by josie
A recent study shows that most of us are still underhydrating.
Most of us do know that the human body is 60 percent water and that it’s important to keep it that way by staying hydrated. But a new study makes it clear that most people still don’t drink enough water.
Alyson B. Goodman, M.D., and her colleagues at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at data from a survey of almost 3,400 adults to learn more about Americans’ water intake. Goodman says the results were eye-opening, pointing to some myths and misunderstandings about water. “Drinking water is vital for life,” says Goodman, an epidemiologist and pediatrician. “It’s a calorie-free option for staying hydrated.”
But, it turns out, not that many people are sold on the value of drinking water. Here are five surprising facts about the Earth’s most natural beverage.
1) Forty percent of people drink fewer than three cups of water a day. The survey also found that 7 percent of the respondents said that they drink no bottled or tap water daily. “We were surprised by that,” Goodman says.
About 35 percent of U.S. adults drink four to seven cups a day. Only 22 percent of people drink eight or more cups a day.
It’s important to get enough water to prevent dehydration. Plus, not getting enough can cause headaches, impaired cognition and urinary problems, Goodman says.
2) People who drink a lot of water have healthier lifestyles. The survey showed that people who drank more water typically ate more fruits and vegetables and exercised more. They ate less fast food, had more dinners around the dinner table with family members and shopped more at farmers markets or food cooperatives.
It’s not clear whether opting for water as a beverage supports other healthful dietary patterns or is just coincidental. But the survey results still suggest that people might find it easier to adopt other healthful behaviors if they just drank more water. In fact, skipping soda and replacing fluids with water is one of the “3 New Food Habits That Pay Off Big” featured in the latest issue of VIVmag.
Of course, not everyone has access to water, as crazy as that sounds. Public health experts today are paying much more attention to improving access to potable water at schools, parks, workplaces and public spaces to encourage water intake and discourage soda consumption, Goodman says.
“Why don’t people drink more water? When you live, work or play in an environment where there isn’t free, plain drinking water it can be really difficult,” she says. “You may make the choice to buy a soda or something less healthy in its place. We need environments that are supportive of healthy behaviors.”
3) You don’t need eight glasses a day. Having said that people don’t drink enough water that still doesn’t mean everyone needs to adhere to the standard recommendation to drink eight cups a day. It’s a myth that eight cups or glasses of water per day is essential to good health, Goodman says.
“There isn’t a blanket recommendation for how much water people should drink,” she says. “It depends on a person’s weight, height, activity level and how old you are. That’s why we can’t give a one-size-fits-all recommendation.”
The eight-glasses dictum is thought to have sprung from a misunderstanding in the 1940s. Keep in mind you can also get water from healthy foods, like fruits and vegetables.
Goodman advises people to pay attention to their bodies’ cues and “drink to thirst.” Water needs change over time, she adds. “A toddler or school-age child needs less water than an adolescent,” she says. “As we get older — middle age — your water needs go down. People over 55 don’t need as much.”
4) Tap water in the U.S. is perfectly safe. Tap water gets a bad rap, Goodman says. In fact, tap water is very safe. You don’t need to buy filtered water or bottled water — an expense that may impede adequate water intake.
“Anecdotally, I hear all the time from families that there are fears about water,” she says. “In lower-income or immigrant populations, where people have come from areas where tap water is not safe, we hear a bias against tap water. But our public health message is that tap water is very healthy and clean.”
People shouldn’t freak out if they see little particles floating around in tap water. Those minerals are harmless, she adds.
Tap water taste, however, can vary widely. Some tap water has a more chlorinated taste. Water will taste better if you drink it cold, Goodman advises.
5) Water can help your waistline. Studies show increasing your water intake before meals can help with weight loss. “That may be a helpful strategy,” Goodman says. “No one knows, however, if drinking water fills up your tummy so you eat less or if you metabolize the meal differently. We don’t know why, but several clinical trials have shown that to be true.”
But the biggest impact on weight, when it comes to water, is that drinking it typically helps wean people off other types of drinks, such as high-calorie, sugar-laden beverages, Goodman says. “What we can say for sure is that water is the healthiest beverage you can consume,” she says.
Photo credit: Gail Hadani
