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I'm confused by what health authorities say when they recommend drinking eight glasses of water a day. How big is a glass?

They are usually talking about six to eight glasses of eight ounces each, for a total of 64 ounces a day.

It does not hurt to drink more, especially if you are exerting yourself. You might weigh yourself before and after a workout and drink 16 ounces of water for every pound you lose.

With a loss of just about two and a half quarts, you start to have serious problems, like skin shrinkage, muscle weakness and fatigue, irritability, dizziness and headaches.

Another time to drink extra water is when you are on a diet to lose weight, to help the kidneys flush out the waste products from the extra flesh you burn, and to prevent constipation. What nutritional authorities are talking about is not coffee, soda or beer, but hydrating liquids, preferably plain water. Other beverages may contain diuretics (especially alcohol and caffeine) that make you lose water, on balance. And do not count on your thirst to remind you when it is time to drink.

The body can easily lose a quart or more of water before your thirst may signal you, and when you do take a drink, the feeling of thirst goes away long before you have actually replenished your water supply.

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