DEAR DR. ROACH: Please write about the correct amount of water that people should drink. There’s so much misinformation!

— E.N., MD

ANSWER: There is so much misinformation since a simple answer, like “more is always better,” is easier than a nuanced answer. It depends on your age, activity level, the temperature and humidity, any medications you might be taking, and whether your kidneys have any issues. However, the simplest answer, which is true for most people, is that your body has a built-in system, called the thirst reflex, to make sure that you are getting enough fluid. There are only a few times when you should override this system.

The most important exception is in older people, who sometimes have a decreased thirst mechanism. This is particularly the case in people who live in long-term care facilities or those who have physical or cognitive disabilities. As such, reminders to drink a reasonable amount (1.6 liters or about seven 8-ounce glasses for women; 2 liters or eight 8-ounce glasses for men) of all liquids during the day can be helpful. (Alcohol, of course, isn’t helpful and can be harmful to a person’s fluid status.)

People who are taking diuretics do not need more water. In fact, excess water drinking while on most diuretics can lead to abnormally low sodium levels. Another way to tell if you are getting enough water is the volume and concentration of your urine. People should generally void every few hours, and the color of the urine shouldn’t be dark.

DEAR DR. ROACH: What’s a good general wellness supplement to take? I’m a 47-year-old female, and I have always taken a multivitamin, collagen with biotin, probiotics, decaffeinated green tea pills, and my usual prescriptions (losartan, levothyroxine and metformin). I’m looking for more natural ways to lower my weight and cholesterol. Sometimes I take oregano oil and apple cider vinegar. Any good suggestions?

— C.A.

ANSWER: I don’t know of any over-the-counter supplements to lower weight or cholesterol that are both effective and safe, so I don’t recommend any supplements specifically for these purposes. You might be taking decaffeinated green tea extract for this, but a clinical trial showed no significant changes in weight or waist size (although green tea extract with caffeine did show a small benefit).

ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu