Q
Do we really need to drink 8 glasses of water a day?
A
The body is made of 60% water, and maintaining that percentage keeps the body working at its best. Adequate fluid intake for healthy men is estimated to be 15.5 cups a day; for healthy women, it’s 11.5 cups. Typically, food comprises 20% of our fluid intake, and beverages comprise 80%. Therefore, beverage intake for men should be about 13 cups a day and for women, about 9 cups. Ideally, the majority of it should be plain water. If that sounds like a lot of water, know that nutrient-dense beverages such as herbal teas, protein shakes, milk and milk alternatives, fruit and vegetable smoothies and 100% juices are included.
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