Drink To Your Health

Sure, you should drink regularly. But exactly how much water do you need? And why are some runners dying from excessive fluid consumption?

August 4, 2003

According to a survey of nearly 3,000 American adults in 2000, our typical daily beverage consumption looks something like the following:

Beverage Amount
(8 oz. cups)
Water 6.1
Coffee 2.0
Juice 1.9
Milk 1.7
Soda, with caffeine 1.7
Tea 1.2
Alcohol (1.0)
Soda without caffeine .9
"New Age" drinks .6
Sports drinks .5
TOTAL: 16.6 cups*
(132.8 ounces)

*Total does not include the alcohol, which is a diuretic. Note: Your daily water supply includes an additional 3-plus cups that you derive from foods and metabolic water.