Fact Check: Viral post falsely claims drinking water while standing weakens bones

Hyderabad: A Facebook reel claims that drinking water while standing weakens bones. The viral post advises people to always drink water while sitting or else no doctor could save them from knee joint issues.

Is this legit? Let’s ask experts.

Fact Check

NewsMeter found the claim to be false.

We contacted Dr Anurag Sharma, Consultant Orthopaedics surgeon, MS Orthopaedics, for his opinion on the same. He said, “There is no medical evidence to support such a theory, as per the research conducted so far.”

Water is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula H₂O. It is transparent, tasteless, odorless and nearly colorless, and it is the main constituent of Earth’s hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms, in which it acts as a solvent. It is vital for all known forms of life, despite not providing energy or organic micronutrients. As per its chemical formula, each water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms, connected by covalent bonds.

Up to 60% of a human adult body is water. According to Mitchell and others (1945), the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79%, and even the bones contain 31% of water.

In normal/healthy joint, the synovial fluid (SF), which consists of an ultrafiltrate of blood plasma and glycoproteins contain HA macromolecules of molar mass ranging between 6–10 mega Daltons (Praest et al., 1997). SF serves as a lubricating and shock-absorbing boundary layer between moving parts of synovial joints.

Normal fluid is clear and pale yellow; SF is a combination of a filtrate of plasma, which enters the joint space from the sub-synovial capillaries, and hyaluronic acid, secreted by the synoviocytes. Hyaluronic acid provides the high viscosity of normal SF and, with water, its lubricating properties.

Though water is a main constituent of synovial fluids, cartilage and other structures of the body, allopathic medical science has never found that drinking water in a standing position is harmful.

Hence the claim about the importance of drinking water in a standing position is false.

Food for Thought

Here are some of the food items that are good for joints:

- Seeds and Nuts. Seeds and nuts are packed with healthy Omega-3 fatty acids known to fight inflammation in connective tissue and joints.

- Coldwater Fish.

- Fruit

- Cruciferous Veggies

- Beans and Lentils

- Olive Oil

- Whole Grains

- Root Veggies and Garlic

- Other fruits, like pineapple and papaya, taste great and contain bromelain, a group of enzymes that reduce pain and swelling in joints. Dried dates, plums, and figs are also great foods to relieve joint pain.

Inflammation and pain management through a well-balanced diet is an important step for your overall health – and that includes your muscles and joints. Consuming an array of nutrient-dense foods while avoiding or minimizing sugar, certain fats, gluten and alcohol may help to reduce joint pain.