NEW YORK (Reuters) -- While 2 out of 3 Americans responding to a survey know they should drink eight 8 oz. servings of water daily, 1 in 2 admits not getting enough. The survey also shows people may be "drinking themselves to dehydration" by consuming too many alternative water-robbing beverages.
"The net result is that most Americans are probably only getting about a third of the valuable hydration benefits they need," said Barbara Levine in a statement issued by the Nutrition Information Center at The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. The center, along with the International Bottled Water Association, sponsored the Yankelovich Partners survey of 3,003 Americans.
Water makes up more than 70% of solid body tissue and helps regulate body temperature, carry nutrients and oxygen to cells, remove waste, cushion joints, and protect organs and tissues. Lack of adequate water intake leads to headaches, grogginess and dry, itchy skin. Severe dehydration affects blood pressure, circulation, digestion, kidney function, and nearly all body processes.
In the survey, only 21% of respondents said they drink eight or more glasses of water daily, 35% drink three or fewer servings, and 9% drink no water at all. This means the average American consumes only 4.6 servings of water daily.
The survey also showed that overall, the average American drinks nearly eight daily servings of hydrating beverages such as water, milk, juice and decaffeinated soft drinks. However, they also drink nearly five servings of caffeine- or alcohol-containing beverages that act as diuretics, causing the body to lose water through increased urination.
"The vast majority aren't drinking enough water to begin with," Levine said, "and, to make matters worse, many don't realize that beverages containing alcohol and caffeine actually rob the body of water."
Nearly one third of survey respondents did not know the body needs as much water in cold weather as it does in warm weather, and many did not know that thirst lags behind the body's need for water.
