Government recommendations for water intake

Water is an essential nutrient – we cannot live without it for more than a day or two. The Government has recognised this and, for the first time in 2006, has made an official recommendation for water intake for Australians and New Zealanders.

As the human body is typically constituted by 70% water, keeping the body replenished is vital. So where do we get the necessary fluids? Solid foods contribute approximately 20 per cent of our total water intake. The remaining 80 per cent comes from water or other fluids such as milk, juice, tea, coffee, soft drink and cordial.

In 2006 the National Health and Medical Research Council revised all their recommendations for vitamins and minerals. Water is now seen as an important nutrient. Too little water can result in dehydration - this impairs both our mental and physical abilities.

Water is the best fluid. It is the ideal thirst quencher, provides no kilojoules and is cheap. Milk is also important at all stages of life. It provides fluid as well as essential vitamins and minerals, in particular calcium for strong bones and teeth.

Don’t forget that your teeth are also affected by fluid choices. Brita filtered water retains the fluoride in tap water, which is essential for strong and healthy teeth. Bottled waters do not have any fluoride, so you should not drink these routinely. If Brita filtered water replaces sugary fluids like soft drink, cordial and juice, this cuts back on your sugar intake which is also good for the teeth.

The following table outlines the new recommendations for how much fluid to drink each day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* A percentage of this total comes from the food we eat.

Reference:
Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand. Australian Government, Department of Heath and Aging, National Health and Medical Research Council  2006

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