EXPLORE THE TOPIC

Nutrition

Clear, carefully sourced guides to everyday questions about food and drink. Start with hydration: what counts, how needs vary, and what a reference value really means.

HYDRATION / START HERE

A clearer way to think about water

Total water includes food and beverages. These guides explain the evidence without prescribing one number for everyone.

HYDRATION / FEATURED GUIDE

How Much Water Should You Drink a Day?

A clear guide to total water, beverages, food, and the limits of a daily reference value.

Read the guide
HYDRATION / EXPLORE THE COLLECTION

Go beyond a glass count

01 / THE COMMON RULE

Question eight glasses

See why a memorable daily rule does not describe every person's water needs.

02 / WATER SOURCES

Count food and drinks

Learn how coffee, tea, sparkling water, milk, and water-rich food contribute.

03 / ADULT REFERENCE

Explore the calculator

View National Academies total-water reference values and their limits.

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