Katherine Beals, nutrition professor, contends that reporters may have misinterpreted an article in a recent edition of the Journal of Applied Physiology.

The journal article reviewed the literature on fluid needs and concluded that an average sedentary person does not need 64 ounces of water daily.

After the journal article was made public, several news reports may have misinterpreted it to mean the 64-ounce standard was unnecessary for everyone, she said.

"However, it is not applicable to most people, particularly athletes and active individuals who probably need more than 64 ounces of fluid per day.

"The old standard of consuming eight glasses containing eight ounces of water is a good one for anyone, especially for active individuals" she said. "You will need more fluid to replace the fluid loss if you lead an active lifestyle, which includes physical activities, physical labor and living or working in a warm place."

The average sedentary person loses about 2 to 2.5 liters daily while athletes and active people can lose far more, said Beals, a triathlete.

Recent news stories also picked up on the journal article's claim that people don't have to drink water, but can find fluid from other foods, such as fruits, vegetables and cereals.

"You can certainly get fluids from other sources, such as fruits and vegetables," Beals said. "However, the average

American typically consumes two servings or less of fruits and vegetables daily. Most people eat meats and breads, which contain little fluid. If we depended on food for our fluids, we'd all be dehydrated."

Beals also disagrees with reports that caffeinated beverages do not lead to dehydration.

Because caffeinated drinks have a diuretic effect, they are not as effective at maintaining hydration as non-caffeinated beverages and should not be the sole source of fluid consumed in a day, she said.

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Beals at kbeals@bsu.edu or (765) 286-5931.)