Question:
Although an overwhelming majority of Americans know that drinking water enhances health, most don't drink as much per day as they should, according to the results of a national consumer survey released today. The survey of 2,818 Americans, conducted in 14 U.S. cities by Yankelovich Partners for The Rockefeller University in New York and the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), reveals a sizable difference between what people know and what they do.in detail?

Answer: 73 percent of respondents know that most nutrition and health experts recommend drinking eight or more eight-ounce servings of water each day. However, more than half (51 percent) of respondents admit to falling short of that goal, with the average American consuming 6.1 servings of water per day. In fact, only 34 percent report drinking the recommended daily amount of water. Twenty-eight percent drink two or fewer servings. And nearly 10 percent say they don't drink water at all.

While Americans do drink 5.6 servings of beverages such as milk, juice, carbonated soda without caffeine, new-age beverages and sports drinks, they also frequently consume beverages that can actually make optimal hydration more difficult to reach. These diuretic beverages include coffee and caffeinated sodas.

Research has shown that caffeine and alcohol are diuretics, and drinking them can cause the body to lose water. Even though 77 percent of people are familiar with the dehydrating effects of these beverages, 33 percent of what Americans drink can actually cause dehydration. In fact, Americans consume a daily average of 5.9 servings of these drinks.