While some agree with this advice, others feel that it is excessive, and that fluids other than water are just as effective. When in doubt, professionals turn to current research for the best answer. A recent ten year study by the Harvard School of Public Health concerned fluid intake and the risk of bladder cancer in men. The study hypothesized that increased fluid intake may reduce the exposure to carcinogens by diluting the urine and by increasing the frequency of urination.
Bladder cancer is the fourth leading type of cancer among men in the United States.
Women, on the other hand, have only about one-fourth the incidence of this type of cancer as compared to men. In 1996, nearly 310,000 cases were diagnosed worldwide. American men, consequently, want to know what they can do to decrease their risk. Studies that have looked at the influence of different types of fluids like alcohol, coffee, and chlorinated water on bladder cancer risk have produced inconsistent results. The Harvard study attempts to clarify some of these results.