Without water, your body can't survive. And that's why water, like protein and vitamins, is considered an essential nutrient. On average, water comprises about 60% of a person's body weight. It is needed to transport nutrients and oxygen to cells and waste products out of cells. It is needed to regulate body temperature and to act as a solvent for chemical reactions that occur inside your body cells. It is also part of the solutions that cushion organs, lubricate joints and moisturize skin.
Beverages are the primary source of fluid for the body, but foods also contain water. About 80% of people's total water intake comes from drinking water and beverages and the other 20% is derived from food.
Recommended Intake LevelsThe Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences (IOM) concluded in its 2004 Report on water needs that women need approximately 11.5 cups of total fluid a day from beverages and food while men need approximately 16 cups day.
Most people can meet their daily hydration needs with their normal drinking behavior. Although age, physical activity level, climate may affect hydration status. Learn more about special hydration considerations.
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin D - Benefits for Bone Health and Beyond: A Conversation with Dr. Michael Holick
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- Juice Fortification Helps Address Low Vitamin D Intakes
- Study Shows Vitamin D2 Is as Effective as Vitamin D3 in Maintaining Circulating Concentrations of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D
- Plant Sterols
- Is High Fructose Corn Syrup Safe?
- Are Soft Drinks Bad For My Teeth
- Does Drinking Soft Drinks Cause Type 2 Diabetes
- Does Sugar Make Children Hyperactive
- Facts On Caffeine And Soft Drinks
- Information Regarding Obesity And Soft Drinks
- Is Drinking Soft Drinks Bad For Your Bones
- Low-Calorie Sweetener Overview
- The Importance Of Physical Activity In Maintaining A Healthy Lifestyle
- Hydration
- Can caffeinated beverages help keep me hydrated?
- How much water do I need to drink each day?
- Why are fluids so important to overall health?
- Do I need a sports beverage when I exercise?
- Can I get dehydrated when it is cold outside?
- What are electrolytes and what do they do for me?
- Nutrition
- Are concentrated and not-from-concentrate juices as nutritious as fresh squeezed juice?
- How much caffeine is in energy drinks and how does this compare to other caffeinated beverages?
- What's the difference between a juice drink, a juice cocktail and a juice beverage?
- How much milk should I drink a day?
- Are soft drinks high in phosphorus?
- I am on a low-sodium diet. Should I be concerned about the sodium level in soft drinks?
- Can I drink soy beverages if I am lactose intolerant?
- Why do sports drinks contain sodium?
- How can I make sure I am getting enough calcium?
- Is high-fructose corn syrup considered a carbohydrate?
- Is cutting fat completely out of my diet healthy?
- Why is fiber so good for your health?
- What's the difference between folate and folic acid?
- What's the difference between macronutrients and micronutrients?
- Should I be concerned with getting too much magnesium?
- Why is potassium important?
- What happens if I do not have enough sodium in my diet?
- How does the %DV for vitamin C on food labels compare to my child's needs?
- Is vitamin A considered an antioxidant?
- Does water contain nutrients such as vitamins and minerals?
- What are antioxidants?
- What are functional ingredients?
- How are functional foods regulated?
- Ingredients
- Why do certain beverages use a combination of sweeteners?
- What are non-nutritive sweeteners?
- What is stevia?
- Is there a limit to the amount of non-nutritive (low-calorie) sweeteners one should consume?
- Why was cyclamate once banned from use?
- Do caffeinated beverages make me dehydrated?
- Will drinking caffeinated beverages daily cause health problems?
- Why is caffeine added to soft drinks?
- Is caffeine addictive?
- Is carbonation in a beverage safe?
- Beverages and Health
- How do beverages fit into an overall healthy lifestyle?
- Do soft drinks affect bone health?
- Between working full-time and raising a family, I don't have time to join a gym. How else can I get exercise?
- Can all beverages be part of a weight maintenance diet?
- Beverages and Children
- How can I get my child to drink more fluids?
- How much fluid does my child need a day?
- My child is allergic to milk. How can I be sure he gets enough calcium?
- How much juice should my child drink?
- Are diet sodas and products with low-calorie sweeteners OK for my child?
- Do soft drinks or other sweetened drinks contribute to the childhood obesity problem?
- Tools for Healthy Living
- Hydration Calculator
- Hydration & You
- BMI Tool
- Calories Burned Calculator
- Calorie Needs Calculator
- Beverage Calorie Comparison
- Beverage Ingredient Glossary
- Beverage Calorie Consumption
- Product Nutrition Information
- Hydration & You
- Lowdown on Low-calorie Sweeteners (PDF)
- Hydration Matters
- Hydration Tips from
The Coca-Cola Company
