Guest guest Posted February 17, 2004 Report Share Posted February 17, 2004 In a message dated 2/17/04 5:57:21 AM Pacific Standard Time, Pagequeen1@... writes: << http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/17/health/nutrition/17BROD.htm >> Debbi ... Could you please post the text to this article (privately to me if you like)? That's the NY Times site and I don't want to register just to read an article once. Thanks. Toni CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2004 Report Share Posted February 17, 2004 Thanks, Debbi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2004 Report Share Posted February 17, 2004 Toni Zules ARTICLE TOOLS E-Mail This Article Printer-Friendly Format Most E-Mailed Articles Reprints & Permissions Single-Page Format RELATED More Personal Health Columns TIMES NEWS TRACKER Topics Alerts Water Weight Medicine and Health PERSONAL HEALTH Must I Have Another Glass of Water? Maybe Not, a New Report Says By JANE E. BRODY Published: February 17, 2004 o, I was wrong. You may not have to drink eight glasses of water a day to be well hydrated, and you can count caffeinated beverages in your total water intake, according to a new report from the Institute of Medicine, the group that sets desirable levels of nutrient intake for Americans of all ages. The report, issued last week, reviewed the status of water, salt and potassium consumption by Americans and Canadians and set desirable intake levels for these nutrients. Healthful Drinking The expert panel that prepared the report found that women who appeared to be adequately hydrated consumed the equivalent of about 91 ounces of fluids each day, and men about 125 ounces. That is actually more than eight glasses (64 ounces). But only 80 percent of it came from drinking water; the rest came from other beverages, and from foods. Dr. Lawrence Appel of the s Hopkins University, who headed the panel, explained, " While drinking water is a frequent choice for hydration, people also get water from juice, milk, coffee, tea, soda, fruits, vegetables and other foods and beverages, as well. " No mention was made of alcohol, however, which increases the body's water needs. Although caffeine, as a diuretic, increases the excretion of urine, it does not lead to a deficiency of body water, the panel concluded, suggesting that the effect is fleeting. Furthermore, Dr. Appel said, " People get adequate amounts of water from normal drinking behavior — consumption of beverages at meals and in other social situations — and by letting their thirst guide them. " Will this curb the explosive growth of specialty waters? Probably not. But it should be reassuring news for millions of people who worry that they do not drink enough. While the institute used the recommended levels of 91 ounces for women and 125 for men, if they are healthy, it noted that the need for water increased significantly with strenuous or prolonged physical activity and for those who live in hot climates. Some may require twice the amount of water adequate for a sedentary person at moderate temperatures or even more. How can you tell if you are getting enough water? Clearly, if you are thirsty, you need to drink more. Likewise, if your skin is shriveled, if you are prone to muscle cramps or if you are chronically constipated, chances are you are not drinking enough. There is no harm in drinking more water than recommended, as long as you do not go overboard on it. Athletes who drink too much water without also replacing the salts lost in sweat, for example, can have health problems like abnormal heart rhythms. On the other hand, drinking more water may help curb runaway obesity. Every good weight-loss program recommends drinking a glass of water (or an equivalent beverage) before and with every meal, since it both fills you up and improves digestion. Too Much Salt The panel, formed under an arm of the National Academy of Sciences, found that Americans typically consume far too much sodium chloride, or salt. In some cases, the consumption runs as high as three times the amount needed for good health, or even higher. The average man takes in 7.8 grams to 11.8 grams of salt each day, and the average woman consumes 5.8 to 7.8 grams, figures that the panel regards as underestimates because they do not include salt added at the table. How much salt should people eat? For healthy adults 19 to 50, the desirable level is 3.8 grams of salt (about two-thirds of a teaspoon, or 1,500 milligrams of sodium) daily, the amount needed to replace what is lost in sweat. For an upper limit, the panel set 5.8 grams of salt a day (a little more than one teaspoon), but noted that this was not a desirable amount. The panel said that more than 95 percent of American men and 75 percent of American women ages 31 to 50 regularly consumed salt in excess of the upper limit established by the group. Consuming too much salt, which means too much sodium, increases the risk of developing high blood pressure, which can in turn lead to strokes, heart attacks and kidney disease. Blood pressure tends to rise in direct relationship to the amount of sodium a person consumes. Get home delivery of The Times from $2.90/week Continued 1 | 2 | Next>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2004 Report Share Posted February 17, 2004 You are very welcome. > Thanks, Debbi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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