Here's how many glasses of water you should really be drinking a day for 'peak health': Nutritionist

The reply is not what you think. You've astir apt heard the wide regularisation of 8 glasses a time for highest health.

But the National Academy of Medicine recommends an capable intake of regular fluids of astir 13 cups and 9 cups for steadfast men and women, respectively (with 1 cupful equaling 8 ounces).

However, it whitethorn alteration depending connected respective factors, specified arsenic age, enactment and lifestyle. If you workout often and unrecorded successful a blistery clime area, for example, you whitethorn request much fluid intake.

It's besides imaginable to instrumentality in too much water if you person definite wellness conditions, specified arsenic thyroid illness oregon kidney, liver oregon bosom problems, according to Dr. Howard LeWine, an internist and Chief Medical Editor astatine Harvard Health Publishing.

And definite medications, specified arsenic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and immoderate antidepressants, make you clasp water.

It's adjuvant to talk to a aesculapian nonrecreational for much circumstantial guidance.

Plain h2o isn't the lone mode to conscionable your hydration needs, particularly if you privation to power things up passim the day.

1. Low-sodium broths and soups

A small spot of sodium is okay. It tin really assistance with hydration by balancing fluids successful our cells, but excessively overmuch tin worsen your hydration status.

I emotion low-sodium vegetable, lentil and chickenhearted noodle soups. They're packed with proteins that assistance support you full, without each the dense creams you typically find successful chowders oregon bisques.

2. Water-rich fruits

Made up of nearly 92% water, watermelon is 1 of the fruits with the highest h2o content.

But determination are plentifulness of different water-rich fruits to take from, including cantaloupes, strawberries, oranges, apples, pineapples and grapes.

3. Hydrating veggies

Some vegetables incorporate 80% to 99% water, specified arsenic celery, cucumbers, cabbage, carrots and broccoli.

Swapping retired salty chips for crispy vegetables volition assistance you inactive get the crunch you crave, but with less calories and much nutrients.

4. Refreshing effect desserts

Many frozen dessert options supply hydration with less calories, similar Italian ice, sorbet, snowfall cones and crystal pops.

They tin inactive beryllium precocious successful sugar, which whitethorn really marque you consciousness much thirsty (and tin perchance increase your humor sweetener levels), truthful support your portions small.

5. Coffee oregon tea

Coffee and beverage are some made with water, but depending connected the benignant you choose, your blend whitethorn incorporate tons of caffeine, which successful ample amounts is considered a diuretic that tin origin dehydration. 

The Food and Drug Administration recommends keeping your caffeine intake nether 400 milligrams a day, oregon astir 4 to 5 cups of coffee.

Lauren Armstrong is a dietitian and nutrition coach. She was besides a nutritionist for The Women, Infant and Children (WIC) program. Lauren received her bachelor's grade successful dietetics from Western Michigan University and has written for respective publications, including Livestrong and HealthDay.

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