a consequence I no longer have water at meal times. Has anyone else heard this?
Has anyone noticed they are thirsty after consuming fats? When ever I have chips for example, I seem to get thirsty!
-
That might be salt, if you have it on your chips.
-
I hardly drink any water, but drink several cups of tea a day, hope that counts. ;D
-
Sure does 👍
-
My understanding was that we should aim to keep hydrated enough not to get to the stage where we're thirsty - that thirst is a sign of dehydration rather than a healthy cue to drink. But when busy it's pretty inevitable sometimes we'll get to the thirsty stage. I agree it's not healthy to drink too much either, as electrolytes can become unbalanced & yes, drinking a lot with meals is said to dilute digestive juices, so I think advice is to take sips if we need it to get food down & drink the bulk of fluid between meals.
https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/nutritional/dehydration
-
Thanks for the links Shadyglade. Think you're right about colour of urine being a good indicator.
I read an article that said it was best not to drink at the same time as eating as it makes digesting food more difficult. As a consequence I no longer have water at meal times. Has anyone else heard this?
Has anyone noticed they are thirsty after consuming fats? When ever I have chips for example, I seem to get thirsty!
I have heard of it. I knew a guy in Germany in the 80's. He told me that, as a child, he was not allowed a drink until he had finished eating because his parents thought he wouldn't chew it properly. He had stuck with this rule as an adult.
-
Sure does 👍
Though I did once see a ridiculous claim in an article. It said that tea/coffee didn't count and that they cancelled the benefits of drinking water so we would need even more water !
-
The preeminent authority in this area is Prof. Tim Noakes who wrote the book 'Waterlogged'. Even for endurance athletes he says we should only 'drink to thirst'.
-
The preeminent authority in this area is Prof. Tim Noakes who wrote the book 'Waterlogged'. Even for endurance athletes he says we should only 'drink to thirst'.
That sounds logical to me. It would be a huge design fault otherwise.
For a lot of our history people drank 'small beer' as the water could not be trusted to be safe. Would gin do. ;D
-
The preeminent authority in this area is Prof. Tim Noakes who wrote the book 'Waterlogged'. Even for endurance athletes he says we should only 'drink to thirst'.
That sounds common sense to me. I think the article mentioned before also claimed that feeling thirsty indicated that we were already badly dehydrated
-
Hey, that’s true. Does a G&T count? lol
I think people have to use their common sense of course, you don’t want to keep drinking water all day long litres and litres and litres, if you’re not thirsty at all etc. I’ve found, for me, 2 litres works well and is enough, but I’m only doing perhaps an hour a day of sweating with exercise, others might be doing more and might need more?! I did see a report somewhere about the importance of drinking water, will try to find, but yes, not to overdo it or underdo is important. Finding a balance for oneself..
-
This one is worth a read:
https://www.livestrong.com/article/510463-how-body-mistakes-hunger-for-thirst/
-
Look at the colour of the urine passed throughout the day. Dark first thing, lighter and if too light the person is drinking too much which can be dangerous. Don't forget that we excrete through the skin too.
I don't drink gin but DH bought very potent beers from a HUGE warehouse at Setchey using the idea that in times gone by people drank ale. Started by the Monks, probably. Due to the water being foul. However, surely ale is brewed with water :-\ ::) and often, farm workers were paid in cider as well as a tot of rum on board for sailors. There might be something in this alcohol idea after all .........
-
Hi Jari and girls,
Fascinating thread, thank you for the useful links. Thirst is a wonderful mechanism and it works perfectly for most of us. I used to get thirsty as a child and drink loads of water, but somehow this has almost disappeared during my fertile days, I had nausea if I tried to drink plain water in the morning, and had to remind myself to drink it throughout the day. That has changed with menopause, now I feel not just thirsty, but my body crave for fluids. I know hormones (including oestrogen) are important factors regarding fluid retention.
BeaR.
-
I would crave fluid prior to a bleed.