Why water is the best drink in the heat of the day and whether coffee really dehydrates the body: explanation

During extreme heat, people need to carefully monitor their water balance to prevent dehydration. However, one should take into account not only the amount of fluid consumed but also what exactly one should drink in the heat.

Despite the various recommendations, there is no single standard for the amount of water to consume. For each person, this figure is individual and depends on the type of activity and the person's environment. This was told by CNN healthy lifestyle expert Dr. Leana Wen.

According to her, the Internet often quotes a rule that says that an adult should drink 8 glasses of water a day. However, in reality, many factors affect how much water people need, including the type of food they eat, their body size, and their physical activity.

Other factors include air temperature and humidity, and in particular how much time a person spends outdoors in hot weather. According to the CDC, people who work in the heat or otherwise engage in physical activity should drink a 250 ml glass of water every 15-20 minutes. People should also keep hydrated before and after being outdoors in the heat.

It should be borne in mind that the "more is better" rule does not apply to water. The average person should not drink more than 1.5 liters of water or other liquids per hour. A large amount of liquid at one time can dilute the concentration of salts in the blood and be dangerous.

Leana Wen explains that most people don't need any other drinks than water in the heat. In general, adults who engage in light to moderate physical activity and children who play on the playground or play sports after school do not need to replenish electrolytes, because the foods we eat contain the electrolytes we need.

As for coffee and other caffeinated beverages, people should be aware that they do not saturate with moisture and can even dehydrate even more. But this does not mean that you should give up coffee altogether in the heat. You just need to be aware of the effects of caffeine and drink more water with your coffee.

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