For better health, Experts: Drink this number of glasses of water per day

Many people wonder how many cups of healthy water to drink per day, as water improves memory and mental health to increase energy and have better skin, but it seems that some health experts have another opinion on the matter.

Kelly Ann Hyndman, a kidney function researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, explained that the explanation for drinking a lot of water was inflated, according to (Al Arabiya Net).

"Staying hydrated is definitely important, but the idea that just drinking more water will make people healthier just isn't true," Hyndman said. "It's not true that most people walk around chronically dehydrated or that we should drink water all day."

Dr. Joel Taupf, MD, a nephrologist and associate clinical professor of medicine at the University of Oakland in Michigan, explains that the most important measure of hydration is the balance between sodium and water in the body.

How many cups of water do we need?

The common advice is to drink eight glasses of water a day, said Tamara Hugh-Butler, an exercise scientist at Wayne State University, stressing that this idea is a myth.

She added that factors such as body size, outdoor temperature and how difficult it is to breathe and sweat will determine how much water we need.

She stressed that the amount of water we need per day also depends on our health, pointing out that a person with a medical condition such as heart failure or kidney stones needs a different amount than a person who takes diuretic drugs, for example.

In contrast, Dr. Töpf explained that for most healthy young people, the best way to stay hydrated is to simply drink when we're thirsty.

Should I drink water to stay hydrated?

Dr. Hugh Butler explained that, from a purely nutritional standpoint, drinking water isn't necessary to stay hydrated, but it is a better option than unhealthy options such as sweetened sodas or fruit juices.

On common perceptions that drinking caffeine or alcohol will cause us to become dehydrated, Dr. Töpf said that the effect of this is small, and he also explained that we can get water from what we eat, as foods and meals rich in liquids such as fruits, vegetables, soups and sauces contribute to water intake.