Message whispered to me: "Yes you are missing something. In physiology there is a well known phenomenon known as water induced diuresis. Taking in more water than you really need triggers a hormonal feedback mechanism from the pituitary gland to the kidney so that you pee out more water than you ingest, and you dehydrate. It also results in the excretion of critical salts e.g. Na and K and upsets the electrolyte balance in the blood. A number of people with pathologic convictions about toxins in their bodies who consumed large amounts of water to flush them out, have actually died of dehydration. The 8 glasses of water a day widely promulgated is nonsense. Drink when you are thirsty; your body tells you when it needs more water. You ingest lots of water in food in a balanced diet.
The regulation has obviously not been well explained, it is likely geared to trying to prevent the kind of event I described." Arrrgh. Like we never heard of water poisoning. T
