One of the most common questions that health personnel get is “How many cups of water should I be drinking a day?” This question is not as simple as sounds since water consumption is dependent upon gender, age, and amount of physical activity. Also, there are questions pertaining to what constitutes as water. Because of these questions, we’d like to take time to clear up some common misconceptions about hydration. Urgent Care Los Angeles

How Much Water Should You Be Drinking

Adults, on average, should be getting aboutUrgent Care Los Angeles 11 to 15 cups of water a day. A study done by the National Academy of Sciences stated that adult women need approximately 11 cups of water per day. Men, on the other hand, should be averaging 15 cups per day. Children need less water; as such they should be getting between 5 to 7 cups per day. Urgent Care Los Angeles

Do Foods Containing Water Count

Foods that contain water, as well as, all beverages count towards your daily water intake. (For example, a cup of oatmeal  made with about 200mL of water, counts as 3/4 cups of water). Additionally, beverages such as coffee, tea, juice, and soda are water based and also count. When you are trying to figure out how much water you’ve consumed throughout the day you can add about 3-5 cups to account for foods and beverages that contain water. Urgent Care Los Angeles

Tea, Coffee, And Alcohol Are HydratingUrgent Care Los Angeles

Although tea, coffee, and alcohol are diuretics but the effect is not enough to negate the amount of water they provide your body. Recent research found that caffeinated beverages and alcohol maintained an equal amount of fluid balance as pure water. These beverages will not subtract from your daily water intake as long as they are consumed in moderation.

Milk Is More Effective Than Water

Due to the electrolyte content in milk, whether it is full fat or skim milk, it will actually hydrate you better than water. The nutrients in milk slow digestion resulting in a slower rate of absorption, which leads to a slower release from the kidneys.

The same idea translates to the needs for replacingUrgent Care Los Angeles electrolytes after strenuous exercise. Pure water alone will not replace those lost electrolytes. The basic rule of thumb for hydrating after working out is to aim to drink 6-12oz of fluid per 15-20 minutes of exercise. If drinking milk post workout sounds unappealing, sports drinks with electrolytes will suffice. Urgent Care Los Angeles