How much water should we drink? 我們每天應該喝多少水？

我們都知道 “多喝水有益身體健康” 的說法。確實，水中含有人體必需的營養，水還可以幫助我們的身體排出毒素、促進消化。有些人相信 “8×8” 的 “飲水法則”，即每天分8次喝8大杯水。不過實際上，每個人每天應該喝多少水是由個體的年齡、體重和運動量等多重因素而決定的。本期 “隨身英語” 討論我們是否應該嚴格定時定量地喝水。

詞匯：water 水

In school, kids are told to drink water in class, tannoy announcers encourage us to remember our bottles on public transport, and we’re reminded by experts that water will help us have glowing skin and regulate our weight. But how much should we actually be drinking?

For many years, people have followed the unofficial advice of drinking eight glasses of water, eight times a day, known as the ‘8×8 rule’. According to Jessica Brown, writing for AYYBLOG Future, this seems to have partly come from not understanding guidance that was published almost 80 years ago. In 1945, the US Food and Nutrition Board of National Research Council advised drinking one millilitre of liquid for every recommended calorie of food. This is equivalent to around two litres of water a day, or eight glasses per person. But, Jessica says, the reality is that individuals have different needs. Weight, age and activity level all affect how much water someone should drink.

So, should we control our water intake at all? It’s not that important, according to Dr Stanley Goldfarb from the University of Pennsylvania. He told AYYBLOG podcast More or Less that our body is very good at hydration control – it tells us when we are dehydrated. First, there is ‘the thirst system, which tells us go drink because your body water content is slightly reduced. And secondly, we have the kidney system which helps to retain any water and kicks in well before we really sense any thirst’.

There are, of course, benefits to drinking water. It helps our bodies regulate temperature, flushes out toxins, aids digestion and acts as a shock absorber for our joints. It also contains essential nutrients like calcium and magnesium, which are important for bone strength.

So, next time you feel thirsty, reach for a glass of water, but otherwise, don’t worry about it! Your body knows what it’s doing.

詞匯表

bottle 水瓶
glowing 容光煥發的，水靈的
millilitre 毫升
liquid 液體
calorie （熱量單位）卡路裡
litre 升
intake 攝入量
hydration control 人體內水分控制
dehydrated 缺水的，脫水的
thirst system 口渴感知系統
body water content 人體內水分含量
kidney system 腎臟系統
retain 保持，留存
kick in 開始起作用，見效
flush out 清除，排出
toxin 毒素
digestion 消化
shock absorber 起減震緩沖功能的物體
calcium 鈣
magnesium 鎂

測驗與練習

1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。

1. What is the ‘8×8 rule’?

2. Which ‘guidance’ was misinterpreted?

3. List three things which affect how much water someone should drink.

4. Which two systems control hydration in the body?

5. How does water help our bones?

2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. Douglas has a reusable _______. It saves him buying water outside the house.

intake bottle digestion calcium

2. After her operation, she wasn’t allowed to eat. She could only have _______.

liquids calories litres magnesium

3. My favourite part of the song is when the chorus _______.

kicks in flushes out hydrates retains

4. Simon has been ill. He’s waiting for a _______ transplant.

shock absorber millilitre control kidney

5. Are you in love? Your face is _______!

glowing dehydrated thirsty hydrated

答案

1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。

1. What is the ‘8×8 rule’?

Drinking eight glasses of water, eight times a day.

2. Which ‘guidance’ was misinterpreted?

In 1945, the US Food and Nutrition Board of National Research Council advised drinking one millilitre of liquid for every recommended calorie of food.

3. List three things which affect how much water someone should drink.

Weight, age and activity level all affect how much water someone should drink.

4. Which two systems control hydration in the body?

The thirst system and the kidney system.

5. How does water help our bones?

It contains essential nutrients like calcium and magnesium, which are important for bone strength.

2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. Douglas has a reusable bottle. It saves him buying water outside the house.

2. After her operation, she wasn’t allowed to eat. She could only have liquids.

3. My favourite part of the song is when the chorus kicks in.

4. Simon has been ill. He’s waiting for a kidney transplant.

5. Are you in love? Your face is glowing!