don's report archive

by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

Urban legends are an entertaining part of my day. Rare is the 24-hour period when I do NOT get e-mails from friends or friends of friends warning of doom or disaster in one form or another, almost all of which (happily) turn out to be urban legends. No wonder many people grow tired of being vigilant all the time. After all, how many e-mail warnings turn out not to be urban legends?

How can you spot an urban legend, besides the fact that they probably sound implausible, or supporting evidence is lacking or the rumors are just plain silly? Here are a few tips. (Source: "Urban Legends and Folklore"):

1. Consider the form of the information passed along to you. Is it a story with a beginning, middle and end? Does it have a 'punch line' similar to a joke? If so, it may be an urban legend.
2. Note whether the story was told AS IF true. Often the teller of an urban legend will even begin with the statement, "This is a true story..."
3. Look for statements like 'This really happened to a friend of a friend' (or 'the wife of a co-worker,' or 'my brother's housekeeper's son,' etc.)
4. Have you heard the same story more than once from different sources, with different characters and details? It's probably an urban legend.
5. Consider whether there's evidence to indicate the story you've heard is false and/or there are commonsense reasons to disbelieve it.
6. Does the story seem too good to be true, too horrible, or too funny to be true? If so, it's likely an urban legend and probably NOT true.
7. Check books and Websites about urban legends to see if the story is listed there (see resources below.)

Sometimes, what seems like an urban legend turns out to be true, or at least to contain some elements of reality. However, on other occasions, something you long assumed was true, in part because everyone seemed to have accepted it, is an urban legend. So, it seems, is the case with the notion that we all need to drink voluminous quantities of water daily, or at least a minimum of eight glasses daily. A new study suggests this might not be the case, that the "drink eight glasses" theory may not hold water.

The problem with the eight glasses theory is nobody can find evidence to support it. It is an idea heavily promoted by the bottled water industry, which is a bit suspect in the objectivity department. One of the more reputable promoters of "eight glasses" is The National Academy of Sciences (NAS.) Pressured to show evidence for this alleged wisdom, they concede there is none. However, they plan to issue a report next year based on the research of an expert panel currently working for NAS on the matter. The original eight glasses notion apparently came from "work done with soldiers under conditions of high altitude, hospitalized patients and others in unusual environments," according to a consultant to the U.S. Olympic Committee. For the average American adult who rarely breaks a sweat and works in a climate-controlled office, eight glasses is probably more than enough.

While we all need to stay hydrated, there is no set level. The minimal level is going to be in relation to a variety of obvious factors that affect water loss, such as temperature, exercise and the like.

Fortunately, little harm comes from drinking too much, provided you do not have special needs due to certain diseases. In some cases, diabetics who takes hormones to prevent the body from losing water can suffer from "water intoxication" if they consume so much water that blood sodium is diluted. This could cause the swelling of cells, which, in turn, could lead to seizures or death.

While drinking water is a good idea, be skeptical about bottled water company claims. The bottled-water industry makes $6.4 billion in the U.S., according to the International Bottled Water Association. When Coca-Cola Company, Zephyrhills, Nestle SA and other merchants urge athletes to "consume at least 16 ounces of fluid [two glasses] before you start your activity and then five to eight ounces every 15 minutes while you're working out," consider this advertising hype, not reliable public health advice from a legitimate source.

According to a story in the Wall Street Journal on May 23, "the average adult loses about two liters of fluid a day but about half of that amount can by replaced through a healthy diet and the body's own metabolism." Many nutritionists have a simple guideline that seems more reliable than eight glasses daily for determining hydration needs: Drink enough so you don't get thirsty.

Bottom line? Be alert enough to the urban legend phenomenon in order that you don't fall for any of them. Other than that, the best thing is to always look on the bright side of life. Cheers.

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the PHYSICAL DOMAIN under the skill area of nutrition. Additional articles related to this theme may be found there.)

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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