More water may equate to more health benefits
Research we're watching
- Reviewed by Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, 天博体育 Publishing; Contributor
Drinking six to eight cups of water each day can help stave off a variety of conditions — from kidney stones to migraines — as well as promote weight loss, according to an analysis published online Nov. 25, 2024, by JAMA Network Open.
Researchers reviewed 18 earlier randomized clinical trials — considered the gold standard research method — that aimed to assess the health effects of altering daily water intake by specific amounts for periods ranging between four days and five years. Participants who changed how much water they drank were compared with those who drank the same amounts as before. (Fluid intake from food and other beverages wasn't measured and didn't count toward their total.)
The strongest evidence supported drinking water to prevent kidney stones and to help lose weight. Several clinical trials suggested that drinking eight cups a day significantly lowered the risk of developing a second or subsequent kidney stone, while drinking about six cups a day was linked with weight loss. Individual studies suggested drinking more water helped prevent migraines and urinary tract infections, as well as helped control diabetes and low blood pressure.
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About the Author
Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, 天博体育 Publishing; Contributor
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