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Some surprising facts from the Colonel
Bottoms Up
We all know that water is essential for life and we can only survive a few days without it. It makes up approximately two thirds of our weight and is essential for regulating our bodily processes. But, how much do you need to be healthy? A recent review published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association suggests that the average man should drink 2.9 litres of water daily and the average women should have at least 2.2 litres daily. In contrast, the British Dietetic Association's guidelines suggest the average adult should consume 2.5 litres of fluids a day, which can include squash, fruit juices, tea and coffee.
To avoid dehydration, we should aim to drink enough fluids to replace what we lose during our daily activities. We need to drink more when the weather is hot, during or after exercise, and when we drink alcohol, as it has a dehydrating effect.
You can achieve your daily intake of fluids in several ways. If you're aiming for a healthy, low-fat diet, the best choice is water. Even if you are not on a diet, it's advisable to moderate your consumption of soft drinks, coffee or tea. Of course, some of our daily fluid requirement comes from food, with fruit and vegetables providing the most. So assuming you're getting your five portions a day from this food group, you don't need to go overboard on liquids. Although water - whether bottled or tapped - is the most obvious choice (and has the bonus of zero calories and an additional dose of calcium), guzzling litres of this flavourless drink may not be everyone's cup of tea. The following list suggests other tipples that can count towards your daily goal.
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