Are You Getting Enough Water?

Water is abundant in food and all types of beverages, but water intake requirements have been hotly debated recently. How many of us make a desperate attempt to drink eight, eight-ounce glasses of water per day?

The good news: according to the Institute Of Medicine And The National Academies Of Science, the vast majority of healthy people adequately meet their daily hydration needs by letting thirst be their guide. The report set general recommendations for water intake based on detailed national data, which showed that women who appear to be adequately hydrated consume an average of approximately 2.7 liters (91 ounces) of total water—from all beverages and foods—each day, and men average approximately 3.7 liters (125 ounces) daily. About 80 percent of people's total water comes from drinking water and beverages—including caffeinated beverages—and the other 20 percent is derived from food.

Lawrence Appel, chair of the panel that wrote the report and professor of medicine, epidemiology, and international health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore says, "While drinking water is a frequent choice for hydration, people also get water from juice, milk, coffee, tea, soda, fruits, vegetables, and other foods and beverages as well. Moreover, we concluded that on a daily basis, people get adequate amounts of water from normal drinking behavior—consumption of beverages at meals and in other social situations—and by letting their thirst guide them."

Concerns have been raised that caffeine has a diuretic effect. Available evidence from the study indicates that this effect may be transient, and there is no convincing evidence that caffeine leads to cumulative total body water deficits. Therefore, the panel concluded that when it comes to meeting daily hydration needs, caffeinated beverages in moderation can contribute to overall water requirements.

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