Quote:
Originally posted by Tim C
Honest question here:
WHY, 20 years ago this was not an issue and now it is?
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Honest Answer:
20 years ago three things were different. First, the average American adult weighed 10-20 lbs less than today. That may not sound like a lot of weight, but it's a huge amount when one considers the cooling capacity of the body. 10% more body weight requires about 20% more cooling effort. Sweating is the way that the body cools itself and water and salt are the components of sweat.
Second, there was a medical train of thought that went back decades that the body could adjust to less water. This was a half truth at best. The body adjusts to too little water by raising its operating temperature which leads to third item.
Higher body temperatures lead to a supressed immune system which leads to more disease. Diseases like those described in this thread are the result of an elevated temperature. By the end of the Vietnam war, it was further recognized that proper hydration was necessary to prevent kidney stones. Kidney stones are one the most painful conditions known to man and often difficult to treat. Doctors figured out that by doubling the recommended daily intake of water, the average person could dramatically reduce the occurance of kidney stones. That's one of the primary reasons that we have seen such a dramatic emphasis on drinking lots of water. Excessive water drinking causes the kidneys to work overtime and produce clear urine. The calcium deposits present in rich yellow urine that form into kidney stones are unable to form in almost clear urine.