Health

Hillary Clinton Highlights America's Water Problem

September 12th 2016

"She won’t drink water, and you try telling Hillary Clinton she has to drink water."

Elizabeth Warren and Hillary ClintonAP/J. Scott Applewhite - apimages.com

That quote from an unnamed person close to the Clinton campaign —which comes a day after the Democratic presidential nominee "became overheated and dehydrated" at an event in New York — actually carries a lesson that applies to many Americans. Put simply, some of us don't drink enough water.

Because she was diagnosed with pneumonia last week, it's especially important for Clinton to stay hydrated. Water can help regulate body temperature and flush out toxins, aiding in the recovery process, the New York Times advises. But daily water consumption isn't just beneficial for people fighting off illnesses — it's a necessary component of a healthy lifestyle for everybody.

Yet many Americans aren't adequately hydrated, studies show.

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention recently released a report showing that most men (and older women) aren't getting enough water each day. Men should consume 125 ounces (about 16 glasses) of water each day — that includes drinks other than water as well as any foods that contain water — and women should consume 91 ounces (about 12 glasses.)

On average, however, men consume about 117 ounces per day and women over 60, which would include Clinton, consume about 85 ounces per day.

Interestingly, pure water accounted for only 30 percent of the total water intake for men and 34 percent for women. And that begs the question: What's with America's water aversion?

"I think it’s a 21st-century issue," Dr. Rima Himelstein told The Huffington Post. "I have some teenage patients who tell me that they don’t drink water. They don’t like water. I don’t think I ever heard those things before five to 10 years ago."

RELATED: How Much Water You Really Need Every Day

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