The bottom line. Note that water hjdrated up Stay hydrated than half of your body weight. This site uses cookies.

Stay hydrated, stay healthy -

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. Good Food Is Good Medicine. Enter search words search icon Search × Enter search words Subscribe to Good Food Is Good Medicine Subscribe to our blog and receive notifications of new stories by email.

Please retry. Why should I drink water? How much water should I drink? Women are recommended to drink 9 cups just over 2 liters of water each day.

Pregnant women should drink 10 cups of water daily, and breastfeeding women should drink 12 cups. Kids and teens should drink 6 to 8 cups of water a day. Again, this all depends on activity level, age, weight, etc. Most people should drink water, not sports drinks, during their workouts.

Do caffeine drinks provide hydration? Is it ok to keep water in the car? Sugary drinks: Regular sodas, fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, sweetened waters, and sweetened coffee and tea beverages, contain calories but little nutritional value [PDF Learn how to rethink your drink.

Alcoholic drinks: If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Caffeinated drinks: Moderate caffeine consumption up to mg per day can be a part of a healthy diet [PDF Sports drinks: These are flavored beverages that often contain carbohydrates, minerals, electrolytes, and sometimes vitamins.

The average person should drink water, not sports drinks, to rehydrate. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Water and Healthier Drinks. Minus Related Pages.

Benefits of Drinking Water On This Page. Benefits of Drinking Water Tips to Drink More Water Healthier Drink Options Other Beverages. Water and Nutrition Basics Frequently Asked Questions about Drinking Water. 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. home Healthy Weight, Nutrition, and Physical Activity.

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