Is water the best for hydration?
Who hasn’t heard the recommendation that we all should drink 8 glasses of water a day? Yes, drinking water is good for our health. Water is actually a nutrient we need every day. How much water? The Institute of Medicine recommends women consume about 91 ounces of water a day (about 11.3 cups) from food and beverages and men consume 125 ounces a day (about 15.6 cups) from food and beverages. Thus, not just water counts but all liquids like coffee, milk, tea, juice and the many foods that contribute water. Many people don’t think of foods as hydrating, but foods like watermelon are up to 90% water so do contribute water to our daily needs. In fact, the Institute of Medicine notes , “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.” Thus, the Institute doesn’t recommend hydration in terms of the number of glasses ...