Some time ago we discussed the scientific basis (or lack of) for the
claim that we should drink 8 (or thereabouts) glasses of water a day.
The relevance to this to teaching psychology isn't great, of course,
but it relates to our concern (mine anyway) of myth-busting in
general.
I recall that someone recently pointed to a new study showing that
drinking water is associated with a decrease in bladder cancer (New
Engl J. Med, May 6, 1999, p. 1390). Good point, even if correlational,
because there exists a good rationale for the finding if causal.
On the other hand, while scanning _The Lancet_, I just came across a
study (vol.l 353, February 27/99, p. 723) which finds that drinking
water (one dose of 480 mL--is that a large glassful?) increases
systolic blood pressure on average by 11 mg, occasionally by more than
100 mm, which they termed "dangerously high..in the supine position".
So, we seem to have a choice. Drink water and reduce your chances of
bladder cancer; and drink water and increase your chances of a
cardiovascular accident. Some choice.
-Stephen
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Stephen Black, Ph.D. tel: (819) 822-9600 ext 2470
Department of Psychology fax: (819) 822-9661
Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Lennoxville, QC
J1M 1Z7
Canada Department web page at http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy
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