Scientists use pH to describe how acidic or basic a substance is, with a range from 0 to Fluids with a pH under 7, such as coffee and soda, are acidic.

Substances with a pH over 7, such as baking soda, are basic, or alkaline. Alkaline waters have a pH around 8 or 9. Some vendors use water that has a naturally higher pH, while others say that they create alkaline water through an ionization process.

Regardless of what you eat or drink, your body is good at regulating your blood pH through organs such as your lungs and kidneys. Some studies also suggest that alkaline water might help slow bone loss, but further investigation is needed to determine if this influences overall bone mineral density and if the benefit is maintained over the long term.

The best rule of thumb is when you exercise, drink to thirst and hydrate your body with plain water and, as needed, a sports beverage. February is American Heart Month. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U. African Americans are significantly affected by heart disease, resultingRead more.

Some areas of the U. Whooping cough is anRead more. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U. Heart disease refers to a rangeRead more. By Cynthia Weiss. Share this:. Mayo Clinic Minute: Hypertension and cardiovascular disease in the Black community.

They also may contain high levels of sodium salt. Check the serving size on the label. One bottle usually contains more than one serving. Some sports drinks contain caffeine, too. Remember that a safe amount of caffeine to consume each day is no more than milligrams.

Energy drinks are not the same as sports drinks. Energy drinks usually contain large amounts of caffeine. Also, they contain ingredients that overstimulate you guarana, ginseng, or taurine. Most of these drinks are also high in added sugar.

According to doctors, children and teens should not have energy drinks. Because these drinks have high amounts of caffeine, they do not offer good hydration. If your urine is a dark yellow or amber color, you may be dehydrated. Have certain medical conditions kidney stones , bladder infection.

Older adults are also at higher risk. As you get older, your brain may not be able to sense dehydration. Note that water makes up more than half of your body weight. You lose water each day when you go to the bathroom, sweat, and even when you breathe.

Vomiting and diarrhea can also lead to rapid water loss. Be sure to actively drink plenty of water to avoid becoming dehydrated.

National Institutes of Health, MedlinePlus: Dehydration. Last Updated: May 3, This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.

Getting the right amount of water before, during, and after exercise helps your body to function properly. A lack….

There are several different types of headaches. Migraines and tension headaches are the most common. Fainting happens when your brain does not get enough oxygen. Visit The Symptom Checker. Read More. Vitamins and Minerals: How to Get What You Need. How to Get More Fiber in Your Diet. Diabetes and Nutrition.

Antioxidants: What You Need to Know. Nutrition Tips for Kids. Preventing Malnutrition in Older Adults. Nutrition: How to Read a Nutrition Facts Label. Chronic Kidney Disease CKD Chronic Kidney Disease and Nutrition.

Making sure you get enough water every day is an important step in maintaining your health. Path to improved health Most people have been told they should drink 6 to 8, 8-ounce glasses of water each day. Hydration and caffeine Even some caffeinated drinks for example, coffee, tea, and soda can contribute a little to your daily water intake.

If staying hydrated is difficult for you, here are some tips that can help: Keep a bottle of water with you during the day. To reduce your costs, carry a reusable water bottle and fill it with tap water. Drink water before, during, and after a workout. Thirst is often confused with hunger.

True hunger will not be satisfied by drinking water.

Water makes up over half our bodyweight and fluids are essential for good health. If we are dehydrated this can make us feel tired, cause headaches and make it difficult to concentrate. The body loses water throughout the day, through our skin, when we breathe and when we go to the toilet and so it is important to drink regularly.

We need about cups or glasses of fluid a day — more if it is hot or if we are physically active. All non-alcoholic drinks, including tea and coffee, can hydrate us.

Plain water is a good choice as it provides us with fluid without any sugar or acids that can harm teeth. Drinks like milk, fruit or vegetable juices and smoothies also provide some vitamins and minerals. It is recommended that we keep juices or smoothies to one small glass ml a day.

It is best to limit sugary drinks like sugary fizzy drinks and swap these for water or sugar-free versions. Younger children need plenty of fluid and may not be able to or remember to ask for drinks and it is good to encourage them to drink regularly. Older adults who are not in good health or have mobility issues, as well as other vulnerable adults, may be more at risk of dehydration and so need to be supported to drink regularly.

These resources provide key information about healthy hydration at different life stages. A resource showing healthy hydration options for children aged years.

A resource showing healthy hydration options for teenagers and adults. A resource showing healthy hydration options for older adults with poor appetites. Help us improve We'd love to hear your thoughts about this page below. Why did you visit the page? Would you like to add any comments?

What is the issue? Would you like to be contacted about your feedback? Email Address: Required for your account area. Password: Required for your account area. Similarly, the environment you are in plays an important part in your hydration needs.

Hot or humid weather can make you sweat more than usual, and requires additional hydration to make up for lost fluids. Heading to the mountains? Two things happen at high altitudes: lower humidity and lower oxygen levels.

At higher altitudes, humidity is lower than at sea level, causing sweat to evaporate quicker and your body to work harder to breathe because of the lower oxygen levels. When oxygen levels are lower, your body reacts by breathing in and out faster and more deeply, causing you to lose water through respiration.

Your overall health plays a role, as well. Same goes if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. All other factors aside, men should aim for about ounces of fluid per day and women should shoot for about 90 ounces.

That sounds like a lot, right? Pause the panic. According to The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, roughly 80 percent of our water intake comes from fluids, while the other 20 percent comes from the foods we eat.

Start your day with oatmeal. This one is a classic. Not only is it hearty and filling, oatmeal is also very hydrating. Try overnight oats. Served cold, overnight oats pack all the benefits of hot oatmeal with no heat. As an added boost, sprinkle chia seeds in your overnight oats when preparing, which soak up 10 times their weight in extra liquid and keep you full all morning.

Include more moo. According to a study by McMaster University, milk can be an effective post-exercise rehydration drink due to its source of protein, carbohydrates, calcium, and electrolytes. Try carb alternatives. When it comes to meal planning, ditch dry, carb-heavy staples like pasta.

Opt for zucchini noodles, or zoodles for short, which can contain about 95 percent water. When paired with a tomato sauce, which usually has about 90 percent water, this meal can pack a hydrating and healthy punch. Sip smoothies. Between the yogurt and all the fresh fruit, smoothies are a great, and tasty, way to stay hydrated.

Not sure what fruits and vegetables to pick? Strawberries, peaches, cucumbers, spinach, and blueberries are all excellent options. Pack your plate with vegetables. Much like smoothies, salads are a great way to give you a hydrating boost.

Next time you whip up a salad, include celery, tomatoes, bell peppers, and carrots. Slurp soup. When the craving strikes for a filling and hydrating meal, look no further than broth-based soups or gazpacho. Blend cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, and garlic cloves for this satisfying soup.

Freeze your fruit. Feeling nostalgic about the popsicles you used to enjoy as a child? Bring back this classic treat as a delicious way to rehydrate. Blend a hydrating ingredient like watermelon and fill Popsicle molds and freeze for 1 hour. To hydrate quickly, it's important to drink fluids that contain electrolytes, which are essential minerals such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium.

Electrolytes are required for various bodily processes, including proper nerve and muscle function, maintaining acid-base balance and keeping you hydrated. One way to quickly replenish electrolytes is to use electrolyte powders, which can be easily mixed with water to create a hydrating drink.

These powders often contain a blend of electrolytes, as well as other nutrients like vitamins and minerals, to help promote optimal hydration and recovery.

These drinks contain electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and calcium, as well as simple sugars some may be sugar-free. However, these nutrients are generally only lost in large amounts during high-intensity exercise for one hour or more.

But for non-athletes, sports drinks are simply another sugary beverage. Caffeine is found in drinks like coffee, some teas, energy drinks, and sodas. While you may urinate more after drinking a caffeinated drink, drinking these beverages does not cause you to lose more fluid than you consumed.

However, caffeine can lead to headaches and trouble sleeping in some people. Overall, water is your best bet to stay hydrated. When kept at high temperatures, the chemical bonds in plastic water bottles break down. This can increase the chance that chemicals get in the water. According to the U.

Food and Drug Administration FDA , this amount of chemicals is too small to cause health problems, but it can add up. Keep bottled water at the same temperature as other groceries. Avoid leaving plastic bottles in a hot car during summer heat.

Instead, put a water bottle in your bag or by the door, so you can remember to grab it on your way out. Most people are familiar with what dehydration is and how it happens. But is overhydration possible? Overhydrating happens when someone drinks large amounts of water , which can alter the levels of electrolytes in the body like chloride, sodium, and potassium.

Not drinking enough fluid dehydration can lead to symptoms like thirst, flushing, fatigue, and fast breathing.

In contrast, drinking too much fluid overhydration can cause nausea, headaches, cramps, weakness, and confusion. For most people, dehydration is a greater risk. But if you are concerned about or having symptoms of overhydration, talk to your doctor.

Ask your healthcare team about how much water you should drink each day. You have many drink choices out there. At the end of the day, water is the first-choice beverage for best hydration. Drinking the right amount of water for your personal health and activity level is important.

Try healthy add-ins like fresh mint, sliced cucumber, or lemon wedges to add flavor and variety to your water. This blog was written by UC Davis Health dietetic intern Alicia Marzolf and reviewed by our registered dietitians. Subscribe to our blog and receive notifications of new stories by email.

menu icon Menu. As you get older, your brain may not be able to sense dehydration. Note that water makes up more than half of your body weight. You lose water each day when you go to the bathroom, sweat, and even when you breathe.

Vomiting and diarrhea can also lead to rapid water loss. Be sure to actively drink plenty of water to avoid becoming dehydrated.

National Institutes of Health, MedlinePlus: Dehydration. Last Updated: May 3, This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.

Getting the right amount of water before, during, and after exercise helps your body to function properly. A lack…. There are several different types of headaches. Migraines and tension headaches are the most common. Fainting happens when your brain does not get enough oxygen. Visit The Symptom Checker.

Read More. Vitamins and Minerals: How to Get What You Need. How to Get More Fiber in Your Diet. Diabetes and Nutrition. Antioxidants: What You Need to Know. Nutrition Tips for Kids. Preventing Malnutrition in Older Adults. Nutrition: How to Read a Nutrition Facts Label. Chronic Kidney Disease CKD Chronic Kidney Disease and Nutrition.

Making sure you get enough water every day is an important step in maintaining your health. Path to improved health Most people have been told they should drink 6 to 8, 8-ounce glasses of water each day.

Hydration and caffeine Even some caffeinated drinks for example, coffee, tea, and soda can contribute a little to your daily water intake. If staying hydrated is difficult for you, here are some tips that can help: Keep a bottle of water with you during the day.

To reduce your costs, carry a reusable water bottle and fill it with tap water. Drink water before, during, and after a workout. Thirst is often confused with hunger. True hunger will not be satisfied by drinking water. Drinking water may also contribute to a healthy weight-loss plan.

Some research suggests that drinking water can help you feel full. If you have trouble remembering to drink water, drink on a schedule. For example, drink water when you wake up, at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and when you go to bed. Or drink a small glass of water at the beginning of each hour.

Drink water when you go to a restaurant. There are other signs that can signal you may be dehydrated. They include: Little or no urine Urine that is darker than usual Dry mouth Sleepiness or fatigue Extreme thirst Headache Confusion Dizziness or lightheadedness No tears when crying Some people are at higher risk of dehydration.

What can I add to water to make it taste better? How does drinking alcohol affect hydration? Am I on any medications that contribute to dehydration?

Last Updated: May 3, This article was contributed by familydoctor. org editorial staff. Categories: Food and Nutrition , Nutrients and Nutritional Info , Prevention and Wellness.

To be safe, if your child's symptoms are concerning or last more than an hour, talk with your pediatrician.

Heat stroke. Sometimes called sun stroke, heat stroke is the most serious. It is when the body overheats to a point where it begins to shut down. If your child is confused or unresponsive, has a rapid pulse , or a temperature over degrees, immediate medical treatment is needed.

While these cases are less common, getting help quickly can make all the difference. Staying properly hydrated keeps the body and mind running efficiently and feeling strong. Helping your children choose water first, and modeling this choice yourself, builds healthy habits that will pay dividends for a lifetime!

Janine Rethy, MD, MPH, FAAP, is Division Chief of Community Pediatrics at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Georgetown University School of Medicine. She serves as Medical Director for the Kids Mobile Medical Clinic and FITNESS programs providing integrated, place-based primary care and wrap-around services through a health equity lens.

Rethy is a member of the AAP's Council on Community Pediatrics and Sections on Obesity and Breastfeeding. She serves as an AAP COACH Childhood Obesity Advisor for Continuing Health.

For the AAP DC Chapter she serves as a CATCH co-facilitator and was recently elected as an at-large Board Member. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server.

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Choose Water for Healthy Hydration. Page Content. Here are some tips on how to help your family choose water. How much water do children need? How to help your family choose water Water doesn't have to be boring!

Here are a few twists to add some fun: Infuse water with lemons, berries, cucumber or mint for some added flavor. Drinks to limit Water and milk are all the drinks kids need.

Energy drinks are not the same as sports drinks. Energy drinks usually contain large amounts of caffeine. Also, they contain ingredients that overstimulate you guarana, ginseng, or taurine.

Most of these drinks are also high in added sugar. According to doctors, children and teens should not have energy drinks.

Because these drinks have high amounts of caffeine, they do not offer good hydration. If your urine is a dark yellow or amber color, you may be dehydrated. Have certain medical conditions kidney stones , bladder infection.

Older adults are also at higher risk. As you get older, your brain may not be able to sense dehydration. Note that water makes up more than half of your body weight.

You lose water each day when you go to the bathroom, sweat, and even when you breathe. Vomiting and diarrhea can also lead to rapid water loss. Be sure to actively drink plenty of water to avoid becoming dehydrated.

National Institutes of Health, MedlinePlus: Dehydration. Last Updated: May 3, This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. Getting the right amount of water before, during, and after exercise helps your body to function properly.

A lack…. There are several different types of headaches. Migraines and tension headaches are the most common. Fainting happens when your brain does not get enough oxygen. Visit The Symptom Checker.

Read More. Vitamins and Minerals: How to Get What You Need. How to Get More Fiber in Your Diet. Diabetes and Nutrition. Antioxidants: What You Need to Know. Nutrition Tips for Kids. Connect with Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. Page last reviewed: June 6, Content source: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

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